The turnout for an optional potential candidates meeting held Tuesday — the unofficial kickoff of spring elections — was only half of what it was last year.
Twenty-five students attended the meeting, designed to inform those interested in running for offices in student government next year of the process.
Shruthi Sundaram, chairwoman of the Board of Elections, said about 50 students attended last year, which was a prelude to the most venomous election season in recent memory.
Warche Downing, Will Leimenstoll and Tim Longest wrote their names down expressing interest in running for student body president.
One of the biggest changes from last year’s campaign season is the transition from a monetary system to a point system to address violations.
“We’re hoping that (the election) will run a lot more smoothly than last year,” Sundaram said. “I think a lot of the changes to Title VI (of the Student Code) will make things better.”
Another major change includes students’ right to an attorney. In the case that a complaint is filed, both the plaintiff and the defendant will have access to a student attorney if they choose.
“If either party decides that they don’t like the final decision, they have the possibility of appealing it to the Student Supreme Court,” Sundaram said.
Another subject of interest was the requirement that students collect a certain number of signatures in order to be put on the ballot.
