The University Board of Elections recently posted individual candidate expenditure reports for the 2005-2006 elections on its Web site.
This year is the first year the UBE has made expenditure reports available online through its Web site.
"The UBE is pleased with the effectiveness of the new online method for representing expenditures," UBE Chair Steve Yang said. "It's easier for candidates and allows voters to view the reports instantly."
The UBE employed the online system to report campaign expenditures in the fall, but there were fewer candidates, Yang said.
This election season marks the first wide-scale use of the online expenditure reporting system.
The reports are posted as "a way to make elections fair and allow people to be aware as to how much candidates are spending on campaigning compared to each other," UBE Vice-Chair Sara Anderson said.
Each candidate was asked to report expenses as of last Friday, which marked the midpoint of the election season.
"There are no restrictions on expenditures -- people are free to spend as much or as little as they want," Anderson said.
Some student candidates reported spending upwards of $600, while others reported no expenditures.
Some candidates, however, said they feel that there should be a cap on campaign spending.
"Personally I wish that they'd issue a campaign limit like they used to," said Stewart Ackerly, Arts and Sciences Honor Representative Candidate.
Ackerly said, however, he believes it is good that everyone is aware of how much candidates are spending.
This marks the second year of posting campaign funds and spending, as well as the first year that the UBE began to offer grants as another way to help keep the budgets of vying candidates in balance.
"A new thing that goes along with expenditures is that for a few positions, like the Honor and StudCo positions, we offer campaign financing grants," Anderson said. "For people who feel that they can't wage a fair campaign, they can apply for up to $100 reimbursement from the UBE. It helps to level the playing field."
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