UBE voter turnout rate increases in this year
By Rodger Nayak | February 24, 2009The spring 2009 elections saw a 38 percent voter turnout rate, nearly double the rate from last year?s elections and the highest rate since 2005, according to statistics released by the University Board of Elections last night.Only the Darden and Education Schools experienced decreased turnout, as students across the University selected representatives for the Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee and Student Council, while also weighing referenda to the constitutions of those organizations.UBE Chair Alisa Abbott, a fourth-year College student, attributed the leap in voter turnout to ?increased publicity and highly contested referendums.? Abbott said the hotly contested honor referendum likely drew a high volume of students, as voters decided whether to amend the University?s single-sanction policy of expulsion for honor offenses.Abbott said the University Board of Elections set up tables on the Lawn everyday last week and also sent out an e-mail to University community members to help increase election participation.
