Students will have six different locations to vote on the proposed University Board concert fee and amendment to the Student Body Constitution Tuesday and Wednesday, triple the amount of polling stations available for Student Senate elections last semester.

In addition to the two usual locations, Taylor Hall and the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, voters will be able to cast their ballot at Carman Hall, Coleman Hall, the Student Recreation Center and Lumpkin Hall.

Student Body President Hugh O’Hara said the amount of polling locations was increased because the UB requested six locations since the amount of voter turnout is of importance to them.

One of the items students will be voting on is the addition of a $5 per semester concert fee to student fees.

He said the senate originally only requested three locations, because that is all it believed senate members could manage; however, the UB will have some of its members filling out the rest of the polling stations.

An issue of concern in past elections was having enough people to work the polls. The senate election that took place in November had two polling places for this reason.

O’Hara said this election would have had enough senate members to work three polling stations because there are no names on the ballot. Senate members that are running for election are generally not allowed to manage the polling station during that election.

Caleb Judy, UB vice chair, said Thursday he thought the six locations were necessary to get as many people as possible to vote.

Polls will be monitored by senate members and UB members, O’Hara said, but members of the Concert Committee will not be able to take part in the monitoring.

Judy said that is the case right now, but if they can’t find enough people to work, then committee members would work. Though he said they will be paired with someone not associated with the committee.

Throughout the election people will be walking around monitoring to be sure the rules are followed, Judy said.

According to the Elections Reform Act, no stipulations are present to restrict who can monitor polling places, Jessica Catto, student vice president for academic affairs, said Wednesday.

O’Hara said he has no issues with UB members monitoring the polls despite the fact students will be voting on the concert fee.

“As long as they understand that they can’t be trying to campaign, I have no problem with it,” he said.

All UB members working the polls have been given detailed instructions regarding poll rules, Judy said.

“We’re very aware of the elections reform act,” he said. “We’re going to follow it.”

Two people will monitor each poll, and they are responsible for checking off names and ID’s, O’Hara said.

On Monday the UB will take down old posters and put up new ones since the Elections Reform Act prohibits campaign materials within 100 feet of the polling site, Judy said.

He said UB members on those days would encourage student to vote, but not which way to vote.

The concert fee has been proposed by the UB to clear debt from previous concerts and build a budget to bring more and bigger concerts to Eastern. If the referendum passes and the proposal passes the appropriate channels, the fee will go into effect for the 2002-2003 school year.

The ballot will also contain a proposed amendment to the Student Body Constitution involving the qualifications for the Student City Council Liaison.

Proposed qualifications for the position would require a candidate to have two semesters of course work completed, a 2.25 GPA and a “demonstrated knowledge” of city and student government.

Elections will take place at all six locations Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Students will have six different locations to vote on the proposed University Board concert fee and amendment to the Student Body Constitution Tuesday and Wednesday, triple the amount of polling stations available for Student Senate elections last semester.

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Students will have six different locations to vote on the proposed University Board concert fee and amendment to the Student Body Constitution Tuesday and Wednesday, triple the amount of polling stations available for Student Senate elections last semester.

(more…)