Dear Editor,
My name is Erica Baker, and I was appointed Supervisor of Elections for the 2015-2016 year. I am writing in reference to inaccurate information that has been shared by the Independent Florida Alligator and Student Body President Joselin Padron-Rasines during her recent State of the Campus Address.
As the Supervisor of Elections, it is my responsibility to ensure that all students are able to participate in the elections process. Similar to elections that take place across America, our students have the opportunity to go to the polls and fulfill their civic duty. If a student is unable to attend the polls on either day of elections, we have an absentee ballot process to ensure that our students are heard. This upcoming Spring, any student, including students in PaCE or UF Online, can submit an absentee ballot request before Feb. 3, and my office will work to ensure they are able to vote.
During her recent speech, Student Body President Padron-Rasines mentioned a PaCE student, Paige Fry, who she claimed was unable to vote in last semester’s elections because she lived outside of Gainesville. She said that this student did not have the ability to vote and was being disenfranchised from the political process. I want all Gators to know, including our Student Body president, that you ALL have the ability to vote, and we have had hundreds of students that have utilized our absentee ballot option.
I am writing to make all students aware of this option and encourage all of our elected officials, and the Independent Florida Alligator, to promote our Student Government resources. It is my hope that this letter serves as a first step in addressing many of the misconceptions about voting on campus, and I am always available for questions or comments on our procedures.
Thank you and Go Gators,
Erica Baker
Student Government Supervisor of Elections
