Student Government parties bombarded students with campaign materials and creative expressions of partisanship on Monday in a final push to win votes before elections, which begin today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and continue on Wednesday.
"At this point, we're trying to get our message out there," said Donte Hargrove, Orange and Blue Party president.
Mark McShera, the party's presidential candidate, said party supporters will be stationed outside polling locations today encouraging students to vote. He expects a good turnout this year.
"Last year's national election turned students on to politics," McShera said. "They're more willing to talk to us and listen to our ideas."
The Orange and Blue Party painted the 34th Street wall Monday night in hopes of furthering their campaign.
Monday the Unite Party presidential candidate Jordan Johnson held a "Day and Night with Unite," a 24-hour campaign effort, which included a block party on Sorority Row and painting the 34th Street wall.
A "blue out" was held Monday where candidates, volunteers and party supporters all wore blue to promote the Unite Party.
Some more enthusiastic supporters even painted themselves blue, while one member dressed up in a blue Spider-Man suit and roamed campus.
Ben Dictor, presidential candidate for the Progress Party said he used his Alligator endorsement as a selling point Monday when talking to students about voting. The editorial was taped to his party's table in Turlington Plaza.
Dictor said the Progress Party's main focus is on "material production," handing out about 7,000 fliers, which he added are all recyclable, and hanging about six signs.
One more unconventional sign included the executive candidates standing with President Barack Obama and rap star Lil Wayne.
"It's a poetic interpretation," Dictor said. "Barack Obama represents progress, Lil Wayne represents being bad-ass, and the helicopter in the background shows we fight crime."
The Lower 13th Street Jazz Band was kicked out of Turlington Plaza Monday afternoon when its members decided to give a free concert while displaying a sign reading, "When Unite Loses We All Win."
They relocated to the Plaza of the Americas after the University Police Department issued a noise violation.
UF political science senior David Borenstein, the band's clarinet player and creator of the sign, said the band was not affiliated with a political party and wants to create an SG free of cronyism.
"We've created a system with no accountability," he said.
Charles said she was taken by surprise when the band started playing in Turlington Plaza.
"People are free to express their opinion," she said. "But it's a pretty malicious thing to do."
"I'm really excited the time has finally arrived," Charles said. "We're exited to see how everything pans out."
