The Reitz Union breezeway echoed with cheers as a sea of Swamp Party supporters celebrated the party’s near-sweep of Senate seats Wednesday night.
Swamp Party dominated in the Fall 2013 Student Government elections, claiming 48 out of 50 seats. Students Party walked away with two seats: Murphree Area and District E.
Swamp Party spokesman Joseph Michaels’ high hopes were met.
“We can’t wait to prove all the voters right,” he said.
A total of 8,766 ballots were cast, falling behind last Fall’s turnout of 9,197 votes and the 10,048 votes in Spring 2013. In Fall elections, students vote based on where they live.
Supervisor of Elections Justin Hoover announced the results to an excited crowd at about 9:40 p.m.
The time of the announcement was changed from midnight after election codes were amended this Summer. The location of the announcement, which is usually outside of Orange & Brew, was relocated to the breezeway because of construction.
A total of 511 votes were cast for District E, which includes any zip code outside of Gainesville. Students whose correct local address isn’t registered with the UF Registrar are often mistakenly placed within this district.
Last Fall, 1,806 votes were cast in District E, when several students were incorrectly registered. Classification errors also occurred in the Fall 2011 elections.
Overall, Hoover said he was more than happy with the strong turnout.
But last to arrive and first to leave the breezeway, Students Party members weren’t thrilled with the outcome.
“We’re disappointed but not deterred,” said Helie Dharia, Students Party campaign manager. “However, we will keep fighting to bring real change to Student Government.”
Michael Christ, Students Party Murphree candidate, said as happy as he was to claim the Murphree Area seat, he was saddened for the rest of his party.
Christ won despite being issued a cease-and-desist order from the Elections Commission after a complaint was filed against him for unapproved language on his campaign fliers.
“This is what happens when only 20 percent of students vote,” he said. “Not everyone’s voice is heard.”
There was a minor hiccup in voting early Tuesday morning when computers displayed the wrong sample ballot for District D, showing the ballot from last Fall.
Still, a total of 6,124 votes were cast on the first day of elections, an improvement from the first day of voting in Fall 2012 with 5,860 votes but a slight drop from Spring 2013’s turnout of 6,274 ballots, according to Alligator archives.
Early Wednesday, two computers in the Springs Residential Complex went down due to battery issues. SG Information Technology quickly responded and resolved the issue.
Just before the 9:30 p.m. deadline, Elections Commission Chairwoman Brianne Lewis received two complaints filed by the Students Party against the Swamp Party, both regarding campaigning on Facebook.
These complaints, along with two others filed by the Swamp Party earlier this week, will be heard at 3 p.m. Friday in Room 355A in the UF Levin College of Law.
A version of this story ran on page 1 on 10/3/2013 under the headline "STUDENTS SWAMPED"
Senate President Lauren Verno, center, and other Swamp Party members celebrate winning 48 out of 50 seats in the Fall election Wednesday evening in the Reitz Union breezeway.
With other Students Party members looking on, President Daniella Saetta frowns at the results of Wednesday’s Student Government election. Students Party won two Senate seats: District E and Murphree Area.
