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Friday, March 29, 2024
<p dir="ltr"><span>Olivia Dunbar, a 20-year-old computer engineering junior at UF, votes Tuesday in the fall student government election at the Marston Library.</span></p>

Olivia Dunbar, a 20-year-old computer engineering junior at UF, votes Tuesday in the fall student government election at the Marston Library.

Mouses clicked. Stickers were given. Glazed eyes watched computer screens thanking them for voting in the UF Student Government elections. 

Students flooded in and out of polling stations across campus, which opened at 8:30 a.m.

SG Supervisor of Elections Stephanie Siler said 6,503 students voted Tuesday across the 11 voting locations on campus. 

“I'm very excited about the first day of elections,” Siler said. “We had a large turnout –– almost 1,000 more students than last year on the first day.”

Some voters hope to get blue light telephones installed on Fraternity Row –– one of the most discussed topics at Monday night’s SG debate. Some hope for more Greek life support. Some don’t know what they’re voting for.  

Abigail Wagner, a 19-year-old biology sophomore, said she wasn’t sure who she’d vote for. 

“I’m in a sorority, so we’re definitely pushed a little bit to vote for the Gator Party,” Wagner said. “I know they’re going to do a lot for Greek life, so I’ll probably vote for a few people there.” 

Wagner, a member of Delta Gamma sorority, said she woulnd’t vote a straight ticket because Inspire promotes movements against sexual assault on campus and promotes LGBTQ+ affairs on campus.     

Priscilla Louis, a 20-year-old UF business management sophomore, said Tuesday was her first time voting in SG elections. She lives in Keys Complex, which is near Fraternity Row, and wants blue lights installed because she sometimes walks home alone at night. 

“I wasn’t even going to vote honestly,” Louis said. “I definitely agree with the blue lights because I live so close to there and I walk along that road sometimes for like a night so I don’t feel safe with there not being any lights.” 

Connor Rhyne, a UF engineering exploratory sophomore, voted for Gator Party because their social media advertisements were persuading, he said. He liked their messages of moving UF forward and inspiring students to realize change is in their hands. 

“It’s a matter of two sides coming together,” Rhyne said. “You know, empowering one another, supporting one another and just doing whatever we can to make sure this university turns out to be the best that it can be.” 

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Chasity Maynard contributed to this report.

 

Olivia Dunbar, a 20-year-old computer engineering junior at UF, votes Tuesday in the fall student government election at the Marston Library.

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