Despite the Student Government elections being the most contested since 2015, only about 300 more students voted than last Fall.
Erica Baker, the SG supervisor of elections, said 5,318 students cast their ballots Tuesday. Last Fall, when Impact Party ran mostly unopposed, 5,032 students voted. In Fall 2015, when Access Party ran against Impact Party, 6,427 students voted.
The Student Body voted to elect 50 new senators based on residential areas. Voting will continue from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Polling locations include the Broward Hall Library, the Reitz Union Computer Lab, the Southwest Recreation Center and the Marston Science Library Main Room.
Brett Wolff, a UF biomedical engineering junior, said he cast his vote in Marston Science Library after party volunteers encouraged him to vote.
Wolff didn’t read either party’s platform before voting, he said.
“I voted Impact because that’s what I’ve voted for in the past,” the 20-year-old said, adding he volunteered for that party during his freshman year. “That’s the one that used to be Swamp Party, I think.”
Keith Saint, a UF mass communication graduate student and a former Access senator, said he voted for Inspire at the Reitz Union because they appear to have the best intentions for SG and will make it more active.
“I’m familiar with the way the other party works,” the 28-year-old said, referring to Impact Party. “They misrepresent students by only benefitting the ones they want.”
