By Ina Sidhu
It’s more than just a presidential acclamation that set this year’s Students’ Union general elections apart from others.
"We’ve gone completely online for voting," said Jordana Hennigan, the SU Chief Returning Officer. "We definitely feel positive."
During the elections from March 13–15, students can access online ballots via the SU Web site (www.su.ucalgary.ca).Voters then click on the "Vote in the SU General Election" link and follow the directions.
To vote, students must have a personal access code with the Infonet.
"It’s solely for security." said Hennigan. "So that students can only register their ID numbers with a password."
To obtain a PAC, students should log onto the Infonet via the University of Calgary Web site, which will create one using a birthdate.
Hennigan explained that, as in previous years, polling stations will be located in various places on campus. Over the three days, they will be in areas including MacEwan Student Centre North courtyard, Social Sciences foyer, the ICT/Earth Sciences link, Education/Scurfield Hall link and Residence buildings. These stations will include three individual computer terminals to replace traditional paper ballots.
"Not only is this more accessible, but we are encouraging more of the student population to be involved in the voting," said Hennigan, who added that candidates’ platforms and referenda questions have been on the SU Web site since March 5. "We hope more students gain knowledge about the candidates in order to make a more informed choice."
Students will vote for three full-time executive cabinet positions, Board of Governors and senate representatives and faculty representatives for Science and Engineering.
According to SU election bylaws, no candidate is permitted within 20 metres of a polling station. At the all-candidates’ meeting on Fri., March 1, Hennigan pointed out the difficulties in keeping candidates away from every computer on campus-now that each is a potential voting station.
"You can’t walk through the Info Commons, for example, telling people ‘Vote for me! Vote for me!’" she cautioned.
Hennigan did not foresee any problems with online voting, though she added a caveat.
"We’ll talk after the elections," she said, adding more seriously, "Everyone is behind it. It will be a great success."