Spivey said he hopes issues, such as those surrounding what to do with vacant building spaces on Franklin Street, will inspire students to vote.
"Chapel Hill is becoming a place where you can eat and drink, and that's about it," he said.
Efforts to get students involved in municipal elections in the past largely have been unsuccessful despite the fact that the 16,000 undergraduates enrolled at UNC make up almost one-third of Chapel Hill's residential base.
"(UNC) is the single largest constituency and also the smallest voting constituency," Spivey said.
He said he is shooting to get 30 percent to 40 percent of already registered students to vote.
In past years, voter-interested groups resorted to dorm storming residence halls in the weeks before elections in order to register more students.
But administrators denounced the practice last year during the presidential election.
Without their greatest weapon, organizations are left to search for new ways to appeal to students.
VoteCarolina recently has received permission to use A-frame sign placards on campus, normally reserved for student body elections.
Billy Constangy, administrative vice chairman of the College Republicans, said he has used facebook.com, a social networking Web site, to send messages to students identifying themselves as conservatives for their support at the polls.
Students have set up shop in the Pit almost every day to try to register students.
The Young Democrats altered their approach to encouraging registration Monday, having not only representatives in the Pit but also scattered around campus areas such as the Rams Head Center, the Student Union, Davis Library and different dorms on South Campus.
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There also have been numerous forums on campus to discuss issues pertaining to political platforms.
Last Thursday's forum held by The Daily Tar Heel in Greenlaw Hall was intended to accommodate questions students might have had for Chapel Hill and Carrboro candidates, but turnout barely reached 30.
Peter Tinti, director of campus political affairs and an active member of the Young Democrats, said he is disappointed in the lack of enthusiasm among students.
"It's just not the same buzz as last year," Tinti said.
Last year, a record number of students, fueled by the competition of the presidential election, stampeded to the polls.
"There is not as much interest, but that is not enough of an excuse to not vote," said Blakely Whilden, co-president of the Young Democrats.
Student Body President Seth Dearmin expressed similar sentiments.
"This election is everybody's chance to vote for people who affect us much more directly," he said.
Dearmin said that VoteCarolina's mission for a more politically active student body is one shared by student government.
VoteCarolina representatives sent a letter signed by Dearmin to local businesses encouraging them to provide discounts to customers who have voted.
In their attempts to encourage student participation at the polls, campus leaders also have highlighted the ease and accessibility of early voting.
There are six precincts, some miles away from campus, to which students will have to travel in order to mark their ballots Nov. 8.
If a person chooses to vote prior to Election Day, he or she can visit Morehead Planetarium starting Oct. 24.
"Early voting is extremely important," Dearmin said. "It's a chance for (students) to vote here on campus."
Candidates are trying to appeal to students as well.
Jason Baker, a sophomore at UNC who is running for Town Council, also has used facebook.com to connect to prospective voters.
"Voter registration is only half the battle," he said. "We have to see if people actually make it to the polls."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
