Candidates worry new voting website could reduce student turnout

Students voting in today’s student elections will cast their ballots on studentlife.unc.edu for the first time, a change that candidates worry could reduce turnout.

The new website, which also tracks students’ extracurricular activities through a single user account, requires registration, which was not an issue with ConnectCarolina, the voting tool used last year.

Shruthi Sundaram, chairwoman of the Board of Elections, said 6,391 students have already registered on the site.

Last year, 7,105 students voted in the student body president general election, Sundaram said.

Sundaram said studentlife.unc.edu won’t decrease voter turnout because it’s actually easier to use than ConnectCarolina.

The registration process is quick and simple, she said.

“I would hope and expect that this extra 10 seconds will not deter students from voting for people to represent them next year,” she said.

But the three candidates said they think the transition will decrease the percentage of students who vote.

“They’re adding another step that complicates things,” Calvin Lewis Jr. said.
“The more steps involved, the less students will participate. Students like things to be simple.”

Tony Patterson, senior associate director of student life and activities, said one extra step won’t reduce turnout for students already taking the initiative to vote.

“If people are going to vote, this will not stop them from voting,” he said.

Patterson said he hopes requiring students to vote on studentlife.unc.edu will encourage more students to explore the website and begin using it in their daily lives.

He said the website was fully paid for two years ago.

Sundaram said she made it clear to the candidates that they are responsible for publicizing the transition.

Tim Longest, who said he was also concerned with voter turnout, plans to publicize the new voting process with flyers and emails, along with social media, he said.

Will Leimenstoll said the change in websites presents an unavoidable obstacle to high turnout.

“Any time you add a barrier to a process it’s going to deter people who are apathetic,” he said.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.