Associated Students Inc. Office of Governmental Affairs ?” or as Director Olgalilia Ramirez likes to call it, the “hub” of election activity ?” has already started advertising for the upcoming April 25-26 ASI elections with the goal of attracting more candidates and voters.

“In the past, it’s been a very low voter turnout,” Ramirez said. In 2004, only 2,242 students, or 8 percent, of the 28,000 students voted in the ASI elections.

This year, Ramirez said she is hoping to see a difference. To facilitate the change, governmental affairs is beginning its informational campaign earlier, arranging for more public debates, providing additional online information and using a graphics class project.

The campaign is made possible by an additional $10,000 allocated to boost voter turnout. The funds came from a recent ASI budget surplus of $290,000, according to a Jan. 31 ASI press release.

“This should be a whole new election,” said Angel Barajas, ASI president.

Ramirez said it’s important that more students who are educated on the candidates and the issues vote because the ASI Board is a powerful governmental body that oversees a $9 million budget. And through elections students have the power to control what candidates gain access to this budget.

“This is the avenue to start changing ?” if you want to start somewhere, this is a good place to start,” Ramirez said.

Governmental affairs will also host five debates, three of which will be director debates with three of the nine colleges attending each, she said. The other two debates will put president and vice president candidates against each other.

“It’s going to be a sit-down style, more of an opportunity for students to ask questions,” Ramirez said about the new debate format.

Ramirez said students can access election information on the ASI Web site where a message board is also available for students to post suggestions for debate questions.

According to the ASI Web site, ASI candidate applications will be accepted beginning this Monday and are due March 24 ?” campaigning will commence March 27.

To apply for candidacy, students must comply with several requirements including completing an Elections Packet from the Vice President of Students Affairs Office and attending a candidate workshop, according to the new Election Code posted on the ASI Web site.

Jessica Weidling can be reached at [email protected]