Sacramento State’s Associated Students Inc. voter turnout for student government elections resulted in 12.66 percent of the 26,543 eligible voters; a number less than last year, and ASI’s expectations.

The election was held on April 24 through the evening of April 25. The expected voter turnout for this year was 4,777 students, which would have been 18 percent of the eligible voters. There were 3,361 students who voted this year.

All enrolled Sac State students are allowed to vote for the candidates, however, voters could only choose certain candidates based on their major and status as an undergraduate or graduate student. Grad students could vote for the director of their major and the graduate director, and business majors were the ones to vote for the director of business.

Students were given a variety of options to vote for candidates including online ballots, on-campus voting booths and inside of the ASI office in the University Union.

In 2011, ASI had a 13.13 percent voter turnout – surpassing the turnout for the 2010 elections, which came in at around 10 percent. ASI had also set goals for a higher voter count for 2011 than what ended up as the turnout.

In order to promote the elections this year, ASI held special events including the “Spring Fling” event and the “Coffee and Candidates” event. Signs were also put up along the walkway to the quad to advertise ASI candidates.

Jessika Robertson can be reached at [email protected].