ASUO election season starts this evening with the first elections information meeting, which organizers hope will inaugurate a less hostile and more respectful election than last year’s process.
In addition to the presidency and vice presidency of the ASUO, at least 12 seats on the ASUO Senate and positions on the ASUO’s finance committees will be contested this spring. This year, the emphasis will be on making the process inclusive to students who may otherwise have been intimidated by the large amounts of money spent during last year’s elections.
“It really excludes a lot of people from running because then you get the impression you need to spend lots of money to be a viable candidate,” ASUO Elections Board Chair Aaron Tuttle said.

Last year, the two executive candidates alone raised $13,029, a figure that Tuttle said dwarfs the spending at all other colleges on the West Coast, which have firm limits on spending for campus elections that usually fall well under $2,000 per candidate. Tuttle said the size of the ASUO, which is charged with allocating more than $11 million, is partially responsible for the large sums raised. However, he identified the absence of regulation as a primary culprit.
To topple the financial barrier to entry this year, the ASUO will encourage slates and candidates to cap spending at $1,500. Tuttle said the ASUO cannot impose mandatory caps on spending because the state constitution prevents the government from limiting spending on public positions.
“Candidates will need to hold themselves accountable to each other,” Tuttle said.
Tuttle and other sources within the ASUO said they did not expect a large turnout for the first meeting of the term. Only 20 students attended 2008’s first election meeting, although 76candidates and three campaign managers who were not running for office ultimately registered with the elections office.
“Most people are probably going to wait to register until the deadline,” said University senior Jesse Hough, who ran for ASUO vice president in 2008.
At the meeting, ASUO elections staff will announce some of the positions available in the coming election and give information on the rules for candidates, how the election will be conducted, and what the ASUO does in the first place.
“The ASUO has not had a perfect perception among the students,” Tuttle said, blaming infighting and a lack of accountability among office holders for the ASUO’s bad reputation among students.
In preparation for the election, the ASUO has sent presenters to student groups, as well as fraternity and sorority houses, and has been sending e-mails to programs.
ASUO Sen. Tyler Scandalios told the campus radio station last week that it is difficult to overstate the importance of ASUO elections.
“The meaning of life is to vote,” Scandalios said.
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