WHY DON'T ASUO ELECTIONS WORK
Is it a product of student apathy? Flawed election procedure? Or ASUO deception?
Students are not voting, and it doesn't seem like ASUO is changing its voting procedures. In 2023, less than 7% of the student body voted in the ASUO election. This trend seems to contrast how politically active and engaged students on campus are. Is it that they don't know? Or don’t care? Is the apathy a result of disconnected and failing leadership? The lack of accessible and visible voting information surely is. Either case confirms the need for MAJOR change in ASUO.
It is clear that the representative democracy ASUO claims to create on campus doesn't actually exist. Students are not represented nor are their voices actually being heard. ASUO cannot claim to democratically represent a student body that doesn't know they exist. Nor should ASUO be able to push for elections that weaponize low voter turnout.
There is a winter election happening during week six, on Monday and Tuesday. No effort has been made on the behalf of ASUO to inform the students or increase voter turnout. Instead they have shortened the voting period from a week to 2 days, scheduled the election for the week following midterms at the peak of student fatigue, and wrote measures that could be enacted if students don't show up to vote against it (something ASUO is actively ensuring doesn't happen by offering absolutely no visibility or transparency for this upcoming election.) Measures like this are harmful because they lead to legislation and leaders that don't actually represent us.
The statistics of 2023’s student election do not warrant or justify further restricting voting accessibility. Only 1,563 students participated out of the more than 22,200 UO students. Not a single candidate received more than 1,300 votes which represents about 5% of the student body. Two candidates were elected with just 45 votes. Out of the 37 positions on the ballot, 19 of them only had a single candidate, who ran unopposed. That candidate would win the seat undemocratically in my opinion. In a democratic system, the concept of choice is fundamental. Voters should have options to select from competing candidates. When candidates are elected unopposed, it raises questions about the democratic process. If students are not informed, involved, or given any alternative options then it is not a free and fair election.
The disconnect between ASUO and the student body, evident in the lack of accessible and visible information, fuels a troubling environment where genuine representation and active student engagement remain elusive. ASUO's failure to preserve the essence of student elections undermines the principles of free and fair representation. To restore faith in the democratic process, significant reforms must be undertaken. Whether through increased transparency, improved communication, or a reevaluation of election procedures, the call for major change within ASUO is undeniable. The student body deserves an electoral system that reflects their voices, fosters genuine representation, and ensures the vitality of the democratic process on campus.
Reform stands as the indispensable solution to the challenges plaguing ASUO elections, demanding a transformative shift that places power back into the hands of the students. By fostering an environment of increased accessibility, communication, and engagement, reform can bridge the existing gap between ASUO and the student body. A crucial aspect of this reform should involve restructuring the election procedures to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and genuine representation. Empowering students with clear and accessible information about elections, extending voting periods, and dismantling measures that exploit low turnout are pivotal steps toward reestablishing trust in the democratic process. Ultimately, the emphasis must shift from consolidating power within ASUO to a model where students actively participate in shaping the direction of their student government. Through comprehensive reform, ASUO can reclaim its role as a true representative body, amplifying the voices of the student population it serves.
