The Student News Site of Colorado State University

The Rocky Mountain Collegian

The Student News Site of Colorado State University

The Rocky Mountain Collegian

The Student News Site of Colorado State University

The Rocky Mountain Collegian

ASCSU elections: Why don’t more people vote?

ASCSU+elections%3A+Why+dont+more+people+vote%3F

Collegian | Sophia Sirokman

Allie Seibel and Piper Russell

Colorado State University student voter turnout for the 2022-23 Associated Students of Colorado State University elections was 6.17%. The 2022 election season, which concluded with the announcement of current President Rob Long and Vice President Elijah Sandoval, saw only 1,854 students voting. That number decreased from 2021’s 13.73% and 2020’s 15%.

“I do not vote,” said Maddie, a CSU first-year transfer student who only provided her first name. “I just don’t really feel affected by it in any way — positive or negative.”

Ad

The 2023 election season has four candidate pairs for president and vice president and two candidates for speaker of the senate, which is an increase from 2022, when Rob Long and Elijah Sandoval ran unopposed on the official ballot.

“I would say that ASCSU controls a large portion of student fees, and they also represent the student body to university leadership. It matters who they vote for and who represents CSU as a whole.” –Grace Neumann, ASCSU elections manager

ASCSU manages a budget of $57 million every year from student fees. ASCSU funds student clubs and organizations, including CSU Athletics, Student Diversity Programs and Services, RamEvents and RamRide.

As well as funding many organizations, ASCSU “advocates for students on a university, local, state and national level and represents the student body on administrative campus committees,” according to the ASCSU website.

“I would say that ASCSU controls a large portion of student fees, and they also represent the student body to university leadership,” ASCSU Elections Manager Grace Neumann said in an email. “It matters who they vote for and who represents CSU as a whole.”

“I think there could be multiple reasons why students choose to not vote,” Neumann wrote. “The main one is that some students may not know about the ASCSU elections or the role of ASCSU in the university’s governance structure. Without sufficient awareness of the importance of voting, students may not be motivated to participate in the election. Luckily, this year we have a competitive race with two speaker of the senate tickets and four presidential tickets. With this, many campaigns’ awareness rises. Additionally, the elections committee will be tabling all day during voting (April 3-5). We are hoping this brings awareness to elections and makes voting easily accessible.”

Candidates have promoted their platforms on The Plaza and around campus, with some even visiting classes to raise awareness for their campaigns. All have Instagram accounts focused on their priorities and goals if elected to office. Despite the engagement attempts, voter turnout and desire to vote remain low on campus.

“Focusing on student outreach and creating voter awareness (are) the most important component of increasing voter turnout,” Neumann wrote. “Candidates need to emphasize the importance of voting and encourage students to use their voices.”

Despite all of the initiatives candidates adopt to try and make their campaign more attractive to student voters, especially given the history of low voter turnout, most students on campus do not vote or only vote because of a personal connection, such as having a friend connected with ASCSU.

“I do not (vote),” said Makayla, a CSU first-year student who only provided her first name. “I’m a tour guide on campus, and I talk about how you can vote during ASCSU (elections); I know that people provided their names and stuff, so I haven’t looked for (the candidates), but I know it’s happening. If (voting) was popped up or if they sent an email about it with the form, I probably would vote.”

Other students expressed similar opinions about why they choose not to vote. Sophomore student Lauren, who only provided her first name, said that she has not voted and does not plan to vote because she doesn’t know about elections. Bradley, another first-year student who only provided his first name, said he was planning to vote because one of his girlfriend’s friends is running.

Ad

“I have not (voted), but I am going to in this next election,” said Collin, a junior who also only provided his first name. “I didn’t know about (ASCSU elections). I’m going to vote now because I have a friend who is helping with elections.”

“I would like to see ASCSU elected leaders focus on enhancing student well-being and aiming to improve students’ lives both on and off campus,” Neumann said. “I hope to see integrity, compassion and professionalism in ASCSU leadership next year. I am confident that the candidates this year aim to achieve exactly that.”

Reach Piper Russell and Allie Seibel news@collegian.com or on Twitter @csucollegian.

Leave a Comment
About the Writers
Photo of Allie Seibel
Allie Seibel, News Editor

Allie Seibel is one of the news editors for The Collegian this year and is excited to start out her first year with the paper in such an exciting role.

Seibel...

Photo of Piper Russell
Piper Russell, News Editor

Piper Russell is one of The Collegian’s news editors this year and is thrilled to be working in the role. She started as a news reporter her sophomore...

Navigate Left
  • (Graphic Illustration by Christine Moore-Bonbright | The Collegian)

    ASCSU

    This week in ASCSU: Ratification of 53rd senate

  • The City Council meeting room at Fort Collins City Hall overflows with audience members before the council meeting begins April 4. A council member reportedly made a deal with the Associated Students of Colorado State University that if 200 or more Colorado State University students attended the council meeting, then she would put the citys controversial U+2 housing policy on the ballot for Fort Collins voters to decide its future.

    ASCSU

    ASCSU shifts strategy as fight against U+2 loses student engagement

  • This week in ASCSU: Student fees, accessibility caucus

    ASCSU

    This week in ASCSU: Student fees, accessibility caucus

  • (Graphic Illustration by Christine Moore-Bonbright | The Collegian)

    ASCSU

    This week in ASCSU: Disabled student transportation, collaboration and diversity

  • Fort Collins Mayor Pro Tem, Emily Francis and Colorado State University students listen to Fort Collins City Councilmember Kelly Ohlson at Monday nights roundtable event in Ballroom B at the Lory Student Center April 17. Kelly Ohlson has been an outspoken supporter of Fort Collins U+2 housing ordinance frequently bringing him into conflict with students seeking to repeal the ordinance. Monday night gave both students and Ohlson a chance to get to know each other outside of the contentious issue.

    ASCSU

    ASCSU hosts annual roundtable with FoCo City Council

  • Members of the Associated Students of Colorado State University listen to Speaker of the Senate Nick DeSalvo as the senate adjourns Jan 24.

    ASCSU

    This week in ASCSU: Sustainability, accessibility on campus

  • ASCSU Groome Transportation bill overspends allocated amount

    ASCSU

    ASCSU Groome Transportation bill overspends allocated amount

  • (Graphic Illustration by Christine Moore-Bonbright | The Collegian)

    ASCSU

    This week in ASCSU: Disabled student housing, transportation

  • The City Council meeting room at Fort Collins City Hall overflows with audience members before the council meeting begins April 4. A council member reportedly made a deal with the Associated Students of Colorado State University that if 200 or more Colorado State University students attended the council meeting, then she would put the citys controversial U+2 housing policy on the ballot for Fort Collins voters to decide its future.

    ASCSU

    Students pack City Council chambers, demonstrate against U+2

  • Nick DeSalvo and Alex Silverhart hug each other after they are announced as next years president and vice president of the Associated Students of Colorado State University in the senate champers April 5.

    ASCSU

    ASCSU elections: DeSalvo, Silverhart elected president, VP, Ayala elected speaker

Navigate Right

Hey, thanks for visiting Collegian.com!
We’d like to ask you to please disable your ad blocker when looking at our site — advertising revenue directly supports our student journalists and allows us to bring you more content like this.

Comments (0)

When commenting on The Collegian’s website, please be respectful of others and their viewpoints. The Collegian reviews all comments and reserves the right to reject comments from the website. Comments including any of the following will not be accepted. 1. No language attacking a protected group, including slurs or other profane language directed at a person’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social class, age, physical or mental disability, ethnicity or nationality. 2. No factually inaccurate information, including misleading statements or incorrect data. 3. No abusive language or harassment of Collegian writers, editors or other commenters. 4. No threatening language that includes but is not limited to language inciting violence against an individual or group of people. 5. No links.
All The Rocky Mountain Collegian Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *