Brandi D’Esposito, newly elected USG President, said that instituting online voting was done in accordance with USG’s goal for Fordham to “stay consistent with the green initiative.”

Statistics show that the new system increased voter turnout from 129 last year to 174 this year. Brian O’Connell, vice president of operations, said, “I think the electronic voting worked a lot better than our normal ballots. Students check their e-mails frequently enough and it’s an easier process electronically.”

The electronic ballot system reaches a broader range of students. “Students that are overseas and abroad are also capable of voting, so they are not disenfranchised,” O’Connell said.

Rob Whibeck remains optimistic that student involvement will continue to increase with this new system. “USG fully expects voter turnout to continue to rise in the future, as the features and opportunities associated with online voting are fully utilized by the student body,” Whitbeck said. Voting will continue to increase as FCLC students become more aware of USG’s goals and impact at Fordham. “I don’t think students really realize what we are trying to do in terms of getting the overnight guest policy changed and getting student programs to be funded through student affairs. The more people realize the importance of who’s in office and how that directly affects our goals will help people vote,” O’Connell said.

The electronic ballot system generated varying responses from FCLC students. Marquet Lee, FCLC ’11 said, “ I am more tempted to vote when I actually see the ballots set up in McMahon.” However, Mindy Li, FCLC ’10 said, “The electronic system is much easier. It’s sad, but we are in front of our computers all day and most likely to vote through this medium.”

This new format will carry through to the fall, where there are still open positions for students interested in running for junior and senior senators. While both positions will be on the ballot again, write-in candidates can still obtain executive board positions through the electronic system. USG requires a minimum of 25 votes for a candidate to win.

Students elected for the 2010-2011 school year included: Brandi D’Espositio, president; Brian O’Connell, vice president of operations; Ryan O’Toole, vice president of student affairs; Jamie Boyd, secretary and Kevin Sammut, treasurer. Kim Kraft, Shanu Bajaj and Alexa Rodriguez were elected as sophomore senators, and Ashley Tedesco was elected as senior senator. No junior senators were elected due to the large interest of upcoming juniors in the executive board positions.