COLUMN: Elections over Internet will facilitate Homecoming '95
Homecoming's late date means one thing: You've had more time to think of the perfect homecoming king or queen.
Well, this year's homecoming elections are going to be following a new form, and you need to know how elections are going to work.
For the first time in Rice history, we will be holding an all-campus election via the Internet.
The election for homecoming will take place on the World Wide Web. Using the programs Netscape or Mosaic, you will be able to cast your preferential ballots for homecoming king and queen.
There are some reasons for this new system.
The biggest reason is accuracy.
Elections (especially the Spring set) have, in recent years, been marred by counting problems, and have necessitated the need for one or two recounts.
Further, with different representatives understanding different ways of counting ballots, votes have been tossed out or misrecorded.
Preferential ballot counting is difficult and is often done incorrectly.
A mechanized system would eliminate that problem.
Another reason for this new system is efficiency.
The Spring elections usually go on at the same time as major college elections. While this increases voter turnout, it places a huge burden on college elections representatives.
While colleges usually count ballots for Student Association elections, they do so on their own time, with whoever happens to be able to help. Ballot-counting takes hours, and differences in counting systems can make it take even longer.
This system takes the burden off of personnel.
Ease is another convenient feature of Internet-voting. The current system requires massive amounts of paper-shuffling, college representatives running around to other places, blurb-searching, and all other kinds of overhead.
This system will eliminate that, and strengthen the security of ballots.
At the same time, this new system allows greater access. Traditional elections run during lunch and dinner during one day, and so if you can't attend those, you don't have the opportunity to vote.
On-line elections will run for 48 hours, giving more time to cast a ballot. You will be able to use any networked on-campus computer.
Note: You will not need an Owlnet account to vote! Macintoshes and PCs in the colleges are equipped with the right software, and you can even vote while a friend with an account is using the computer.
Instructions on how to vote (including how to start Netscape and Mosaic, how to find the voting page and full instructions on preferential balloting) will be posted before the election, which will take place all day Monday and Tuesday, November 27 and 28.
Except for one or two hours for maintenance and checking, you will be able to vote at any time.
While we're excited about this system, it's definitely still in the testing phase. We know the software will work, and you will be able to vote securely; however, issues of voter turnout and interest are unresolved.
That's why we're using this for Homecoming elections, which traditionally has a much smaller voter turnout.
Please vote and e-mail us (at saelect@rice.edu) to say what you think! If this system works, and people like it, it will become Rice's method of voting (as it has at Stanford, University of Miami, and several other schools).
If not, we can go back to paper ballots in the spring. Applications to be a candidate for Homecoming King or Queen are available at the Office of Student Activities now, and are due Wednesday at noon.
Please submit your favorite person, weasel or garden appliance to represent Rice in an honorable, respectful fashion.
E-mail me (indigo@rice.edu) if you have any questions.
Scott Ruthfield is co-chair of the SA Elections Committee and a Lovett College junior.
This item appeared in the Opinion section of the November 17, 1995 issue.
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