Students interested in running as a candidate for the UF Student Senate can qualify and choose to run with five registered political parties, but only one major party will be on the ballot — a first in recent years.
UF Student Government began the interview process for students looking to qualify for the Fall 2014 elections on Sunday.
Five parties registered by Friday’s deadline, but only the Swamp Party, the majority party founded in 2012, chose to campaign, said Hans Rojas, SG supervisor of elections.
Fall elections seek to fill 50 senate seats based on students’ residential locations.
Eleven students qualified on the first day, Rojas said. Sunday saw a record low turnout following Spring 2014’s nearly 60 students and Fall 2013’s 42 students on the first day of qualifying and slating, according to Alligator archives.
All 11 students who qualified chose to slate with Swamp Party.
“Although it is a bit different, it really shouldn’t change the way we run our campaign,” said Swamp Party spokeswoman Katie Backstrand about running unopposed.
Michael Christ, a former Students Party candidate, said running the opposing party takes a lot of effort for marginal gains.
“Students should have a choice between multiple parties when they vote,” said Christ, a 21-year-old UF political science senior.
The Swamp Party will announce its candidate roster on Wednesday.
Alex Nunner, an 18-year-old accounting freshman, interviewed to represent the Lakeside area.
“I just think I could help, and I think it would be a great way to learn what’s going on on campus,” he said.
Qualifying and slating will continue today from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.
Fall elections take place Sept. 30 and Aug. 1.
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 9/8/2014 under the headline "Student Senate qualifying for Fall elections continues today"]
