In a presidential race eerily similar to the 2000 federal election, Sen. Chad Reed has won the Student Government Association’s highest office.
Reed edged Associate Justice Rahul Gupta, 225 votes to 219, while write-in candidate Sen. Priya Ponnapula finished a strong and pivotal third with 186.
“I think it’s very similar to what we realized as a nation in the federal election,” said SGA adviser Sally Lee. Students who participated now know “their vote counted.”
Unlike the contest between George Bush and Al Gore, which saw the two White House candidates separated by a slim, contested margin, there will be no “chad” or paper controversies.
The vote was again taken exclusively via the Internet, and Lee is confident the vote is representative and accurate.
However, controversy may well ensue, given a recent history of protests to SGA election results.
Last year, because of computer problems that prevented some students from voting, the election had to be reopened.
Other executive races saw Lindsey Cole, who ran on the same ticket as Gupta, defeat Stacy Issacs, 377-191, for secretary/treasurer. Jennifer Berry, the lone candidate on the ballot for vice president, will assume office having received 489 votes.
Two yes/no questions also appeared on the ballot.
Students voted, 392-108, to ratify the SGA constitutional amendments made this year. However, “no” was the answer of choice, 344-266, when students were asked if favored the plus-minus grading scale currently in use.
The two-day election, conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, saw 675 total voters log on.
Voter turnout decreased from last year’s total of 736 ballots cast.

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