Council Watchers Forecast Larger Voter Turnout

Undergraduate Council election ended last night, with many ballot watchers predicting a higher turnover than last year's 46.7 percent particularly among freshmen.

Brain R. Melendez '86, who directed elections campus-wide and supervised voting in the Union, estimated that about ten percent more freshmen voted compared to last year's turnout.

Ballot supervisors a several upperclass Houses also commented on an apparently higher than usual participation. "More students took this election seriously, both voters and candidates," said Carolyn M. Rosen '86, a ballot proctor at Quincy House.

"Pep Rally"

Kirkland House residents seemed to be voting in high numbers, with an informal count showing more than 60 percent voting as of 6 p.m. yesterday. "It's like a pep rally," one junior commented.

In Adams House, where the number of candidates and voters has been chronically low, the voter turnout seemed much increased with over a third of the students voting before dinner last night. Last year, the turnout was only five percent.

Melendez cited only two minor exceptions to the generally smooth elections. One involved a council candidate who helped watch a voting table for senior class marshalls and, therefore, sat at the same table where council ballots were distributed. This was clearly against the rules, he said.

Also some students in Canaday voted for Buford Govjok--a ficticious, write-in candidate. Melendez stated that all votes for this "person" will be discounted.

It will take about about 100 hours: ballots will be counted only once except is very close races. The results of this year's council election will be announced Monday.