NIU students set a record voter turnout at the Student Association executive elections Thursday.

About 3,800 votes, 15 percent of NIU’s student population, were cast for next semester’s president, vice president and treasurer.

A total of about 2,700 students, 10 percent of NIU’s student population, cast ballots in the 1989 executive elections.

“I’m really pleased students were compelled and interested enough to vote,” said SA President-elect Robert McCormack.

The turnout demonstrates how “the SA will become a more forceful voice in representing students’ concerns,” he said.

SA President Huda Scheidelman said, “I think the voter turnout is indicative that more and more students are becoming aware of the issues that affect them.”

SA Election Commissioner Ray Callahan said the record-setting turnout was a result of the well-organized campaigning by the candidates and The Northern Star coverage.

“Students chose to become more aware of issues in this campaign,” Callahan said.

SA Vice President-elect Tanya Smith said, “Minorities and residence hall residents have been apathetic in past years, but this year we got people enthused.”

John Fallon, SA senate speaker and presidential candidate, said, “Hopefully this will be an increased trend in voter turnout for SA executive elections.”

Callahan said this could continue to be a trend if future candidates are as motivated as this year’s candidates.

Of the total votes cast, only nineteen ballots were considered invalid because “they were not stamped or signed” by an election judge, he said.