With 10 more seats than candidates running, Student Association officials are heavily encouraging write-in campaigns for today’s SA Senate elections.

SA Elections Commissioner Ray Callahan said he encourages people wishing to serve on the senate to run write-in campaigns because only 35 official candidates are listed on the ballot to fill the 45-seat senate.

“If you can get 50 votes, you’re likely to get a spot,” he said.

More write-ins are running for election this year due to the new SA redistricting plan.

Gathering the 200 signatures necessary to put a candidate on the ballot is difficult in some districts, Callahan said. SA bylaws mandate the number of signatures, but Callahan said the SA will probably change the number this fall.

“A hundred signatures is more reasonable,” he said.

SA Vice President Steve Coloia said write-in candidates do not have to register with the SA office; however, about 10 candidates did.

Former SA Elections Commissioner Rob Perry said quite a few write-ins have run in past elections and several have earned senate seats. Perry was a write-in senator three years ago, he said.

All nine seats from District 1 are open to write-in candidates. District 3 has four official candidates, leaving room for five write-ins. District 5 has three open spots.

Callahan said seven write-ins from District 1 are currently operating organized campaigns, where candidates post notices and distribute flyers and handbills.

Callahan said his main concern is that many people would vote for themselves as a joke and there would be “a tie with a lot of low numbers.” Certain districts will be easier territory than others for write-ins, he said.