DeKALB | The Student Association Senate is back in session after 16 Senators were elected during last Wednesday’s special election.

The Senate, which was out of session for a month because it did not meet quorum, is responsible for recognizing and allocating funds to student organizations, according to the SA Constitution. SA hosted special elections for the first time this semester to fill at least five spots in SA Senate, said SA Senate Speaker Christine Wang.

After the spring 2016 elections, the Senate had 22 senators. Since then, four senators were removed because they failed to meet SA requirements and three more resigned.

“Voter turnout was actually quite low, but that was expected because the time frame of the special election,” Wang said.

Voting polls were open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 14. There were 143 individuals who voted in the election. Voter turnout was 843 in the combined presidential and Senate spring 2016 election.

Although all 16 candidates were elected, Rachel Lechuga dropped her consideration, Wang said.

Senator-elect Jeremy Watson said he ran because he wanted a fun challenge and to represent the students.

“I feel motivated,” Watson said. “I am motivated to do my job and to enjoy myself while doing it.”

“While doing what I am expected to do, I think this semester will run smoothly,” Watson said. “I expect from myself and the other senators to be transparent and to work with the students.”

The first Senate meeting was 5 p.m. on Sunday in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room. Meetings are open to the public and occur Sundays.

“Now that we have our seats filled, we will be working on our usual day-to-day material,” Wang said. “However, we are all working on several initiatives to correct the NIU bylaws, and I think why we were in the special election in the first place shows there are some deep deficiencies in the bylaws.”

Wang has been trying to change the election process and said it is hard to hold an election when there isn’t much direction or instruction.

“Now that these special elections are over, I feel relieved,” Wang said. “I had faith in our executive branch because that collaboration was a good omen for us, so I have a lot of confidence we will accomplish really great things this year.”