When it comes to voter turnout, students have always ranked among the lowest groups.

When it comes to recent Student Association and Campus Activities Board elections, the number of students voting is considerably low. According to a March 27, 2008 Northern Star article, last year’s executive elections brought 681 students out to vote. The fall elections for the SA Senate saw 841 students voting.

Both Marlon Haywood and Erik Calmeyer, candidates for SA president and vice president respectively, are predicting more students will vote this year than in previous years.

“There are actually more candidates running than in previous years,” Haywood said.

With every SA position and a number of CAB positions contested, Haywood said the candidates are more inclined to reach out to students.

“We’re talking to different individuals on a face-to-face basis,” Haywood said. “We’re talking to different organizations and groups to come out.”

Calmeyer said he and his running mates have also been reaching out to students.

“We’ve been going out and talking to students to see what they want to see changed,” Calmeyer said.

Both tickets have advertised on campus and online. Haywood and his running mates have placed flyers in the residence halls, while Calmeyer and his running mates have placed signs near the Holmes Student Center and the Campus Life Building.

Groups and events advertising for the election have shown up on Facebook. Two hundred people are listed as attending for the event “VOTE FOR THE S.A. & C.A.B. DREAM TEAM” (Haywood’s group) while 310 people have joined “WHAT CAN THE SA DO FOR YOU?: Sorsby, Calmeyer, Akineymi, Venaas.”

Sophomore marketing major Marissa Jambrone said she is voting in the upcoming elections because of their importance.

“The SA is a big part of NIU, and I know a couple people that are running that need support,” Jambrone said. “And it only takes a minute out of my day, so why not?”

But despite the advertising, some are not voting out of choice.

“I have no idea who’s running or what they will do,” said junior psychology major Leah Loda.

Freshman undecided major James Bingaman, however, gave a different answer when asked if he would vote in the upcoming elections.

“I haven’t heard about them until now,” Bingaman said.