During non-mayoral elections, voter turnout in DeKalb County tends to be below average, according to City Clerk Donna Johnson. Tonight’s election, however, will reflect a greater voter turnout than originally anticipated, she said.

She explained the intrigue factor with this race in which park board, school board and city council elections primarily aren’t one-sided races, but hotly-contested battles.

In the 1st and 7th Wards alone, Johnson expects the typically low student turnout to increase significantly because in both wards, there is a student nominee for each respective alderman position. In the 7th Ward, Matthew Kapustianyk, a junior political science major, and James Barr, a graduate student, both have student appeal within a ward dominated by residence halls and student-rented apartments.

The 1st Ward race includes incumbent Andy Small running against Student Association senator and senior sociology major Karega Harris. The 1st Ward, comprised mostly of apartments and a small residential area in which Small resides, mostly is student based.

“If students want to be represented, this is the time to go out and vote for them,” Johnson said.

Park board elections are another indication of high voter turnout because of recent debates that have swirled between candidates over some crucial issues regarding the DeKalb community, Johnson said.

With four new school board members determined after tonight’s election, Johnson said citizens’ interest should be enhanced with what would be a complete makeover of the existing school board.

Voter turnout during non-mayoral elections is low because city interest oftentimes declines when the mayor, a candidate with an inclusive impact on the city, isn’t on the ballot.