The first day of Student Association Senate elections yielded a meager turnout of voters Tuesday, mainly because students were unaware of the election.

“Many students have said to me that they didn’t know about the election,” election judge John Smith said. “It was a surprise to them.”

Elections commissioner Lynette Jackson attributed the surprise to the monopoly the Sept. 11 attacks have had in everyone’s minds.

“There was no coverage of the elections due to last week, which is understandable,” Jackson said.

The voting began at 9 a.m. and lasted until 6 p.m. in three different locations on campus: Founders Memorial Library, the Holmes Student Center and DuSable Hall.

After initial trouble with the One-Card scanners, the voting booth at DuSable Hall had the most ballots by the end of the day.

“When classes are let out there is a rush, but when classes are in we get next to no one,” Smith said.

During the day, the library booth had the lowest turnout, because few students that go to the library during that time.

“Lunchtime is usually pretty good, but other times it is slow,” election judge A.M. Garab said. “There is a big rush just before we close, though.”

Unlike last year, very few candidates were out campaigning on campus Tuesday. Among those few was fourth district candidate Devin M. Scott.

“I just got out of class and came over [to Founders Memorial Library],” Scott said. “It doesn’t seem like many people are out.”

Scott was accompanied by fifth district candidate Melody Sims.

“We came over here to let people know that we can hopefully make things better in the dorms,” Sims said.

Even though there was a small turnout, there were several students who knew about the election.

“At Greek Row there are people that come around and hand out flyers, so that’s why I’m here,” said Doug Sheffer, a political science major and Phi Sigma Kappa member. “I just want to see more involvement and more rights toward Greeks & that’s why I am voting.”

Even though there was a low attendance at the voting booths, no one seemed worried.

“It’s been very well run this year, they are doing a great job,” Garab said.

Jackson agreed.

“There should be a big turnout tomorrow now that people know,” he said.

Voting will resume from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Founders Memorial Library, Holmes Student Center and DuSable Hall.