After ASMSU's efforts to increase voter turnout, the number of undergraduates who voted this year were the same as last year.
About 5 percent voted in the election, after student government officials attempted to raise voter interest by hosting a pre-election pizza party, handing out free T-shirts and running several ads in The State News.
Undergraduates had the opportunity to vote online on several issues in last week's election, including the renewal of ASMSU's tax, additional seats being added to the assemblies and a tax increase to fund a scholarship that students voted against.
Of 26 seats available on the Academic Assembly, nine students were elected to represent colleges. On the Student Assembly, 21 of 32 seats were filled.
The assemblies have a total of about 28 seats that are currently open. ASMSU leaders said those seats will most likely be filled by appointed representatives. Students without ASMSU representation for their college and who also want to run can contact ASMSU leaders at www.asmsu.msu.edu.
Academic Assembly Internal Vice Chairperson Jessica Hancock said the election turnout was disappointing.
"I wish more people would have took more interest in the election and logged on, but we as ASMSU can also improve," she said. "Hopefully we'll get information out to students sooner and advertise more around the election - even if it's just going door-to-door asking people to vote."
But Patricia Smith, Student Assembly internal vice chairperson, said ASMSU leaders can only do so much.
"There's a heightened amount of apathy among seniors because they aren't coming back next year," she said. "The outcome of the election doesn't have a direct impact on them, so they don't feel the need to vote."
Smith also said some colleges, such as Veterinary Medicine and the College of Nursing, have a lot of trouble supplying students who are interested in running for seats.
But Hancock said it's not the students' fault.
"They have too much on their plates," she said. "It's just too hard for them to do."
Nevertheless, officials said there are better ways to increase voter turnout and next year's assemblies should try them.
Smith said the next assembly should consider being in the eye of its constituents, which members attempted to do this year by attending some college and student events with efforts set on increasing undergraduate interest in ASMSU.
In addition, Hancock said the next assembly should look into setting up laptops around campus, during the student government's election, so that more students will be more willing to vote.
"Many people haven't logged onto ASMSU's Web site or the student election's Web site," she said. "If we have it all set up right there for them to (vote), they may be more apt to do it."
And newly elected College of Arts and Letters Representative Craig Burgers said the new assemblies can further students' interest in ASMSU if they take stands on matters that directly affect students, such as political or greek system issues.
"Students see these candidates and they don't know who (the candidates) are," he said, adding that by taking a stand on a particular issue, it'll allow voters to see what candidates stand for.
"A lot of big changes are needed (in ASMSU)," Burgers said.
