Staff Editorial | VSA election process problematic, unreliable

On Sept. 26, just 24 hours before voting was set to close for the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Fall 2005 elections, Vassar students received an e-mail informing them that due to a “problem with voting capabilities,” the voting window was to be extended and students who had already cast their votes needed to do so again.

Yes, technical errors can happen, but unfortunately, this was not the first time Vassar students have endured difficulties with our elections. The Sept. 26 e-mail, the problem it was meant to address, and the lack of information about the issues within the VSA voting system have all been seen before. Most of VSA elections in the past few years have had significant hiccups, and these consistent failures leave many doubts to the effectiveness of our voting system.

Last spring’s VSA election left many wondering what happened to the votes that were briefly posted online, as those final voting statistics are now lost. In this last election, what happened to the number of votes that were cast before the problem with voting capabilities was uncovered? It’s hard enough encouraging students to take the time to vote, and it is nearly impossible to get them to do so again.

The VSA needs to make a reliable electronic voting system a priority. A close evaluation of its technological capabilities is in order, and streamlining the entire system will help eliminate both technical and human errors.

The difficulties surrounding the VSA server have plagued not only student voting, but also the operations of student organizations for the past several years. The option to switch network servers from the now student-operated VSA server to servers maintained by Computer Information Services (CIS) would be a welcome step toward more stable service. The desire to keep VSA operations under complete student control is understandable, but when technical problems become habitual, it only makes sense to seek out an alternative plan. Unfortunately, the VSA has delayed taking this step with CIS for some time, without offering any explanation to their constituents, who depend on the technology of the VSA for organization websites, reliable voting, and up-to-date information. A solution has been at hand for some time now, but it seems that the VSA is dragging its feet.

The VSA needs to be accountable for what are becoming recurring negligent voting practices. Vassar students openly and easily condemn government officials for faulty and suspicious voting practices on a national level. Why then, is it acceptable for the democratic process to be sub-par in our own student government? Students vote with the faith their voice is being heard. That our votes are not being counted, or at the very least accounted for, is disheartening and unacceptable.

There is still time to remedy the situation before important springtime elections. It is more than clear that the VSA must address these technical problems—and the Vassar student body—before students can feel that the voting practices have become fair, accurate, and reliable. And if technical problems continue, perhaps returning to paper ballots would at least get the job done.