News
May 20th, 2003 | May 19th, 2003
May 20th, 2003
Following the highly successful implementation of its specially designed online voting system, the OUSA is pleased to announce plans to release the system with a nationwide launch.
The project is the result of a joint venture between the OUSA and the system's developers, John Lewis and David Robinson.
"The OUSA had the foresight to see that online voting was the next logical step in student association elections. The result was the most stable and successful online student elections ever held" said OUSA Administrative Vice-President Stephen Sutton.
Both the OUSA and the system's developers saw the potential that the system had, but also realized that each side had unique set of skills that could ensure the project's success.
In the 2002 General elections, the first OUSA elections held online, voter turnout increased by 65%. The system allowed all electronic votes to be tallied instantly once polls had closed. A recent by-election produced an increased voter turnout of 55% despite both positions being restricted and uncontested.
The joint venture has spawned EVS Limited, a limited liability company of which 50% is owned by the OUSA.
May 19th, 2003
Today the Otago University Students' Association held a by-election for the Women's Rights Officer and Post-Graduate Officer vacancies on its Executive.
The successful candidates were Sophie Atkinson for Women's Rights Officer, who received 331 votes, and Mike Ketchen for Post-Graduate Officer, who received 122 votes
Sophie is a third year Law and Political Studies Student, while Mike is a fifth year Masters of International Studies Student.
In total, 515 votes were cast in the by-election, in which the polls were open from midnight until 4pm. OUSA Returning Officer, Donna Jones, stated that this was the first student election run by OUSA entirely online. 'The electronic voting system pioneered during last September's OUSA elections was the only means by which students could vote today. There was no paper ballot alternative. There can be no question as to the reliability and capabilities of the system,' Mrs Jones said.
'There can also be no doubt the electronic voting system encourages greater voter participation,' Jones stated. In September 2002, the introduction of the electronic voting option saw a 65 percent jump in voter turnout on the 2001 election. Today's by-election (with 515 votes cast) saw a 53 percent increase in turnout on a similar by-election held in March last year, which was conducted through paper voting, Mrs Jones said.
