By Jeremy Pelzer

Student government editor

Members of the Student Government will register students for the city elections in April to attempt to increase voter turnout.

Joe Crocker, student vice president for student affairs, said 15 senate members who were made deputy registrars by County Clerk Betty Coffrin earlier this month will man a table in the northeast lobby of Coleman Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Thursday to register students to vote for the April 3 city elections.

Crocker said students who wish to register should bring a driver’s license or another form of identification along with verification of their local address, such as a piece of mail with their address on the envelope.

Last fall, a similar drive by the senate registered over 400 students for the general elections. While he doesn’t expect as large of a turnout for the city elections, Crocker said he hopes to improve upon the figures from past elections.

Traditionally, voter turnout in local elections has been lower among students than in the rest of the city, Coffrin said.

In the 16th precinct, which covers most of campus and consists only of students, Coffrin said only 23 out of 1,221 registered voters cast ballots during the last city elections in 1997.

“The countywide turnout (for the 1997 election) wasn’t that tremendous, but it was certainly better than the (16th precinct turnout),” Coffrin said.

Crocker said students have a reason to be interested in this year’s mayoral election.

“This election, there are two candidates that have different views on how the aspects of city government would affect the students,” Crocker said. “There’s the landlord registration program, lowering the age to get into the bars and keeping bars open later.”

Coffrin also said it is important for students to vote in city elections.

“City government directly affects every person in Charleston,” Coffrin said. “It directly affects the streets you drive on, law enforcement and fire.”

City Council candidate Lorelei Sims said students have the potential to greatly influence the upcoming election.

“You all have a lot of power in city government; you just don’t know it.” Sims said. “You can determine what’s going on in the town.”

Mayoral candidate Clancy Pfeiffer said while registering students to vote would be an uphill battle, he sensed more of an interest from students this year in city elections.

“There have been several articles in the paper, and I have received calls from several fraternities asking me to speak to them,” Pfeiffer said.

Crocker said any students with questions should call him at 581-7669.