Spokespersons for candidates seeking office for Utah governor, attorney general, senator, representative and U.S. Congress attended the Political Awareness Fair in the Wilkinson Center Garden Court Wednesday.

Approximately eight spokespersons for local political candidates provided information to voters and outlined platforms.

"We want to encourage students to be politically active and be involved in the political process," said Brian Chapman, director of the Utah County office for Jon Huntsman's campaign for governor.

Adam Gleim, deputy campaign manager of Beau Babka's campaign for U.S. Congress, gave his suggestion on how to make informed voting decision.

"Take into consideration all of the pros and cons of everything and come up with the best answer for your community," he said. "Know everything you possibly can."

This is the first year BYUSA has organized Election Awareness Week, said Max Hunsaker, an executive director for BYUSA's Student Advisory Council.

"I think it's important because it finishes the work we started in Voter Registration Week" he said. "After we registered [students] to vote, we can now provide information so they can get into the voting booth and make an informed decision."

Voters will only have five more days to decide before voting on Nov. 2.

The 18- to 24-year-old age group has traditionally had the lowest turnout rate for voting, said Margaret Olsen, president of the BYU College Democrats.

"I think that's because the students feel disconnected from politicians," she said. "This is an effort to get the politicians and the students together so we can understand what the candidates stand for."

Joshua Daniels, president of the BYU College Republicans, said it is important to research each candidate.

"I don't know if voter turnout is as big of a problem as uneducated voters," he said. "So if people aren't coming to the polls because they aren't educated, that's not as big of a problem than if they vote without being educated."

Several students came by the Garden Court to gather pamphlets and ask questions.

Kara Landon, a senior majoring in linguistics, was one of the students who came. She said voting was important to her.

"I'm the person who says 'if you don't vote, you can't complain about what happens,'" she said.

In addition to organizing the Political Awareness Fair, BYUSA will show tapes of the presidential debates in the Legacy Lounge, located on the first floor of the WSC, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day this week.

Hunsaker said he hopes the tradition continues to help students become more aware of the candidates.

"I'm proud how this all came together," Hunsaker said. "I want to show that politics is something you can enjoy and understand at the same time."
Copyright Brigham Young University 28 Oct 2004