Historically, roughly 25 percent of students vote in spring elections, but this year’s elections board chairwoman said she wants to improve voter turnout.

During the spring 2010 election period for UOSA president and vice president, 5,645 students turned out to vote, according UOSA election records. This was 25 percent of the student population, according to the OU Factbook. 25 percent of students voted in 2008 and 27 percent in 2007, according to UOSA election records and the OU Factbook.

“I always see everyone campaigning, but I don’t know much about it,” English literature junior Sarah Willis said.

Willis said she did not vote in the spring 2010 elections because she did not remember until the voting period had passed. Willis said she would have to remind herself to vote this year.

This reminder is what current election board chairwoman and international security studies junior Natalie Jester said she is trying to deliver to students.

Elections this year will take place at one large polling site, according to new UOSA legislation presented by Jester.

“The purpose of our voting site is to be a physical reminder … this is the time to vote,” Jester said.

The polling site will be located at the end of the South Oval near the Bizzell Memorial Library and will supplement online voting.

“It is going to be my role working with the candidates to encourage them to ask people to vote for certain reasons, not for just voting in general,” Jester said.

Not everyone was supportive of the new polling site set up.

Jason Robison, Student Congress Academic Affairs chairman and international and area studies junior, said he would have liked to see more than one polling site when he presented Jester’s bill to Congress on Feb. 22. Concerns were raised as to how law students, who are south of campus, would arrive at the polling site.

Jester is confident that one polling site is the best option.

“This is kind of more impactful because people are actually going to see the site rather than see five little tables that have a laptop on them,” Jester said.

Jester said there are a number of reasons roughly 75 percent of the student body has not voted in the past.

“It’s a matter of if they know what’s being elected,” Jester said. “Why take the time to log on and vote if you don’t know what you’re voting for?”

Adam Hail, biochemistry sophomore, said he voted in the last election, although he knew little about the issues candidates supported.

“Certain friends influenced me to vote,” Hail said.

Jester said she will take measures to ensure voters are familiar with ballot issues this year.

An even smaller percentage voted in the CAC chair election. In 2010, 19 percent of students voted for CAC chair, while 14 percent voted in 2009, according to UOSA election records and the OU Factbook for both years.