The SGA and Maryland Votes are using this weekend to launch a final push to increase student absentee ballot voting in College Park’s upcoming special election, before the stress of final exams sets in next week.

Officials from both groups will be knock on doors at the University Courtyard apartments as well as the Denton and Cambridge communities on North Campus encouraging students to file absentee ballot request forms and collecting them from students who wish to fill them out on the spot.

The special election to replace District 3 city Councilman Eric Olson and District 4 city Councilwoman Joseline Peña-Melnyk has drawn increased attention from both student and resident populations in the city, as members of both communities have announced bids for the vacant seats.

Due to a mandate in the city charter stipulating that a special election be held within 45 days of a vacancy, the election is scheduled for Jan. 16, when students are away for winter break. This conflict prompted the Student Government Association and Maryland Votes to launch an absentee voting drive.

SGA President Emma Simson said as of Tuesday, the SGA had collected 78 absentee ballot requests and registered 25 voters.

Maryland Votes director Billy Grayson said the group has collected 34 absentee ballot requests. He said he hopes to increase numbers substantially by using a list of 2,000 College Park students’ e-mail addresses the group compiled during the general election to submit absentee ballot request forms to students living in Districts 3 and 4.

District 4 candidate Nick AragÃn, a senior government and politics major, said he has led efforts on campus by encouraging students to vote and in the community by speaking with residents about his goals for the future of College Park.

AragÃ^n said he hopes to combine forces with the SGA, which announced its endorsement of him at this week’s meeting, and work to mobilize student voters in January.

“Nick AragÃ^n, we believe, is a great candidate for bridging the gap between city residents and students,” Simson said.

Simson has yet to meet with Mary Cook, AragÃ^n’s opponent.

Cook has not targeted students so far in her campaign. She said she may work with students on the Committee for a Better Environment, of which she is the chairwoman, to garner students votes. She added it’s difficult to get them on campus through traditional methods such as knocking on doors and flier distribution.

“I have been advised by Anna Owens, a previous mayor, that it is very difficult to get into those dormitories,” Cook said of North Campus. “Right now I’m not sure how that’s going to go.”

The SGA has not endorsed a candidate for District 3, due to a need to speak in greater detail with both candidates.

District 3 candidate and senior environmental science and policy major David Daddio’s candidacy isn’t set in stone; the prospect of an internship could pull him out of the race in the near future.

“There’s still some question as to my future in College Park,” Daddio said. “I’m a senior, so obviously I’m waiting for some job offers to turn my [candidacy packet] in. Last year at the last election I would have been full steam ahead, but at this point it’s difficult.”

Daddio’s opponent, city resident Stephanie Stullich, said she thought he would do the right thing.

“[Revoking his candidacy] sounds like it would be a good decision if he takes another job offer,” Stullich said. “Running for city council – it’s a commitment. You are making a promise that you are running for people to represent them.”

There is some concern among long-term residents that student candidates aren’t as dedicated to College Park in the long term, but AragÃ^n said a potential dropout by Daddio shouldn’t undermine his campaign.

“I don’t have anything on the horizon,” AragÃ^n said. “I will be around for awhile. I plan to make College Park my home.”

Similar to Cook, Stullich has not targeted students, but said she plans to do so while knocking on doors this Sunday.

Contact reporter Steven Overly at overlydbk@gmail.com.

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