Students claim voter suppression, fraud after long waits in USGD election

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Thousands of students were left angry and frustrated after waiting up to five hours in line to vote in the Undergraduate Student Government Downtown’s uncontested election Tuesday.

The line to vote wrapped around the block in an election with only one ticket running.

In an act students are calling voter suppression, USGD officials chose to change the election process from online voting on MyASU to in-person voting at one location at the Mercado Building. Thousands of students had to walk nearly seven minutes to the location.

“They don’t want us to vote,” said sophomore Ann Otherone. “They don’t want us to have that major key to democracy.”

After waiting several hours in line, some students opted to order pizza, but were told Dominos’ machine could not process their Maroon and Gold dollars. The polling location also ran out of ballots at one point.

Students complained that the long lines and inefficiency of the polling place robbed them of their right to vote.

“We have a voice and a right to elect who we want to represent us,” said junior Meg Lanton. “I want to be able to vote for the person who basically does nothing as USGD president.”

Furthering some students’ theory that the election was fixed, former USGD president and graduating senior Frank “FS3” Smith III was elected as president. Smith said he is considering extending his undergraduate education to serve as president.

“It’s ridiculous,” said freshman Damien Lee. “He doesn’t even go here.”

Smith was projected to win the election by Phoenix Diablo and other major media outlets while students were still in line to vote. Students are calling upon Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell to resign over the long wait times and potential voter disenfranchisement.

“Helen Purcell is inept,” said downtown Phoenix resident Peter Perspiration, who is not an ASU student and therefore ineligible to vote. “She should resign.”

Students have started a change.org petition to call for a revote.

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