The fall 2019 Student Senate election results were revealed late Wednesday night, with 23 students elected to represent various colleges.

The event was led by Board of Elections Chair Samantha Saunders, a fifth-year studying polymer and color chemistry and anthropology. Saunders talked about the voting process, voter turnout, run-offs and the next steps elected student senators would have to take, including a new senator orientation to be held on Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. 

According to Student Body President Emma Carter, a fourth-year in sociology and international studies*, this year’s voter turnout was a record high, with 1837 ballots cast.

“Of course, this [voter turnout] typically depends from year to year, so to have that big of a turnout for a fall election is great,” Carter said. “I look forward to what Samantha Saunders is going to do in the spring to increase the voter turnout there.”

Carter expressed her surprise at the unusually high voter turnout, especially in comparison to previous years.

“In 2017, the voter turnout was 680,” Carter said. “So to have almost triple that, it’s great.” 

Hamid Ebrahimi, a graduate student in the college of textiles, was elected to the Graduate and Lifelong Education Student Senate, winning 100% of the votes.

Twelve students were elected to represent the different colleges:

College of Natural Resources: Ann Winstead, a first-year studying environmental sciences.

College of Sciences: Cecilia Yu, a first-year studying life sciences and Eric Warren, a first-year studying statistics.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Christian Carter, a fourth-year studying sociology.

Poole College of Management: Thomas Walsh, a second-year studying business administration and Nick DeBerardino, a first-year studying management.

College of Engineering: Vincent Medenilla, a third-year studying electrical engineering, Abby Finan, a first-year studying engineering, Gabriella Pierro, a first-year studying engineering, Zack Snowdon, a first-year studying engineering, Ragen Willaford-Menefee, a first-year studying engineering, Meekhel Patel, a third-year studying engineering and Powell Braddock, a first-year studying engineering.

However, an automatic runoff will take place between Patel and Braddock, who tied with equal votes, for the sixth senate seat in the college of engineering. Runoff voting will be held Thursday, Sept. 26, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition to the college-specific seats, 11 first-year students were elected to the Student Senate:

Emily Oppold, a first-year studying statistics.

Dave Shashidhar, a first-year studying political science.

Thomas Jackson, a first-year studying horticulture.

Jhanvi Patel, a first-year in exploratory studies.

Mayce Mattox, a first-year studying life sciences.

Keya Pothireddy, a first-year studying economics.

Holden McGinnis, a first-year studying history.

Nadhir Sait, a first-year studying fashion and textile management.

Rachel Floyd, a first-year in exploratory studies.

Sara Luber, a first-year studying political science.

Ethan Cribb, a first-year studying communication. 

However, Cribb decided not to enter into a runoff against Luber, so he will not take a Senate seat, leaving a total of 10 first-year senators.

The event ended with all the newly elected senators taking an oath administered by Carter.

Exact information regarding the Student Senate election will be posted on the Student Government website.

*Editor’s note: Carter’s major has been corrected.