Results from the latest ASDVC election are in, though the candidates are not yet ready to take office.

The low turnout at this year’s elections, highlight ASDVC’s problems in recruitment and getting students involved in student government.

A grand total of 183 students voted in the election held on Wed. April 9, and Thurs. April 10, despite the promise of free food and the chance for students to voice themselves in regards to student representation.

There was not much of a voice to be hear from students in this election. Each candidate ran unopposed, which brought up the concerns of lack of interest in the election process.

This is hardly representative of the over 15,000 students enrolled at DVC.

The board members were required to get a petition signed by at least 250 students before they could assume office. This is the process that they need to go through as per the ASDVC constitution. All members that are returning board members do not need to go through this process.

According to ASDVC, this year’s turn out was the lowest in its history, but the student body is ready to fix this issue.

The vice president of legislative affairs, Kevin Tian, was not surprised by the low turnout, saying, “not many students were aware of the election.”

ASDVC is worried about this trend and is determined to reverse it.

“We need to make more students know about the student government and join us,” said Tian.

Newly elected president Keith Montes expressed his determination to actively increase the number of people on the board for the current and the following semester.

“We need to put more effort into recruiting for new members,” said Montes, following the election.

Getting enough members on the board is critical to the way that ASDVC functions, by bringing in a diverse selection of views to the college governing board, according to Montes.

“We put a lot of emphasis for our board members to function during meetings, by encouraging people to speak up,” said Montes.

Montes and the rest of ASDVC staff is preparing to immediately boost recruitment.

ASDVC will host a recruitment session from April 28 to May 1, between the hours of 12 p.m and 1 p.m.

Montes hopes to “fill the [Student Union conference] room.”

It is imperative that ASDVC gets enough members to handle the task of student governing. Its outreach program is a step in the right direction, but the student organization will face steeper challenges without enough members.

The current board members will assume office on June 1, of this year.