The AMS executive election and Winter Referendum saw a 33 per cent voter turnout. Of the 10 opt-outable fees on the ballot, only one was unsuccessful.
Fifty-three per cent of students voted against a $0.90 opt-out fee to support Enactus Queen’s, which undertakes programs to empower local people and businesses. Programs range from teaching prison inmates entrepreneurial skills to reducing carbon footprints, according to their website.
Groups require a 50 per cent plus one vote in favour in order to be successful in the referendum.
Kristen Olver, AMS commissioner of internal affairs, said although voter turnout had decreased from last year, the AMS is satisfied with the outcome of the election process.
Last year saw a 41 per cent voter turnout. Olver said the decrease could be attributed to only two teams running for AMS executive, as opposed to three last year.
“Generally what we find is the more number of candidates the higher turnout there is, as [they] attract different groups across campus supporters,” she said.
In order to boost voter turnout, the internal affairs commission launched an advertisement campaign, which featured students describing their “first time” voting.
The advertisements were created in collaboration with Queen’s TV and the AMS Marketing and Communications office.
They also incentivized students by offering free coffee or tea at Common Ground for voters.
“There weren’t any problems and the elections teams worked really hard and we’re proud of them and there weren’t really any problems at all,” she said.
Here are the results of the 2014 winter referendum:
Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.90 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support Enactus Queens?
47 per cent yes, 53 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.25 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the Kingston Canadian Film Festival?
65 per cent yes, 35 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.95 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the Kingston Loving Spoonful Charity?
76 per cent yes, 24 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.25 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the Nyantende Foundation?
56 per cent yes, 44 per cent no.
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Do you agree to an increase in the Oxfam Queen’s fee (subject to individual opt-out) from $0.35 to $0.75, an increase of $0.40?
55 per cent yes, 45 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.50 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support Queen’s Helping Haiti?
69 per cent yes, 31 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the establishment of a $1.00 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the Tea Room?
65 per cent yes, 35 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the establishment of a $0.50 fee (subject to individual opt-out) to support the World Wildlife Fund at Queen’s University?
73 per cent yes, 27 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the continuation of the Camp Outlook fee of $0.85 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2001 and last went to referendum in 2011.
67 per cent yes, 33 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Baja SAE Design Team fee of $0.40 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2003 and last went to referendum in 2010.
58 per cent yes, 42 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Chapter- West Africa AIDS Foundation fee of $0.30 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2010 and last went to referendum in 2010.
74 per cent yes, 26 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Mostly Autonomous Sailboat Team fee of $0.30 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2010 and last went to referendum in 2010.
59 per cent yes, 41 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the continuation of the Queen’s Musical Theatre fee of $0.50 (subject to individual opt-out) for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 2004 and last went to referendum in 2010.
68 per cent yes, 32 per cent no.
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Do you agree to an increase in the Queen’s Aero Design Team’s fee (subject to individual opt-out) from $0.15 to $0.25, an increase of $0.10?
62 per cent yes, 38 per cent no.
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Do you agree to an increase in the Queen’s International Affairs Association (QIAA) (mandatory) fee from $0.65 to $0.80, an increase of $0.15?
54 per cent yes, 46 per cent no.
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Do you agree to the continuation of the Golden Words (mandatory) fee of $2.00 for the next three years? This fee was originally established in 1973 and last went to referendum in 2010.
66 per cent yes, 34 per cent no.
– Vincent Ben Matak
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