As ASUA elections begin today with the announcement of this year's candidates, the organization has adopted new advertising tactics in order to increase voter turnout by 20 percent in this year's elections.

Nearly 4,000 of UA's approximately 36,000 students voted in last year's ASUA elections, and with this year's elections less than one month away, Elections Commissioner Dan Suh hopes to increase that number by roughly 800 students.

Using $4,000 set aside by ASUA for elections, Suh plans on initiating new advertising tactics for the elections that include giving away products that have elections information on them.

Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., ASUA officials will be handing out free Eegees on the UA Mall and at the Park Student Union. The Eegees cups will have elections information on them.

Pens with elections information and brochures about the candidates will also be handed out.

Suh said the purpose of giving students products with voter information on them is for students to keep the products in their rooms and refer to them during elections time.

Courtney Hemphill, a biology sophomore, said she thinks this will definitely help increase voter turnout.

"It seems like people respond more when free stuff, especially food, is involved," she said.

Initiatives in progress include having the Web site as the default homepage for all computers in UA computer labs, as well as having a link on the UA homepage.

Suh said students could still vote at home, or at any computer with an Internet connection.

Adam Green, a journalism sophomore, said it seems like ASUA has an OK start, but he is still skeptical.

"If students won't even vote for president of the United States, why would they vote for ASUA?" he said.

Some students said the reason they don't vote is because they don't care, not because they aren't informed.

"It's hard to make them care if they don't. There's nothing I can do to specifically target those people," Suh said.

Historically, there are other factors that contribute to high voter turnout, such as when a high number of candidates run or there are referendums to vote on.

"Those are the two most influential factors for voter turnout," Suh said.

Last year had the highest voter turnout since 1990, when students voted on a KAMP student fee.

This year students may have to vote on an activity fee.

Suh said that his ultimate goal is to encourage students to become active voters, not only to vote in the ASUA elections but in the upcoming presidential elections as well.

"Active voting is important in order to affect change; voting is the most powerful tool we have," he said.

Primary elections will be held Feb. 25 and 26, and general elections on March 3 and 4 for the 13 available positions in ASUA next year. Students will be voting for 10 senators, an executive vice president, an administrative vice president and a president.

For more ASUA elections information, visit http://elections.asua.arizona.edu.