Today marks the beginning of the four-day process of Associated Students elections, in which students will decide which organizations will receive funding and which candidates will control UCSB’s student government.

Voting begins online via GOLD today at 8 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. Thursday, April, 21. A total of 27 A.S. positions are up for grabs during this election, including four executive positions and 23 on the Legislative Council. Students will also be able to vote on seven new campuswide lock-in fee initiatives, two A.S. initiatives for lock-in fee increases and 11 re-affirmations of existing lock-in fees. This will be the third year students will be able to vote using the GOLD system.

Initiatives on the ballot include reaffirmations for lock-in fees that students are already paying, including 75 cents per quarter for the MultiCultural Center and $3.33 per quarter for night and weekend parking. The two A.S. fee initiatives ask students to pay a 69-cent lock-in fee every quarter for the A.S. Student Lobby, and to increase the lock-in fee A.S. Environmental Affairs Board receives from 25 cents to $1.25, providing them an extra $40,000 per year.

Campuswide initiatives, like a $5.85 lock-in fee for Counseling and Career Service and a $4.50 per student per quarter charge for recreation field enhancement, are also on the ballot.

To find out more about the A.S. elections, visit the A.S. website at www.as.ucsb.edu.