Posters are everywhere, the sidewalk is covered with chalk and candidates are trying to get last-minute support. Voting for the Government of the Student Body elections starts Friday and continues until Monday.

The two presidential slates include Henry Alliger, senior in animal science, and Emily Jensen, junior in political science. Alliger is running with Brooks Nelson, sophomore in public service and administration in agriculture, and Jensen’s running mate is Sara Faber, junior in public service and administration in agriculture.

For the past six years the election has been Web-based. Voting was traditionally held over two days during the week, but this year the GSB Election Commission decided to change it to be held over the weekend.

“I’m hoping that it allows more time for campaigns to reach contacts,” said Mansoor Khadir, election commissioner and senior in economics.

Khadir did not expect an increase in voter turnout from last year.

He said voter turnout was unusually high last year.

“Last year we had very high-energy campaigns that were running on all pistons,” Khadir said. “We had a pretty good turnout, which was more than 5,500. That was more than the City Council voter turnout in the past couple years.”

GSB President Angela Groh, senior in political science, said the new president and vice president will be stepping into some unforeseen challenges.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” Groh said. “It is an enormous time commitment, much more than I had expected when I came into office.”

Groh said that it takes some time to learn how the organization works as an institution. She will be working with the new GSB executives to ease the transition over the next few months.

“In the past the transition has been one of the challenges for GSB. We are really hoping that this year we can do a very effective job of informing and bringing up the knowledge base,” Groh said.

Students across campus have heard the campaigns from the candidates and made decisions for the upcoming election.

“I’m voting for Alliger and Nelson,” said Christa Sesker, freshman in apparel merchandising, design and production. “I think they will really get involved with the students.”

Jensen and Faber have been meeting with people and groups around campus to rally support.

“I’m voting for Jensen and Faber, because Jensen came and talked with us at the Block and Bridle Club,” said Zebadiah Gray, junior in animal science.

Margaret Schouten, junior in chemistry, said she plans on voting, but is not sure who she would vote for.

“I will probably vote, but I don’t even know who’s running,” Schouten said.

The election results will be announced 8 p.m. Thursday at the Maintenance Shop of the Memorial Union. To vote, go to the online elections Web site at Vote.iastate.edu.