A correction was added to this article March 21.

Because of a reporting error, the March 11 article “In city special election, combination of issues makes vote `different'” incorrectly indicated that Ames residents can register and vote on the same day at satellite voting locations for the April 5 special election. The deadline to register for the election is Friday. The Daily regrets this error.

Students and council members have raised concerns about the two issues on the slate for next month’s special city election.

“These issues are both of interest to the townspeople and to the students,” Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco said. “This is much different than any election because the ballot has issues that people are for and against.”

One issue on the ballot, which is scheduled for April 5, is a proposed increase in the hotel/motel tax from 5 to 7 percent. The second issue is a proposal to shorten Ames City Council terms from four to two years.

The main reason these two issues are on the same ballot is because of cost.

“Special elections cost city tax payers anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000,” Tedesco said. “Running a special election is expensive.”

Tedesco said the City Council proved it would be more timely and effective to place the two issues on the same ballot.

Councilman Steve Goodhue said there is a large cost associated with having separate elections. He said it made sense to have these two on the same ballot.

Andrew Tugan, ex-officio student member of the City Council, said the city does not budget for special elections. It takes the money out of general funds, so it seemed more practical to consolidate the two issues to one ballot, he said.

One concern of having these two issues on the same ballot is that students will vote for the shortening of terms and against the hotel/motel tax, and the long-term residents will vote in the opposite way.

“I hope [students] take the time to learn about the tax if they are going to vote on both issues,” Ryan Doll, Government of the Student Body senator for the Towers Residence Association, said.

“We’re trying to inform them of the hotel/motel tax.”

Goodhue agreed and said he hopes students vote accordingly with the hotel/motel tax.

Sarah Walter, GSB director of student diversity, said she thinks having these two issues on the same ballot will get students to vote.

This is a chance for students to become active in the community, she said.

“I hope students take interest,” Walter said. “This is something that affects them.”

Satellite voting booths will be set up in the Memorial Union and Parks Library.

Walter said a petition of 100 signatures had to be signed for each polling place with satellite voting.

Doll said these polling booths will be for anyone on campus to use and will increase accessibility for students.

Walter said students can both register and vote at both satellite polling locations.

“Basically, this makes voting more convenient for students and faculty members,” Walter said. “It takes 15 minutes. I hope they take the time to be active in the community.”

“Anything we can do to get registered voters out is a plus,” Tugan said.