The ballot for next year’s Inter-Residence Hall Association includes 19 open positions, only seven of which have candidates.

The IRHA ballot lists no candidates for:

* Richardson Court Association treasurer

* Maple Hall president and vice president

* Union Drive Association treasurer

* Friley Hall president and vice president

* Helser Hall president and vice president

* Towers Residence Association president and vice president

* TRA treasurer

Linden Hall, Birch-Welch-Roberts Hall, Oak-Elm Hall, Eaton Hall and Willow Hall will conduct independent elections. Those executive positions aren’t listed on the IRHA ballot.

“With elections being so early, students may not know this far in advance what they’ll be doing next year,” said Eric Peters, current president of IRHA and senior in sociology.

“Many current members of IRHA want to move out of the residence halls.”

Kyle Perkins, TRA president and sophomore in management information systems, said some years there is a high interest in IRHA, while some years there is no interest at all.

The low number of candidates running for positions is typical, Perkins said.

Some students may not know what the positions entail, especially for TRA, since two of the buildings have been closed, he said.

Perkins will not return to IRHA because he is moving off campus and was elected to a position in the Government of the Student Body, he said.

Peters said the students running for positions would be able to find others to serve as representatives for next year.

The association presidents usually take charge and talk to community advisers and hall directors to see if they know of any students interested in a position, he said.

“There’s always somebody wanting to get involved,” he said.

John Shertzer, IRHA adviser and residence life coordinator for the Department of Residence, said if hall positions on IRHA are not filled this semester, they will be in the fall.

A second election might be held, or the elected presidents in the halls could appoint students to positions, he said.

“Overall, we should have no problems,” he said.

Peters said residence hall students are informed about IRHA positions at house meetings, by word of mouth and through fliers. Anyone in the residence halls who has lived in their area of interest for a semester and has a 2.0 GPA can run for positions, he said. “If they can’t find anyone, requirements can be waived,” he said.

Peters said students can still be written in on the ballot by letting others know they want to run for a position.

“They still have to follow rules as other candidates,” Peters said. “They can’t go door to door.”

Rachel Tenley, Willow Hall president and junior in accounting, said she will be moving out of the dorms next year and won’t be able to serve on IRHA.

Although not many people are running for positions, those who are have the qualifications, she said.

Tenley said more students may be interested in holding positions, but do not want to go through the formal process of collecting signatures.

“Many write-in votes are waiting to happen, and I think in the end they will all be filled,” she said.

Elections will be held March 31. Students can vote at www.vote.iastate.edu.