The results are in from the Undergraduate Council elections: students aren't voting.

As in previous years, low voter turnout was rampant in this year's council elections, many of which were uncontested.

Holding the record this year for lowest voting rates were Adams House, with 8 students voting; Dudley House, with 2 students voting for the one unopposed seat; and Winthrop House, home of council president Beth A. Stewart '00, with 20 students voting.

Since 1997, participation rates dropped from 18 to 1.99 percent in Adams, 12 to 2.6 percent in Dudley and from 9.6 to 5.3 percent in Winthrop.

The council's constitution and by-laws allow for one representative per 75 students.

Council officials chalked up the low voter turnout to student alienation from the council.

"I personally believe there's a disconnect between the council and the student body," Stewart said. "I think the council has gotten rid of its removed, aristocratic, debating-society image, but we have to further bind ourselves to the student body."

Students were more blunt.

"In my opinion, lack of voter turnout occurred because people seem to think that the council is a living joke, that it doesn't have a particular influence in their lives," said Jeffrey E. Zinsmeister '00, a Winthrop resident. Zinsmeister, who dropped out of the race too late to remove his name from the ballot and won the uncontested election, said he plans to resign from the council immediately.

In addition to the council's perennial struggle to engage students, some voters said they lost interest in the election after last week's computer glitches delayed the final vote.

"I didn't even think about it," said Mimi Cheng '00, an Adams resident. "It doesn't really impact us that much."

Opponents of randomization, the College housing policy that has assigned upperclass students to the Houses by lottery for three years, initially blamed Harvard's policy for eroding House spirit and causing voter apathy. But House Committee leaders disputed this view.

"I certainly don't think the low turnout was due to anything like lack of House identification," said Bom S. Kim '00, vice president of Winthrop's House Committee. Winthrop House is one of the tightest House communities I know."

"In general, students are apathetic towards the election process, especially after the failing of the first election," said Adams House Committee Chair Frank E. Pacheco '99. "In Adams House, there wasn't really a competition for the slots."

Council members cited the uncontested elections as a key reason why students didn't bother to vote.