Every vote counts, but in Cabot House, every vote counts more.

Seven write-in votes from a handful of blockmates were enough to catapult three Cabot students--Benjamin L. McKean '02, David B. Orr '01 and Michael Rosenberg '01--into the Undergraduate Council in this fall's election.

In an election that drew about a quarter of the student body to the polls, Cabot's seven-vote turnout represents less than one-fiftieth of the House's overall population.

Cabot residents had little reason to vote: the House that was once the home of current Council Vice President John A. Burton '01 did not field any candidates for the ballot.

So, when elections began Wednesday, Oct. 4, the voting was dominated by a few acquaintances of the winners, who wrote them in as candidates. All of the winners say they had no intention of running for a position on the council's newly downsized governing body.

Only one, Rosenberg, say he intends to honor his electoral mandate.

"Since I was elected, I'll serve to the best of my abilities," Rosenberg says. "But I've been kind of thrown into this, so I don't have any priorities or goals yet."

David B. Orr '01 who was elected to his second term in council, says he is still not sure whether he will serve for a second term.