The results are in, and 2019 set multiple records for voter turnout in the Miss Homecoming election.
Out of the 30,627 eligible voters, 10,203 students cast their votes for the highest total vote count in Miss Homecoming history, according to SGA Director of Elections Lauren Urban.
With 2,706 votes and 26.5% of the vote, Mary Stewart, senior in communications, narrowly edged out the competition and was announced the winner of the campaign at halftime of Auburn’s matchup against Kent State on Saturday.
After a full week of campaigning, voting was open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. The full results are as follows:
1. Mary Stewart: 2,706 votes
2. Caroline Mathews: 2,452 votes
3. Maggie Hightower: 2,184 votes
4. Sophie Brint: 1,501 votes
5. Alison Beverly: 1,260 votes
Voter turnout was up 2 percentage points from last year, setting a record at 33.3%.
In 2018, 9,340 votes were cast for a 31% turnout. In 2017, nearly 9,500 students voted for a 33.27% turnout, the previous record.
In 2016, 6,158 votes were cast for a 22% turnout.
In 2015, 4,585 votes were cast, and 5,249 votes were filed in 2014.
This year’s race was also much closer than last year’s race.
The difference between first and last place in 2019 was less than 1,500, whereas Sadie Argo claimed over 1,000 more votes than the runner-up to win Miss Homecoming 2018.
Freshmen made up the highest portion of the turnout with 3,332 voters, nearly one-third of the turnout.
Sophomores made up 23% of the vote, juniors totaled 19.8%, seniors made up 19% and 4.5% of the turnout was graduate students.
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