-1 _ I , . i r R ; i <.: I , . ... i I i : . . WHERE... NEWS, PAGE 3 HOW... OPINION, PAGE 4 ~~Iie 1Eigan4 Batt Ann Arbor. Michigan www.michigandaily.com Tuesday, November 7, 2006 ELECTION SNIPPETS VOTING GUIDELINES " Know where to go: Visit www.publius. corn to find out where you're registered to vote. If you live near campus, check out our precinct map on page 3. You can also call the city clerk's office at 734-994-2725. 0 Know what to bring: If you've never voted in your current precinct, you'll need identification to prove who you are. This can be a driver's license or other photo ID. You also might have to prove your residency. For this, use a pay stub, bank statement or any docu- ment with your name and current address. If you have voted in your precinct previously, you don't need any documents or identification. Just go vote. * Make it on time: Polls in Michigan are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. VOICE YOUR VOTE JUST SHORT OF GOAL The Michigan Student Assembly's Voice Your Vote Commission registered 4,896 students to vote this year, falling just104 students short of their 5,000-person goal. But they haven't given up trying to motivate you to the polls: Look for volunteers doling out information on the Diag and observing election procedures at the polls. AROUND THE NATION 0 Polls on the eve of the election from across the country aren't predicting much for sure - except that it will be a wild election night. * Senate races in Rhode Island, Maryland and Virginia have narrowed, and many U.S. House of Representatives races that were once considered safe Republican seats are now in play. Most political analysts still expect the Democrats to wrangle control of the House, but the party will have a much harder time wresting the Senate away from the GOP. Democrats need to pick upl15 seatto take the House and sly seats toftake the Senate. * The Democrats haven't controlled both houses of Congress since1994. Before then, they controlled Capitol Hill for four decades INSTANT COVERAGE Check The Wire, The Michigan Daily's news blog, for election updates throughout the day at www.michigandaily.com/thewire. COMING TOMORROW Check out the Daily's comprehensive election coverage in tomorrow's edition, including: . Results and analysisof state,Congres- sional and local races 0 In-depth coverage of Proposal2, including campus reaction and the history of affirmative action at the University 0 Details on a possible shift of power in Con- gress and what it could mean for the nation 0 Results and analysis of the other four ballot proposals, including Proposal 5, which could have a dramatic affect on University funding, your education and your tuition 0 Who will fill the two open seats on the UniversityBoard of Regentsand whatthat means to you WHERE THE PARTISANS ARE The University's chapters of the College Democrats and College Republicans will be working furiously tomorrow to get out the vote for their respective candidates. Here are their plans: * Look for the Dems in the basement of the Michigan Union and in Angell Hall until 8 p.m. . Republican students will be delivering literature door-to-door in a last-ditch campaign effort. They'll watch the returns at oft-campus houses and don't plan to have any election-watching events on campus. COLEMAN TO RESPOND TO ELECTION RESULTS Regardless of how Michigan votes on Proposal2 today, University President MarySueColeman will address campus tomor- row on the Diag at noon. In the event of poor weather, Coleman will deliver the address in the Michigan League Ballroom. TODAY'S HI: 53 WEATHER LU: 43 LAST-DITCH EFFORT BENJI DELL/Daily LSA junior Jasmine Floyd sprays chalk near the block 'M' in the Diag last night. Floyd was campaigning against Proposal 2, an initiative on today's ballot that if passed would end many affirmative action programs in Michigan, including the University's. W2hat if.ir Prop2 passes, ending affirmative action programs? By WALTER NOWINSKI Daily StaffReporter Administrators are bracing themselves for what they consider a major blow to campus diversity - the passage of Proposal 2. If the proposal fails today, race and gender consider- ations stand. If not, it could dramatically alter the way the University operates. Unless a court delays its implementation, the pro- posed constitutional amendment would take effect in late December, forcing the University to abandon the consideration of race halfway though this year's admis- sions cycle. Many University administrators have said they are waiting to see what happens today before they decide on a legal strategy or begin reviewing the University's admissions policies. But several officials have suggested that the University has already begun to prepare for the proposal's passage. Ted Spencer, director of undergraduate admissions, confirmed last week that the admissions office was pre- paring for what would happen if Proposal 2 passes. But he alluded to the difficulty of fully developing a new admissions policy at this point because the full legal implications of Proposal 2 are yet to be seen. "We don't have (an alternative admissions policy) we have a lot of confidence in yet," Spencer said. "But we know what we think we cannot do." While Spencer acknowledged the possibility that next year's freshman class might be admitted under two separate admissions policies - one for those admit- See PROP 2, page 7 ... Proposal 5 passes, changing how the 'U' is funded? By KELLY FRASER Daily StaffReporter The possible implications of Proposal 5 remain murky to education policy experts, even on Election Day. If passed, the proposal would fundamentally change how the state funds the University and other schools, requiring the Legislature to annually increase K-16 funding by the rate of inflation or 5 percent, whichever is lower. The proposal would also place a cap on the portion of pension and health care benefits school districts have to pay - transferring the remaining costs to the state. It is estimated that the proposal would cost the state at least $565 million in the first year, but education offi- cials are unsure how the annual increases would affect the overall budget. "The answer is 'I don't know,' " said Mike Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council, a coalition of the state's 15 public universities. Proponents of the initiative maintain that it would relieve budgetary pressures on universities to raise tuition, but others, such as Paul Courant, a public policy professor and former University provost, said it's impos- sible to know the impact of the proposal. "It mandates a very specific set of expenditures with- out providing a clue where the money is coming from," Courant said. "It is thus impossible to tell what its over- all consequences will be." See PROP 5, page 3 ... regental power shifts, throwing off Big House plans? By GABE NELSON Daily StaffReporter The debate over whether luxury boxes have a place in the Big House could become more complicated if both Democratic candidates for the University Board of Regents win at the polls today. That outcome could deadlock the board, which in May voted 5to 3 to approve a renovation plan thatwould add suites to Michigan Stadium. Republican Regent David Brandon, a former Univer- sity football player with ties to the Athletic Department, who is running for a second term, was a key supporter of the plan. With a high Democratic turnout expected for today's election, experts say there's a good chance Brandon will lose his seat on the board to Democratic candidate Julia Darlow. If Darlow and incumbent Kathy White (D-Ann Arbor) both win today, Darlow's vote could determine whether the renovations to Michigan Stadium will include skyboxes. But Darlow hasn't taken a stance on suites. She said she can't yet make an informed decision. "I would needto start from scratch and make my deci- sion based on all the information thathas been available to the regents," Darlowsaid."I might even want to know more, and I'd be in a position to ask for that information and get it." Regents Larry Deitch (D-Bingham Farms), Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) and White voted against the luxury box proposal in May. If Darlow joins their ranks, the board could be tied 4 to 4. According to the regents' See REGENTS, page 7 Midnight at the Union: Granholm makes her final campaign push DeVos camp urges voters to ignore discouraging polls By ANDREW GROSSMAN Daily StaffReporter Gov. Jennifer Granholm wound down her re-election campaign at a midnight rally last night in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union. It was her last stop on a day of campaigning that began at 6:30 a.m. and sent her criss-cross- ing the state. Her tour included a stop at a warehouse in Livonia, a grocery store in Kalamazoo and a restau- rant in Muskegon. Sen. Debbie Stabenow rallied supporters on the Union steps before Granholm arrived. Recent polls show Granholm leading Republican challenger Dick DeVos by margins between 7 and 13 points, while Stabenow is polling ahead of former Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard by 8 to 19 points. None of the candidates, though, seem to be taking anything for granted. All four have campaigned hard in the days leading up to today's election. DeVos had a slightly shorter day than Granholm yesterday. He began campaigning at 7 this morn- ing in Byron Center. He worked his way eastward across the state. See GOVERNOR, page 3 RODRIGO GAYA/Daily JenniferGranholm rallies a crowd in the Michigan Union last night The incumbent governor is facing Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard in today's election. GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michgandaily.com and let us know. COMING WEDNESDAY: Is this the year for Michigan basketball? The seniors think so. TIPOFF INDEX Vol CXV1 No. 43 02006 The Michigan Daily michigndaiiy.com NEWS ....2 ARTS ................. .3 CLASSIFIEDS..... ...4 SPORTS ............. .5 -6