A new "skip" option will be added to the voting process for the upcoming Student Union elections on Thursday, according to a Student Union press release.

"This option was added for students to express their right not to vote without penalizing the candidates," according to the press release.

Voters on Thursday will be able to choose "skip" and proceed to the next ballot without penalizing the candidates who are skipped.

"With this new addition, students can skip and move on to the next ballot if they do not know the candidate, do not feel comfortable voting, or if they wish to exercise their right not to vote," according to the release.

The abstain option, however, will remain on the ballot. "Selection of the ‘Abstain' option will continue to work against a candidate, and the position will remain vacant if ‘Abstain' gets the most votes. ‘Abstain' is an option intended for those who are uncomfortable with all candidates for a position," according to the press release.

The decision comes after only four senators were elected in second-round spring elections last semester, due at least in part to the fact that more students chose the "abstain" option rather than selecting a candidate.

According to the press release, "This initiative was undertaken in response to problems with our voting system, confusion, constructive criticism by our peers, and our own frustrations."

Positions left unfilled last semester were one senator for the Class of 2012, two senators for the Class of 2013, the racial minority senator and Brandeis Sustainability Fund Board representative positions, as well as additional seats on the Student Judiciary, according to an email from Student Union Secretary Todd Kirkland '13.

Regarding the constitutionality of adding "skip" to the ballot, the press release stated, "We believe this to be within the Secretary's constitutional power as Chief Elections Commissioner to add the skip option to the ballot. The Constitution does not specify that any additional ballot selections cannot be added."

—Andrew Wingens