The Office Party was declared the winner of the Student Government Association election to a crowd gathered on Herty Field Tuesday.

Justin Shepherd, chair of SGA’s elections committee, announced the winners of the presidential race, senators and University Council positions.

The election received the highest voter turnout since 2005, Ed Mirecki, director of student activities and organizations, said. With 5,104 total voters, the election received the second highest turnout in eight years.

Connor McCarthy, Nicki Batelli and Keri McCrary of the Office Party received 2,469 votes and won the positions of president, vice president and treasurer, respectively. The party received 50.50 percent of total votes, winning by 49 votes, according to a vote tally issued by SGA.

“We’re so excited that there were so many voters this year,” McCarthy said. “It shows that the student body has faith in the student government. We really want to respect their wishes in office and are really excited.”

The officers will be inaugurated Feb. 28.

“This will be the best SGA administration ever,” Batelli said.

The Foundation Party candidates – McCoy Pitt, Clayton Cox and Ashay Shah – received 2,420 votes.

Mirecki also announced the passing of the amendment to ratify the SGA Constitution.

The amendment passed with 3,026 votes out of 3,366 total votes.

The biggest change to SGA is the creation of a judicial branch, consisting of a Supreme Court headed by a chief justice, associate justices and secretary of the court, Mirecki said. The chief justice and associate justices are to be appointed by the president, with majority Senate approval, and the secretary of the court will be appointed by the chief justice.

The court will hear cases about violations of the Constitution and the Code of Ethics.

The justices will determine the constitutionality of amendments to SGA codes and preside over the impeachment trials.

The Constitution will include changes voted on during the Homecoming election, such as adding the position of treasurer.

Mirecki said changes are minor and clarify the old Constitution.

Editor’s Note: For a complete list of newly-elected 2008 SGA senators, please visit redandblack.com.