Wednesday, March 22, the McMaster Inter-Residence Council held its inaugural residence referendum. Polls were open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the lobby of each residence. A total of 2146 students voted on the issue of a $15 increase to the IRC component of residence fees for the purpose of providing a residence wide yearbook to all residence students.

The result came back with a majority of voters in favour of the fee increase:

Total Number of Eligible Voters: 3,340

Total Ballots Cast: 2,146 (64.3% of eligible voters)

Total 'Yes' ballots: 1,157 (53.9% of all ballots cast)

Total 'No' ballots: 663 (30.9% of all ballots cast)

Total abstentions: 240 (11.2% of all ballots cast)

Total spoiled ballots: 86 (4% of all ballots cast)

If all abstentions and spoiled ballots are removed from the calculation, then the result of the referendum among those who cast a ballot indicating a 'Yes' or 'No' preference was a 63.6% majority 'Yes' vote, with a 36.4% minority 'No' vote.

The above results clearly display that the majority of students living in residence are in favour of the proposed change.