As the Undergraduate Council presidential race wraps up today, candidates are making a final push for victory and making plans for next year's council.

When the polls close tonight at midnight, the Election Commission will begin counting the votes using the council's "ucvote" program. It expects to announce a winner by 1 a.m. tomorrow.

Candidates, however, are already discussing how they would spend the extra money which will come to the council next fall if Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 succeeds in raising the student activities fee on the term bill.

"That's part of the debate the council will have over the coming year," said Paul A. Gusmorino '02.

Lewis' plan, which will be voted on by the Committee on College Life (CCL) this morning, has the potential to almost double the council's budget, which now totals about $150,000.

"The next president will have it easy," joked current council President Fentrice D. Driskell '01.

If the CCL approves the plan, it will go before the Faculty for a vote.

While all candidates agree they would boost student group grant funding, each candidate has put his own spin on how the surplus money would be spent.