2008 Woodie Awards
Student Apathy at Polls
LA's mayoral election draws attention from few students.
H.M. Montes De Oca, Special to the Star
Issue date: 3/16/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Conspicuously absent from lapels on campus March 8 were the little red, white and blue stickers that announce to all who pass, "I Voted!"
Valley College students mirrored the dismal citywide turnout for the mayoral primary election, as an informal poll by the Star revealed only 18 percent of eligible voters chose to go to the polls. According to city election officials, only 22 percent of those who registered voted, despite the candidates spending millions on television spots and touring the city non-stop.
The 82 percent of students who did not vote cited reasons ranging from "too busy" to "didn't care." These responses are not surprising when considering the low 27 percent turnout of the last primary election in April 2001.
"In this particular election, there wasn't an intensely contested proposition to attract voters," said Anthony O'Regan, professor of political science at Valley.
According to election officials, the turnout in Los Angeles County for the acrimonious November election was 79 percent, which seems to lend weight to the theory that conflict attracts voters.
The candidates in the race for mayor were as different as the reasons mentioned by the students who voted for them. Maryann Gomez voted for Antonio Villaraigosa because, "He has more ideas to improve the city than the other candidates," said the 20-year-old sports medicine major.
Other students voted based on personal appeal, like the 19-year-old child development major who voted for Hertzberg because he is from the Valley or the 21-year-old geography major who voted for Richard Alarcon because he didn't like any of the other candidates.
The results of the March 8 election revealed the same two candidates who competed in 2001, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa and incumbent Mayor James Hahn, will be vying for the city's top job in the May 8 runoff election. The unofficial results from city election officials show that the top three candidates came away with 79 percent of the votes, with Villaraigosa on top with 33 percent. Hahn and Bob Hertzberg finished second with 24 percent and third with 22 percent, respectively.
When Hahn won over Villaraigosa in June 2001, the total votes cast totaled a paltry 29.5 percent of registered voters. If history is any indication, the voter turnout for the May runoff may be as unremarkable as the primary election.
It is hard to imagine that one could find neither the time nor motivation to vote with options available such as permanent absentee voting, provisional ballots and polling places open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Perhaps the solution to the pervasive political apathy on campus might be to show students that the decisions made by these elections really do affect them, according to Students Active Political Affairs President Anitra Wetzel.
"The underlying problem is that [students] don't realize that voting is important and that they can make a difference," said Wetzel.
Valley College students mirrored the dismal citywide turnout for the mayoral primary election, as an informal poll by the Star revealed only 18 percent of eligible voters chose to go to the polls. According to city election officials, only 22 percent of those who registered voted, despite the candidates spending millions on television spots and touring the city non-stop.
The 82 percent of students who did not vote cited reasons ranging from "too busy" to "didn't care." These responses are not surprising when considering the low 27 percent turnout of the last primary election in April 2001.
"In this particular election, there wasn't an intensely contested proposition to attract voters," said Anthony O'Regan, professor of political science at Valley.
According to election officials, the turnout in Los Angeles County for the acrimonious November election was 79 percent, which seems to lend weight to the theory that conflict attracts voters.
The candidates in the race for mayor were as different as the reasons mentioned by the students who voted for them. Maryann Gomez voted for Antonio Villaraigosa because, "He has more ideas to improve the city than the other candidates," said the 20-year-old sports medicine major.
Other students voted based on personal appeal, like the 19-year-old child development major who voted for Hertzberg because he is from the Valley or the 21-year-old geography major who voted for Richard Alarcon because he didn't like any of the other candidates.
The results of the March 8 election revealed the same two candidates who competed in 2001, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa and incumbent Mayor James Hahn, will be vying for the city's top job in the May 8 runoff election. The unofficial results from city election officials show that the top three candidates came away with 79 percent of the votes, with Villaraigosa on top with 33 percent. Hahn and Bob Hertzberg finished second with 24 percent and third with 22 percent, respectively.
When Hahn won over Villaraigosa in June 2001, the total votes cast totaled a paltry 29.5 percent of registered voters. If history is any indication, the voter turnout for the May runoff may be as unremarkable as the primary election.
It is hard to imagine that one could find neither the time nor motivation to vote with options available such as permanent absentee voting, provisional ballots and polling places open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Perhaps the solution to the pervasive political apathy on campus might be to show students that the decisions made by these elections really do affect them, according to Students Active Political Affairs President Anitra Wetzel.
"The underlying problem is that [students] don't realize that voting is important and that they can make a difference," said Wetzel.
