AS OCTOBER gives way to November, those with political acumen anxiously await the onset of election season. At all levels candidates begin the final push to draw their supporters to the polls and to sway the undecided to their cause. This takes place in each state, each county or town and, apparently, at our own University. Last week, unbeknownst to most (including the writer of this column), the University held elections for several Student Council positions and a lone University Judiciary Council referendum. More significant, perhaps, than the elections themselves is the lack of voter turnout. Only 11 percent of undergraduates voted. While small, this percentage is nearly twice the net turnout for all University students, which clocked in at a mere six percent. Ironically, according to Steve Yang, chair of the University Board of Elections, the 11 percent undergraduate turnout is actually an increase from last year's total of eight percent. This lack of voter participation in the sphere most directly related to the lives of students raises doubts about students' willingness to participate in politics, an important issue given the coming statewide elections.
The voter turnout rate in University elections can be attributed to several causes. There were no real inflammatory issues; the lone referendum won with a three-fourths majority. Nor were there many positions being contested or an overwhelming number of candidates. Indeed, over half the candidates who ran were elected. The University actually managed to hold an election where the winners outnumbered the losers.
The single greatest reason for the low turnout results from a combination of all the preceding factors in the sense that there was a definite lack of publicity about the candidates, the issues and the fact that an election would even take place. In the spring, flyers and chalking consumes the University, declaring the names and potential positions of the candidates for a wide variety of offices, as well as the unavoidable campaigns for reform of the single sanction and other hot-button issues. In the spring information is inescapable -- in the fall, it's eminently avoidable.
This provides some justification not to be concerned about the approaching state elections. Most people are at least aware that these will occur, thanks to the signs scattered around town, articles published in this and other newspapers and other students, particularly those who are politically active. Most critical, however, is that, in Virginia at least, the candidates and issues are embroiled in controversy. No matter where one stands on the Allen-Webb race, the fact that it is close should draw out voters. The Marshall-Newman Amendment should galvanize both conservatives and liberals and bring many to the polls.
Voter turnout for state elections in Virginia has not been all that impressive in the past, however. In the 2005 elections, no precinct brought more than 62 percent of its eligible voters to the polls. The lowest precinct brought over 35 percent (still well above the turnout for the University's fall elections). The state on the whole brought out 44.96 percent of registered voters, a depressingly low number, especially in a race decided by less than six percent of the vote. The race for lieutenant governor came down to less than a 1.5 percent margin, the attorney general raceby a mere 323 votes.
By comparison, in its last gubernatorial election, Alabama drew out 58 percent of eligible voters. California drew only 36 percent in its last gubernatorial election. Virginia's voter turnout seems about average; therefore, the problem of low voter turnout does not just apply to Virginians.
University students are busy people. We deal with 15 to 20 hours of classes a week, numerous extracurricular activities, sports and innumerable hours of studying. Nevertheless, we have a responsibility as an elite group students, immersed in Jeffersonian tradition of representative politics, to step in and lead by example, to step up and vote.It may be inconvenient to take the 10 minutes necessary to fill out and mail an absentee ballot application, and then repeat with the actual ballot. But this is the foundation on which our government is built, on the voices of all adults, not just those with the time and inclination to vote. As much of a hassle as it may be, especially for students away from home, it is our civic duty to get out and vote. So let's atone for our performance in our student election and actually participate in our respective state elections.
Robby Colby's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at rcolby@cavalierdaily.com.
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