Gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell have toured, tailgated and twittered to win an elusive, college-age voting bloc. Efforts from the campaigns, both Democrat and Republican, to improve student voter turn-out, however, may only go so far at the University, where apathy, registration confusion and pre-voting numbers seem to foreshadow a potentially low turnout.
Charlottesville General Registrar Sheri Iachetta said gubernatorial races historically bring in fewer voters than presidential elections, and that this year, absentee turnout might fall to 40 percent, lower than what it has usually been in previous years.
"It would be nice if it picked up in the next few weeks," she said, noting, however, that only 50 people have opted for early absentee voting at the General Registrar's office. "That's pretty telling," Iachetta added.
Some students who registered in Charlottesville last year also are uncertain about their current eligibility status.
"I'm registered here for the presidential [election] but I don't know if I'm registered at all for this election," second-year College Student Will Griffin said. "I would like to vote."
Voters do not need to re-register every year, though they can update their voting profiles yearly, Iachetta said. Although the Oct. 5 deadline to make such changes has passed, Iachetta suggested that students who voted in dorms last year should call their former precinct to see if an address change can still be made.
"There's definitely some confusion about how they're voting in college," said first-year College Matt Cameron, who tabled on the Lawn for Deeds' campaign yesterday. "And then there are a lot of people who don't know about the election or the candidates."
In addition to confusion about registration, general apathy and disinterest in this year's election have posed other obstacles to student voting.
"I haven't read up on who's running," second-year College student Lindsey Shall said. "But I really don't have a good reason [not to vote]."
Fourth-year College student Kenny Foster, a member of College Republicans, has already sent in his absentee vote for McDonnell, but he believes that "most people that I've encountered don't care. [But] your vote matters much more in a state-wide election."
Representatives from both camps agree that this is an unfortunate trend among young people, and are making their best efforts to raise interest in the gubernatorial race.
"We're out there with a lot of young Democrats and college Democrats, encouraging as many young people and college students to vote as possible," Deeds Press Secretary Jared Leopold said. "We have a lot of important issues that the state's facing and ... they'll affect college students as they enter the job market."
McDonnell Press Secretary Crystal Cameron also cited college voters as a critical voting bloc.
"We have to engage young voters and we have to get Bob's message of new jobs and more opportunities to young voters across the commonwealth," she said.
Read More
U.Va. researchers identify that HIV drugs can protect against Alzheimer’s disease
By Lauren Seeliger | 20 hours agoDoctor Jayakrishna Ambati and his research team have begun work on a new drug called K9 which could treat and prevent Alzheimer’s.
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | 2 days agoMany students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
U.Va.’s Finals Weekend spotlights the achievement and service of the Class of 2025
By Leigh Bailey | 3 days agoIn University President Jim Ryan’s welcome address, he acknowledged the support of family members and friends present in the audience and beyond that played supportive roles in these graduates’ lives.
