Voter apathy comes in all ages and stages of life, including at Lipscomb University.
In mid-term elections that changed the face of Congress, reversing the course set two years ago when the Democrats swept into office, many Lipscomb students simply chose not to participate when the balloting was held Nov. 2.
“The main reason that I didn’t vote was simply because I am so busy as a college student,” Nick Painter, junior information technology major from Franklin, Tenn.
“Since I am unable to adequately follow the news, it would be irresponsible for me to vote without thoroughly reviewing all the candidates and having a deep understanding of all the issues at hand.”
Many other students had similar opinions of these mid-term elections. Some were disinterested. Some weren’t legally able to vote. Some didn’t care.
“I lost my voter registration card and it just wasn’t a big priority,” Christina Bartelt, sophomore elementary education major from Fayetteville, Tenn. “I didn’t know who was running, let alone who I would elect. I honestly couldn’t name a single candidate, as sad as that is.”
Other students didn’t vote because they are not from Tennessee.
“I didn’t vote because I forgot all about the absentee ballot,” said Michelle Rivard, sophomore accounting major from Sanford, Maine. “I don’t live in Tennessee and it just completely slipped my mind.”
Some students were not even registered to vote because the last presidential election was before they were of legal voting age. They thought they had plenty of time to register before the next presidential election and therefore waited.
“I’m actually not registered to vote,” Lindsey Schafer, sophomore Spanish major from Rowley, Mass. “But to be honest, even if I was registered, I probably wouldn’t have voted. I paid attention to the last presidential election but other than that, I really don’t have the mind or patience for politics.”
Schafer does feel like it is important for her voice to be heard and that the election process is important. But she didn’t feel like the mid-term elections last week were relevant to her.
“I do have every intention of being involved in the preliminaries,” Schafer said. “I want to be aware of the campaigning for election so that I have the knowledge I feel one should have before voting in 2012.”