Experts: Students should pay attention to local election

When sophomore Joanna Totten got the California absentee ballot in the mail, she easily recognized the presidential candidates' names that have been repeated in the news for months. However, when she got to the races for local elections, Totten barely recognized any of the names.\n"There were a whole lot I didn't know," she said. "There were some names that sounded familiar, but that was about it."\nMany student voters are faced with the dilemma Totten discovered when she got past the presidential election: trying to choose among local candidates about whom they know nothing. \nAssistant Professor of Political Science Michael Ensley said the problem of knowing little about local races is not one unique to students or absentee ballot voters.\n"Many people, and in particular young people, do not pay attention to politics," Ensley said.\nMike Wagner, an associate instructor of American politics, said it is in a student's best interest to pay attention to local politics because the decisions those elected make will affect them.\n"In a lot of ways, local elections have more impact on day-to-day life than federal elections," Wagner said. "Federal elections are a lot about dispersing funds to state and local offices, and the people we pick to fill those offices often have a great deal of influence over how those funds are spent."\nEnsley said the majority of the American public is not informed about local elections because many races are uncompetitive. He said about 10 to 15 percent of incumbents do not face a challenger from the other major party. \nMonroe County Auditor Barbara Clark is running unopposed for Monroe County treasurer.\n"This is the first time I've had this luxury," said Clark, who was county treasurer for 10 years before she was elected to the auditor's office eight years ago.\nClark said the city passes laws about issues directly involving students, such as landlords and parking. Therefore, it is in the student's best interest to take notice and get involved.\n"The districts where students live, both in University housing and apartments," Clark said. "Those representatives are very interested in what students have to say. However, if students don't take interest, the representatives may only listen to the permanent residents."\nHowever, students like Totten who vote absentee don't see the direct effects of their local officials. Wagner said candidates realize this and don't campaign to student voters.\n"It's typically smarter not trying to reach students," Wagner said. "It's a waste of some resources."\nWhen Totten saw names she didn't recognize, she researched many of the candidates online.\n"Some candidates had more information online than others," Totten said. "I was frustrated with the ones that didn't have a lot."\nPart of the reason candidates don't cater to students is the fact that many students haven't voted in the past.\nOnly 25 percent of eligible voters from 18- to 24-years-old voted in the election of November 2000, according to the Population Resource Center Web site.\nWagner said voter registration for students is up this year because of the public interest in the presidential election, which will increase voting in local elections as well. A fact Clark said she finds encouraging.\n"My feeling is students should take an interest in politics," Clark said. "They need to vote, either here or at home."\n-- Contact senior writer Kathleen Quilligan at kquillig@indiana.edu.