Va. registration deadline looms
By Jordan Funderburk, contributing writer
Posted on October 9, 2006

While Democrats and Republicans vie for power within Congress and struggle to wrestle away as many seats as possible, students 100 miles away from the battle hesitate to get involved.

Come Oct. 10, many students at JMU will have missed the voter registration deadline for the upcoming Congressional elections. Harrisonburg’s local voter registration office has not seen an increase in registrations that was expected.

Debbie Logan, Harrisonburg’s general registrar, said this year’s contests have not been as “busy” as the gubernatorial and presidential elections in years past. She said, however, there has been an increase in absentee ballots filed this year, which she said was a good sign students are getting involved and understand the process.

According to national census polls in 2004, the main reason 18-to-24-year-olds gave for not registering was a lack of interest.

“I think everyone complains about what is going on,” junior Emily Galloway said. “But no one signs up to make a difference.”

The same polls also showed that 24 percent of the age group wanted to vote, but missed the registration deadline.

“It seems strange that you would have to register nearly a month in advance when things could be easier if you register when you go to vote,” sophomore Alex Story said.

Moreover, just above 2.5 percent of students felt that their vote would not make a difference. Most young voters feel a need to vote but are stopped by some of its inconveniences.

“It’s important that kids get involved in politics because it affects our community,” freshman Maria McKenna said.

The lack of any registration surge could be due to the increased applications for absentee ballots. Many students at JMU could already be registered. The 18-to-24-year-old age group in 2004 saw the biggest increase in both voting and registration rates throughout the country.

The lackluster performance in registration numbers is most likely not caused by a lack of motivation in JMU’s student body.

When asked why the young population should vote:

“We’re 18 now and that’s what we should be doing,” freshman Cole Lawson said.