New polling data shows that less than 25 percent of the on-campus registered voters turned out to vote this November in the midterm elections.
Officials at UF and in Gainesville attributed the low turnout to the poor economy and a lack of excitement for candidates’ campaigns.
The election numbers may also be part of a larger presidential midterm trend.
“Historically, the student vote has the tendency to peak and valley,” said Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter.
Voter turnout is always greater during the presidential election, and this is especially predominant in the student vote, Carpenter said.
The Reitz Union, one of the three precincts where students living on campus could vote, had about a 17 percent voter turnout. The Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, another student precinct, had about 22 percent, according to Supervisor of Elections data.
This was much lower than the overall county turnout, which was about 49 percent. During the last midterm election in 2006, the turnout was about the same for these on-campus precincts.
Conversely, in the 2008 presidential election, the Reitz Union had almost 87 percent voter turnout, and the Performing Arts Center had almost 79 percent.
Chad Mohammed, the editorial chair of the UF College Democrats, agreed that the main reason for voter decline was that it wasn't a presidential election.
"A lot of people feel their vote on local issues aren't as important," he said.
The College Democrats attempted to combat disillusionment with the economy and the negativity of the campaigns by phone-banking and giving rides to and from the polls.
"The youth vote is definitely extremely, extremely important," Mohammed said. He also noted that many of the policies law makers vote for directly effect students. For example, college funding is often the first thing to get cut in the state's budget.
UF College Republicans Chair Carly Wilson attributed the low turn out to a lack of charismatic candidates.
"I think that contributes to a lack of caring," Wilson said.
The UF College Republicans also were active on campus with sign-waving and phone-banking.
Molly Benoit, the campus team leader for the non-partisan organization Rock the Vote, said that midterm elections often lack the glamor of presidential elections.
"Every election is important, not just every four years," she said.
Rock the Vote tried to increase awareness and empower voters by canvassing, running voter registration drives and giving out voter pledge cards to students.
"We need to learn how to use our voice," Benoit said.
