2008 Woodie Awards
Voters less interested in midterm elections; Nov. 3 deadline for absentee requests
Chelsea Growden
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: Front Page
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Although there are several key issues and races at stake, the elections are overlooked by many since they do not impact the presidency.
Oral Communications Instructor, Lee Tiberghien, said students should not be apathetic about voting since in many countries people don't have the right to vote.
"I hope everyone who has reached age 18 will take the opportunity and advantage of the right and responsibility to get out and vote," Tiberghien said.
Tiberghien said he thinks those who vote should do research ahead of time to know who to vote for.
"Listen, read, and look at their experience and educational background," Tiberghien said.
"I'm a registered republican, but I have never voted a straight ticket. I try to be informed and make decisions off of that. I know some democrats who would do a good job because of their issues and ethics."
However, some cast their vote based solely on how other family members vote.
"I vote for who my mom votes for," Ashley Zanghi, Satanta, Kan., said. "I'm registered as a republican I think though."
Frank Bean, social science instructor, said he thinks that although many students don't vote, the number of students who do, has increased.
"It's gotten better, I've seen more students who are eligible, registered, but over the country, no. Not at midterm elections, more people always vote at the presidential elections," Bean said.
Tiberghien said that the polls will show whether those eligible take advantage of their rights.
"I think we'll look at the polls and find out that most people don't think they have a voice, so they don't take advantage of voting, which many countries don't have," Tiberghien said.
The out-of-town or out-of-state students who want to vote have only today and tomorrow, Nov. 3 to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them from their home county.
Elsa Ulrich, Finney County clerk, said her office receives many requests for absentee ballots from students who are away at college.
"They can contact their county election officer and request a ballot," Ulrich said.
In Kansas, voters can go to the Secretary of State's website and print out an advance voting application and mail it in the county election officer. Visit www.cybersilhouette.com for the link to the application.
As for the issues that concern those who are voting, they vary from the attorney general's race to those running for the Kansas Board of Education.
"State board of education [is a main issue] which Tim Cruz is running for, even Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has said it's given Kansas a bad name," Tiberghien said. "I think there's been ethical issues in the attorney general election that Kline is running in, each side has tarnished the other and they've weaved religion into it."
National matters are also of concern to voters.
"I question the war in Iraq and the direction of it, homeland security, high gas prices, the same thing everyone worries about," Bean said.
Bean also said that this election is significant because of the ratio of democrats to republicans.
"It's an important election because the democrats have a chance to take over the House of Representatives," Bean said.
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