by April Hale
Daily Lobo
The ballot was long, but lines at the election polls in the Student Residence Center were not.
Despite the lack of a large student turnout, many said voting is vital.
"Voting is necessary if you want to live in a democracy," said political science major William Wiekart.
Precinct Judge Paul DeBlassie Jr. said turnout at the SRC poll was moderate, with about 148 students filling out ballots.
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"We're always hoping for more voters. If you could get 20 percent of registered voters, it would be good," DeBlassie said. "Students are very different in voting."
Some students cast their votes in hopes of changing the system.
"I voted primarily Green party, or for a Democrat or a woman," Wiekart said. "I'm trying to get out the incumbent. It's how we get changes."
Wiekart said the SRC voting center was convenient for him because he does not have a car.
Freshman and first-time voter Jenna Stanton also visited the polls in the SRC.
"It's good to bring the polls here because not enough people would get out and vote if it wasn't easy access," she said.
Stanton said she voted for Republican candidates after reading a voter's guide provided by the Albuquerque Journal.
"I think it's our patriotic duty to vote," Stanton said. "The people that whine the most about the country usually don't vote."
Although busy with classes and projects, some students were able to find time to vote because they said it was important to represent their views.
"I haven't gone to vote because I'm finishing up a paper," said pre-law student Del Chino. "I'm going to vote after I'm done because I think Native Americans should have a voice, too."
Senior Anthony Murphy said he was going to vote for all of the Democrat candidates.
"There have been no improvements from voting Republican," Murphy said. "We need a stronger Democratic voice."
Democrats seemed to be more concerned about the economy and issues other than war, Murphy added.
"I'll vote for anything that improves education," Murphy said.
Nicole Gonzales said that she registered, but never received her registration card.
"If I could vote, I would vote Green," Gonzales said. "I feel like John Sanchez was busy trying to sell himself. He wasn't clear on the issues."
Gonzales added that negative advertisements discouraged her.
"Pretty soon you don't even want to vote," she said. "It's like voting for the best of the worst."
Junior January Gallegos said she was going to vote for Bill Richardson and Richard Romero.
"I believe in their ideas more than the Republican's side," Gallegos said. "Voting is important because society is regulated on it."
Senior Denise Vargas said she did her own candidate research and did not pay much attention to negative television advertisements.
"It's important to vote," Vargas said. "Especially in the last election where every vote made a difference."
