Lack of voter interest and engagement

“It doesn’t really affect me too much which candidate gets elected.” –LSA sophomore Matthew Barera

“I don’t want to be that person who voted for whoever, like, the president is who, like, brought our country down, so I don’t want to have any part of it. So I’ll just not vote at all.” –LSA freshman Rebecca Lyttle

“I just feel like it’s not going to make that big of a difference if I vote or don’t vote. To me, I think the clear winner is Obama. For me, it’s not really a tight race.” –LSA sophomore Nathan Ma

Mixed feelings about the candidates

“I just don’t have a candidate that I’m really, you know, interested in.” –LSA junior Brad Podulka

“I feel like we should have more options, instead of just Obama and Romney. It’s kind of – it’s kind of the better of the worst.” –LSA sophomore Nathan Ma

“Romney seems all right, but sometimes he says things that he shouldn’t … and get(s) himself into trouble.” –LSA sophomore Robert Cernak

“I’d vote for Obama because he just seems like a better person.” –LSA sophomore Nathan Ma

Distaste for unappealing characteristics of the campaign

“It was kind of hard to watch (the first presidential debate) because, I mean, both of them were sort of going back and forth like kids.” –Engineering freshman Kyle McIntosh

“Of course, the race card is played, and some of (the campaign ads) are very offensive, but I guess that’s the game – like, you’ve got to do whatever people do to get their votes.” –LSA sophomore Paige Blessman

“There’s a lot of mudslinging going on. There’s a lot of people who are really angry at everyone else. ” –LSA sophomore Robert Cernak

Some people shouldn’t vote

“I feel like you should vote if you really have a reason to vote.” –LSA freshman Rebecca Lyttle

“I think they should at least know what they’re voting for.” –LSA sophomore Erik Ljungman

“I just feel like everybody should at least have some position or some information on who’s running.” –LSA sophomore Paige Blessman

Everyone should vote

“If you don’t vote, then you can’t complain about the decision that gets made.” –Engineering freshman Kyle McIntosh

“I think everybody should have some say, even if they don’t know the issues, if they have a candidate they feel is right.” –LSA junior Brad Podulka

Important political issues in this election

“All these social issues are fine and good, but, I mean, I think really getting the economy back on track is the most important thing.” –LSA sophomore Robert Cernak

“I’d say the job market and education. I need to stay in school and get a job, so those are the two things that are big to me.” –LSA sophomore Paige Blessman

“Right now, I’d say foreign relations. I’m kind of scared about the future sometimes.” –LSA sophomore Matthew Barera