Students at Y. snub elections in Provo

PROVO — The hot political issue on the minds of many Brigham Young University students is not the four City Council seats up for grabs — it's an election nearly 700 miles away.

These students care about the California recall election.

Roughly 11 percent of BYU students claim California as their home state — and they say they don't want to register to vote in Utah so they can vote in the controversial recall election of California Gov. Gray Davis.

Perhaps they just want to be able to tell their grandchildren they voted for The Terminator. Actor and former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is married to TV journalist Maria Shriver, has been surging in the polls in California's recall election.

"I'm from California, that's where I plan on living and working," said Carissa Soladay, a BYU student from San Diego, Calif. "Our last governor messed up our budget, so this governor will have the opportunity to really positively impact our economy."

But students should care about the local political scene surrounding campus, not just an election that is miles away, said Councilman Mark Hathaway, who is running for the first district seat.

Historically, student turnout in Utah Valley elections has been woefully low. Programs like "Rock the Vote" on campus are designed to get more students to the voting booths, but most students register in other states — not Utah — said Amelia Nielson-Stowell, president of the BYU College Democrats.

"I don't think they understand," Hathaway said. "You know, they are willing to demonstrate, so to speak, and carry placards against a cause like the apartment issue. They are willing to have a voice and even come to meetings, but they really don't have any power unless they do have a vote."

Issues such as the controversial dance ordinance, the South Campus Area Master Plan and last year's zoning initiative that limited the number of singles that could rent homes in some parts of the city are just a few of the issues that the City Council has debated that could affect students.

"If people are going to be so involved in the government, try to voice our opinion to everything and be mad at what the City Council does and be mad at what BYU does and then not to vote to make a difference — that's just pointless," said Nielson-Stowell. "It's stupid."

Roger Brown, a leader in a local citizens group, said roughly 7,000 BYU students are Utah residents. If they would only vote. they could change the face of Provo politics, he said.

"Students could have a big impact on Utah, they all just choose not to," Nelson said. "They could have tremendous power."

It's too late to register for Tuesday's primary elections, but voters can still register for the November general election. Register by Oct. 27 at the Utah County Elections Office, or at satellite locations on Oct. 24 and Oct. 27.

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