Only three people cast their ballots for the New York Republican primary during the 15-hour window when the voting polls were open at E.S. Bird Library.

Gloria Paul and Margaret McKinley, election specialists who helped run the voting for the New York primary, said the turnout was disappointing.

‘People don’t vote like they used to,’ Paul said with a sigh.

The polls at Bird were open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and although the low turnout was upsetting, both women said it was not unusual. During the November 2011 election, Paul said only about 34 people voted.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the New York primary with 56.4 percent of the vote, according to The Associated Press.

One of the three people who voted at Bird was Judson Belmont, an employee at Upstate Medical University Hospital. He said he believes people should vote if they identify with a particular candidate.

‘I think if that there’s a candidate who speaks to you and you feel there is enough on the line, then it’s something everyone should do,’ he said.

Belmont said he voted for Ron Paul because he is the only anti-war candidate and because he believes Paul could help stop wasteful government spending.

‘I’ve always kind of identified with candidates who are of a more libertarian mindset,’ he said. ‘At this point, our country can’t afford any more expensive bureaucratic extravaganzas.’

Paul also said she is disappointed Syracuse University didn’t have any material available for students regarding how to vote and how to register to vote. She said that the first time she was stationed at Bird, the university provided two computers for students to use in case they needed to look ud hold debates and lectures, as well as put up signs to get more students to vote.

Many students came out to vote during the two times Bill Clinton was elected president because he really appealed to the students, Keim said. While turnout was good for the 2008 election, it was not as good as when Clinton ran. Normally, 1,000 students will show up to vote during presidential elections. During off-year elections, the turnout is usually closer to 100, he said.

Because many people already see the primary as a foregone conclusion and because there are so few Republicans in the district Bird Library serves, the turnout is not surprising, Keim said. But, he said, he would still like to see more students vote. ‘It’s disappointing,’ Keim said, looking at the stack oft is usually closer to 100, he said.

Because many people already see the primary as a foregone conclusion and because there are so few Republicans in the district Bird Library serves, the turnout is not surprising, Keim said. But, he said, he would still like to see more students vote.

‘It’s disappointing,’ Keim said, looking at the stack of unused ballots in front of him. ‘Lots of wasted paper, lots of wasted time.’

jliannet@syr.edu 

Published on April 24, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Jessica: jliannet@syr.edu | @JessicaIannetta