When a responsibility is shared among a large group of people, often those people will falsely assume that somebody else will take care of the task. Such is the case with voting in Provo’s elections.
During the primary elections about a month ago, only eight people voted from the Wymount Park precinct, out of more than 1,700 registered voters! Three other student precincts had a combined total of 19 people show up to the polls. This is pathetic.
Earlier this summer, hundreds of students stormed the city council chambers when legislation was about to be implemented, requiring students to pay an additional parking charge (which was delayed but not removed). How many of these students will do the easy part of civic responsibility and just vote? After all, the people elected Nov. 3 will make the decisions for the next four years.
Thousands of students voted in the BYUSA elections, so why not participate in something just as simple yet much more important? The time it takes to find out where to vote, learn a little about the candidates, walk there and return ... takes less time than standing in line for a free homecoming burger, so get out and vote.
Brian Casaday
Provo
Feeds 
I dont want to vote in Provo elections because I dont live here all the time. If I was provo resident and was not a student and did not have anything to do with the university I would hate for a bunch of transient students to change the laws where I live.
Because we really don't care. If 'hundreds stormed' the city council meeting, where were the other 29,000? We realize that after about 4 years of being in Provo after coming out of state that we are OUT of here once we graduate and feel ZERO obligation to vote.
Why do we vote for BYUSA, because we can take 2 minutes away from facebook while we are in the library hogging a computer someone really needs, and vote on route Y.
You getting upset is pathetic.
Amen.
I can't wait for the elections to be over so people quit bugging me about something I don't care about. I care about national politics, and I definitely care about politics in my home state and town, but not here. As far as I'm concerned, Provo *IS* BYU. The rest of the town doesn't really impact my life very much.
Typical self-centered arrogance and ignorance. The "Provo IS BYU" comment makes you sound real respectful...
I'd be willing to bet that with a few minutes of research, you'd retract your comment of "The rest of the town doesn't really impact my life very much."
Why don't you just spare us the research and tell us what would change our minds? Since it is so readily obvious please enlighten me because in the meantime I have to study Organic Chemistry
The majority of BYU students are from out of state and do not want to become a Utah resident at the expense of permanent residency in their home state.
Certainly there are reasons for BYU students not to become Utah residents, such as state-based scholarships, in-state tuition for graduate school outside of Utah, or perks such as receiving an allowance for maintaining Alaskan residency (but you have to physically live there for part of the year).
Besides these few exceptions, what's the fear about registering and voting where you actually live?
I also heard that about 10,000 students out of the 33,000 enrolled are already Utah residents, so although a majority of students come from out of state, it isn't an overwhelming majority.
I think that is why they said there were 1700 registered voters. Registered means that they are Utah residents. All they had to do was walk in and vote. Thanks for commenting though, but next time make sure you read before you criticize.
I cant imagine that 1700 residents are registered in the state of Utah. I know Im not registering here because this is not my premanent residency. Im only going to school here and will be off!
I am pretty sure you can register for Provo City elections as a student and not have to become a permanent resident of Utah. That was highly publicized with the parking fee issue.
You may not officially become a resident of Utah but if you are then applying to graduate or professional programs in your home state it becomes far more difficult to prove residency. Many of us don't vote here for several reasons. First and foremost for me is the advantage I get for professional schools from my home state over here. Second is that Utah doesn't really impact national matters. It will always go R. It is not even close to a swing state, so why vote here when I can vote in a swing state?
I would rather have to park further away for two years and get into the professional school of my choice then get to not have a parking permit and park close and be stuck with one option for school after my undergrad.
You DO have to register in the state of Utah to vote in the elections.