Louisiana saw a dismal turnout for the gubernatorial primary on Oct. 14. 

Out of 3 million eligible voters, only 36% showed up to the polls. That’s Louisiana’s lowest voter turnout for a governor’s election in more than a decade.

Why? 

One theory is voter disillusionment drained Louisiana residents’ desire to participate. Another proposed cause was that the election was held on a Saturday, also the date of an LSU home football game.

In the absence of one, clear answer students weighed in with their thoughts and feelings on voting. 

“I just don’t get into politics as much,” said mass communication senior E’Lazia Washington. “I just feel like all of it’s rigged.”

Her parents told her that her vote and every vote matters, Washington said, but it’s hard to do something she doesn’t care about. 

Washington isn’t the only young voter who feels this way. LSU junior Ashleigh Zaidain said she didn’t vote because she didn’t agree with any of the potential Louisiana governor candidates. 

“I’m independent,” Zaidan said. 

Even though neither Washington or Zaidain voted in this past election, both are registered to vote.

Washington said it was easy to register, especially since she was with her mother and knew what to do. Zaiden felt the opposite. 

“I think they make it harder than it has to be,” Zaidain said. 

Kinesiology sophomore Alexis Granier said she did vote. She said she was raised to believe voting is important as a United States citizen, and that it’s vital to do her duty and vote. 

Ryan DePriest, an LSU senior, also voted in the recent gubernatorial election. Like Granier, he believed that voting is one’s “duty.”

“I mean that’s the way our democracy works, that’s the way we get stuff done here,” DePriest said.