The annual board member elections of ASDVC, our student government, were held for three days in April.

Of course, I exercised my voting right. It was my first election experience on this campus and I was excited about what would happen; however the results made me disappointed.

The valid vote number was announced as 917.

Mohamed Eisa, dean of planning, research and student outcomes, said this college “has a head count enrollment of 20,763 students.”

The voting rate comes out 4.4 percent; the president who was re-elected with 429 votes gained support of 2.0 percent of the total student body.

This is the lowest rate I’ve ever heard, even though it’s a better figure than last year’s though.

Actually, many of my friends did not vote. Some did not know that the elections were occurring and they should participate.

Honestly speaking, I had been totally ignorant about my voting right in ASDVC elections until I was told by one of my classmates who later ran in the election.

If not, I would not even noticed the existence of the election.

One reason for this low turnout is that voting gives students a choice; it’s not an obligation. Also, a small number of current students won’t be here next semester when the new board members starts working.

I don’t think 96 percent of DVC students are completely apathetic, but I believe abstention is an issue. From a cynical standpoint, it seems bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

If you have right to vote, you should use it.

I have serious anxiety about young people’s nonchalance toward “government.” Many students on this campus may not understand suffrage in the real world yet. If they feel nothing would be changed whether or not they vote, that’s a big problem.

Having said that, the reality is we do not have a transparent view of ASDVC, needless to say of each candidate.

Before and even on voting day, the campus was quiet and clean without pollution from candidate’s zealous debates or vast amounts of campaign posters and fliers. Nevertheless, there was a treat for voters: free lunch.

There is no need for such incentive. Sharing the excitement of unifying toward making a better campus is truly needed.