In Hempstead: He's Not Voting Today Because He Says the Candidates are not Strong Enough
Xavier Howard carefully considered his concerns when determining his refusal to vote in today's primary. The overcast weather at the Hempstead train station reflected the dreary cynicism in Howard's perception of the candidates in the race for the presidency. With the war in Iraq as his primary concern, Howard professed his skepticism that any of the candidates had the mental vitality to handle the dire situation in Iraq. Leaning toward the left more so than the right, he speculated that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate who could possibly be able to handle the state of the country as president, but only because she would have former President Bill Clinton behind her for direction and support.
According to an ongoing project conducted by the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University, an average of 34.2 percent of the voting-eligible population turned out to vote in the last four primaries. The reasons for poor voter turnout are varied and in some cases largely speculative. Whether it be a political disconnect, disgust and disillusionment with the system, an overwhelming sense of apathy, or outright laziness, the fact remains that more than 70 percent of the eligible population of four states declined to vote in the primary stage of the most important election in four years.
