The midterm elections are less than a week away. Even so, students are not showing much interest.
Freshman Benjamin Stohler said he doesn't pay much attention to politics, unless Stephen Colbert counts.
"We're too young," he said, "and we don't really care about politics."
Freshman elementary education major Emily Howe agreed. She said she would probably vote in the 2012 presidential election, but she doesn't know much about the midterm elections or even where to vote.
Junior telecommunications major Donald Paff will be voting Tuesday, but he doesn't usually pay much attention to the local candidates. While he has an idea of who he wants to vote for, he doesn't make his final decision until the last minute.
"Before I go to the polls, I'll probably go to local websites ... and check out the quick fact sheet that they usually post. That's what I usually check out before I go vote," he said. "Or if I'm really not sure, I'll just leave that one blank."
An important local election Tuesday is for the position of county prosecutor. The county prosecutor, for which candidates J.A. Cummins and Jeff Arnold are running, has the responsibility to represent Indiana in all felony and misdemeanor criminal prosecutions in Delaware County, including cases involving Ball State students arrested in Muncie. The prosecuting attorney also supervises grand jury proceedings, enforces child support orders and prosecute traffic violations.
Cummins, the Democratic candidate, has worked as chief deputy prosecutor of Delaware County and senior prosecutor for 19 years. He defeated incumbent Mark McKinney in the May primaries.
"The past four years with this administration have been very problematic," Cummins said. "I'm running for prosecutor because I can do a better job then what has been done the past four years."
Running for the Republicans is Arnold, who has worked in the prosecutor's office for 23 years. In his time there, he has partnered with community agencies, including A Better Way and Community Corrections, to help steer defendants and victims into educational programs to help reduce future crime.
"I think we're pretty good at convicting people, so what I've been trying to do during my campaign is think outside the box. What else can the prosecutors office do that we haven't traditionally done?" Arnold said. "I love my job. It's really what I enjoy doing."
Both candidates said that, if elected, they would be sure to look at the facts that are put in front of them with every case.
"I'm not as concerned with convictions and numbers as I am about looking at a case on an individual basis and deciding what is best for that defendant," Arnold said.
Cummins said the prosecutor's office is where criminal charges start, which makes it an extremely important and powerful position.
"I don't owe anybody anything," Cummins said. "Every decision that I make will not be based on politics. All of my decisions will be based on what is fact and what is the law."
Holly Gillham, College Republicans public relations chairwoman, said her organization is actively supporting Arnold's campaign.
"He's a strong candidate that we think will do a great job serving Delaware County," she said. "I, personally, have been helping with his campaign by filling out addresses for envelopes and flyers that will go out to people throughout the county."
Nolan Born, president of the University Democrats, said students should care about elections at the local level because they are directly affected by the elected officials.
"Many students don't think about the Delaware County officials when they go out to vote, but they might be surprised by the influence they have on Ball State and its students," he said.
"The student population has the power, if it banded together, to demand the local officials' attention."
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