Although voter turnout for the Nov. 8 special election was more than expected, only 20 of 55 Bakersfield College students polled said they voted. All eight of the propositions on the ballot failed.

The voter turnout was “more than expected,” said Professor of Communication Helen Acosta, who is also the adviser for the BC Democratic Club. The actual voter turnout, according to the California Secretary of State Web site, was 44.5 percent.

As far as students voting, Political Science Professor Cornelio Rodriguez said the “younger people don’t have a voter history; they don’t know what to expect or what’s expected of them in terms of the voting process.”

Monica Meza, a theater arts major, said, “To be honest, I was just too busy [to vote].” Yet, Adrianne Neumeyer, who voted, said, “I have the right to vote so I might as well do it, plus my uncle reminded me to.”

Neumeyer also said, in regard to the outcome of the election, “I’m not complaining about the results.”

Acosta was pleased with the results of the elections.

“It’s what I was hoping for,” said Acosta, who worked with the Kern Alliance for a Better California with 33 other organizations whose slogan was “Vote ‘NO’ on Nov. 8.”

In an informal analysis made by Acosta, voter turnout shows that a percentage of registered Republicans voted against some of the propositions. For example, Proposition 76 titled State Spending and School Funding Limits. Initiative Constitutional Amendment would allow Gov. Schwarzenegger to set a budget on school spending.

Nearly 20 percent of those who voted against the Proposition 76 were not registered as Democrats. “A turnout like that has an implied message,” said Rodriguez. He said he was not surprised by the outcome of the elections but yet he said, “I was unsure of what to expect.”

Rodriguez speculated that the voter turnout was a “boycott” against the special election that “could’ve have waited till next year.”

Acosta believes that the governor’s office lack of promoting in the Kern County area led to the victory against the propositions. Acosta believes that Schwarzenegger was wrong in assuming he had Kern County’s support.

Both Acosta and Rodriguez agree in that Schwarzenegger should focus more on working closely with the state legislation rather than “tour the state,” said Acosta.