Have you been following the primaries or local issues? Do you care about school funding or who could arrest you? Did you vote yesterday?

According to statistics, you probably didn’t.

The Ohio primary youth turnout was at 7 percent in comparison to the nationwide 5 percent, according to a press release from the Luna Media Group. The number of youth voters, categorized as those under age 30, in Ohio was 18 percent less than in 2008.

We’re surprised at the lack of attendance at the polls — especially because there is plenty of criticism going around campus about health care, student loans and taxes.

Although many Kent State students are from a variety of states — and countries — we encourage you to get out and support what and who you believe in.

If you don’t understand the issues or where which candidate stands, check out KentWired.com. We’ve been bringing you up-to-the-minute election coverage with interactive graphics, so take advantage of it.

We live in an era where information is at our fingertips, but people are afraid to put their opinions in places that don’t exist within the social media realm. Please, whether you’re smitten with Mitt or an Obama lover, keep up with what’s going on. Although Ohio chose Romney for the primary, November will be here sooner than you think, and the White House could remain the same or be radically different.

As the lumped “youth voters,” you have the chance to change the rest of your life by filling out a ballot, so do it.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.