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''(Voting) just felt important.''

Mary Nagle

JCC Student

Greg DeCinque took time to explain to his son the ins-and-outs of the voting process.

The Jamestown Community College president clipped a sample ballot out of The Post-Journal and made sure Ryan was ready to cast his vote.

On Tuesday, Ryan, and many other younger and first-time voters, entered a voting booth, pulled a few levers and helped choose the next president of the United States. The election was expected to draw many younger people to the polls.

At JCC, many students were intending to vote because they saw major problems, such as the economy and the war in Iraq, which needed to be fixed.

Amber Jarosz and Mary Nagle, both sophomores, said they voted because it was the right thing to do.

''I believe our votes don't really count as much because of the Electoral College, but I still wanted to vote,'' Ms. Jarosz said.

''It just felt important,'' added Ms. Nagle.

For most of the students at JCC, it is the first time they will be voting. And, for those who may have cast their ballots before, the outcome of the election was much more serious.

''I sit there, and I complain about politics and now I'm actually going to take part,'' said Josh Frangione, while sitting in the Student Union.

However, not everyone will be voting, and many are still undecided if they will head to the polls. Citing gas prices and health care concerns, Mike Cali, a freshman, said he didn't know if he would vote.

''If I get time to,'' he said, when asked if he planned on voting.

But, Melissa Baker, another sophomore, had a warning for those like Cali.

''I feel if you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain,'' she said.

While sitting in the school's cafeteria with some friends, Kayla Ozimek said whoever was elected president will have to make sure he is making the country better for younger generations.

''It's important for our country,'' said Kayla Ozimek, a student from Jamestown. ''We need to know who we're going to be voting for ... because this president is going to affect our country. It's going to affect our future. I'm not a political person, but to choose not to vote is saying you don't have a voice in society.''