With the primary election only a week away, mailboxes will soon be filled with candidate literature and campaign signs will adorn front lawns throughout the county.

But despite heavy campaigning and local enthusiasm, primary elections are still poorly attended. In fact, elections are poorly attended. It's a question that has plagued candidates for years: “how do I get my constituents to the polls?”

I have seen statistical information about socio-economic factors and marketing strategies, but I think that the answer is much more obvious. People don't vote, because they don't know how and are too lazy to research it.

I've heard a rumor that more people vote for “American Idol” than for U.S. president.

But why do people vote for pop stars and not for political representatives?

One reason is that people know how to vote for “American Idol.” Every time a contestant is introduced, the host, Ryan Seacrest, thoroughly explains the voting process. And, voting for “American Idol” is easy.

Now, we obviously can't have people text messaging for president. But in recent years the complexity of the voting process has been heavily criticized, especially after the Gore/Bush election of 2000.

The polling process in America needs to be re-evaluated and restructured to be more “voter friendly.” I often question my vote after I pull the lever, and not because I doubt my choice of candidate, but because I never see where my vote goes or how it is counted. I am not accusing the system of being fraudulent, but it would be nice to know how the machine operates. I also believe that the system of levers can be a little confusing.

It would be nice to have a more user-friendly kiosk.

Politicians could certainly help to educate their constituents about the voting process, beyond voter registration. Every piece of campaign literature and/or poster should prominently display the Web address for the local board of elections. And politicians should not shy from touching on how and where to vote in their public addresses or on their Web sites.

Finally, voters need to take the initiative to educate themselves. Many questions can be answered over the phone by contacting the Cayuga County Board of Elections or online at www.co.cayuga.ny.us/election.

If you have questions about a candidate, don't be afraid to contact party representatives. These people volunteer their time so rest assured, they are there by choice and will be more than willing to assist you with any questions.

Estabrook's column appears Monday and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com