Age: 77 Registered voter: Yes Voted: Yes

Why: "I feel if you don't vote, you don't have a right to voice an opinion. Everybody should vote. As an American citizen, you're shirking your citizenship, in my opinion, if you don't vote."

What the election was about: "Bonds and bonds and more bonds. Increasing tax," Glover said. "For we retired people that are on a fixed income, you know you can only reach so high with tax. It becomes times you have to level off. Property tax goes up. Sales tax goes up. Gasoline tax goes up. It's just tax, tax, taxing. In my humble opinion, too much money is being spent downtown instead of being spread over for the taxpayers to be able to enjoy in their life."

Glover also wrote in "Anyone but" as an alternative to Mayor Charles Meeker, who is running unopposed.

"It seems, in my opinion again, he's for anything to be spent downtown, and he should let the county commissioners do their job and not be so critical," he said.

TOM SAVOCA, WENDELL

Age: 55 Registered voter: Yes Voted: No

Why not: Savoca said he doesn't think his vote really matters. A couple of years ago, a mayoral candidate in Wendell told him he was concerned about Savoca's top issues: high growth and high water bills. So Savoca voted for him.

But nothing ever changed, he said.

"It seems to me it doesn't really matter who gets in," he said. "It's the same bull anyway."

What the election was about: "I have no idea. Usually, I watch the news for about a half an hour before I come to work. I just have completely missed it. I don't even know."

PRIMUS SLOAN, RALEIGH

Age: 69 Registered voter: Yes Voted: Yes

Why: Sloan said voting is an important part of being an American. "I vote regularly," he said. "I try to get the right candidates."

What the election was about: The bond issue, he said. "I have enough tax increases already," he said.

BETTIE THOMPSON, CARY

Age: 58

Registered voter: Yes

Voted: She planned to Tuesday afternoon.

Why: "It's so important because it's our right and our duty as citizens. The people we elect make decisions about our communities," she said. "We need to be paying attention as much as possible to what's going on in our communities, and there are a lot of decisions being made every week on the Town Council that will impact the people of Cary."

What the election was about: Thompson said the Cary mayoral race was important to her. She supports incumbent Ernie McAlister. "Cary is growing fast, and we need to think about the growth, and also the roads in Cary need a lot of help. So I'm going to vote for the mayor that's there -- McAlister. I think he's been doing a good job."

CHRISTINE JONES, RALEIGH

Age: 48 Registered voter: No Voted: No

Why not: "I just haven't taken the time to [register]," said Jones, who moved to Raleigh from Hertford County about six weeks ago. "It does matter. Just haven't taken the time."

MALCOLM AARON, DURHAM

Age: 43 Registered voter: Yes

Voted: He planned to Tuesday night.

Why: "I don't see Durham having the pride that Raleigh and Chapel Hill have," Aaron said. "I want Durham to say, 'This is our city. Let's clean it up. Let's make it the best city it can be and let's feel good about being a Durhamite.' "

What the election was about: Crime, education and affordable housing, he said, adding that improvement in those areas could lead to a better image for Durham.

TIM MERRITT, CARY

Age: 28 Registered voter: Yes Voted: No

Why not: "I have no clue what's been going on," he said. "I've only been down here two years. I'll let people vote who know what's going on."

HEATHER BROOKS, RALEIGH

Age: 29 Registered voter: Yes Voted: Yes

Why: "It's a democracy. It's shameful how few of us do vote and how we're spreading democracy around the world. I feel like the government is as good as the people who elect it."

What the election was about: "I'm looking at my City Council, the board of education. I'm into the bonds, too," Brooks said. She also is concerned about plans to build a recreation center next to Durant Nature Park. She supports sports, but she would like more natural spaces, too.

JOSHUA PLESZEWICZ, RALEIGH

Age: 28 Registered voter: No Voted: No

Why: "It's a frustrating topic for me. I choose to not participate," he said. "It always seems like I have to choose between the lesser of two evils when I start thinking about it. When I drive down the road and see 15 vote- for-me signs, I don't read any of them."

SEVEN BOHANNON, DURHAM

Age: 31 Registered voter: Yes Voted: No

Why not: Bohannon said he hadn't paid much attention to the city election, though he doesn't consider himself apolitical. He does follow state and national races. He said the Oct. 9 election date might have thrown voters off. "I'll probably be more interested next month."

Compiled by Sarah Lindenfeld Hall and Matt Dees