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GREENSBORO - One N.C. A&T student is finding people who couldn't care less about one of the most basic American rights.

Syene Jasmin , an A&T undergraduate who sent boxes of completed registration cards from his campus in the spring, has found that some people near his hometown of Trenton just aren't as passionate as college students.

He documented the sign-up efforts in a www.youtube.com video posted this month.

Jasmin toured a mall in Kinston, low-income neighborhoods and some middle-class streets to ask people to register.

Some people reacted with indifference. Or they told him their vote doesn't seem to matter and politicians aren't trustworthy.

"I want to show people what's really going on, and yeah, you have a lot of enthusiasm," he said, referring to the boxes of registrations he hauled in from A&T.

The enclave of a college campus is a much different world from most any street in a poor neighborhood - which Jasmin filmed.

"And you got some of those who just don't believe in it, who just don't believe in the hype," he said.

A few registration successes did make it into the final edit.

In one scene, a woman Jasmin had asked to register three times finally does.

But next, area political scientists noted, people actually have to vote.

"Registration does not equal voting, and people register and they still don't vote," said David Holian , associate professor in the UNCG political science department.

Registrations are just one part of the matrix that influences big numbers of people to vote, said John Dinan , an associate professor of political science at Wake Forest University.

Factors such as intense media coverage, a close race and other issues can drive big turnouts, he said.

"The main thing is, it's a complex picture," Dinan said, adding that people such as Jasmin could have an effect in the fall.

"Part of it will come down to actions of particular individuals and how hard people are working to organize people to the commitment," Dinan said.

Holian phrased it another way.

"It's making sure the follow-though is there," he said.

Before refocusing effort on getting voters to the polls, Jasmin has plans to sign up a few more people.

The voter registration deadline is Oct. 10 , though people can register and then vote in one stop during Guilford County's early voting period beginning Oct. 16 .

"You still got to get people registered before they even vote," he said.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com