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New River Valley candidates shouldn't expect much from first-time ballot casters this May.

Young, soon-to-be voters say municipal elections mean little to them in a year when the presidential hopefuls are bombarding them with messages.

"Every time you turn on the TV, you see one of them," said 18-year-old Tyler Holmes. The Blacksburg High School senior said he largely dismisses Blacksburg Town Council candidates, even when their campaign signs are posted nearby.

"I just don't pay attention to them," he said. "Maybe if someone marketed to me more."

That attitude is to be expected, although many high school students will come of voting age this year, said Montgomery County Registrar Randy Wertz.

"I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed," he said, referring to turnout among young voters in elections that don't feature presidential candidates.

In the November 2007 general election, 34 of the 321 18-year-olds who were registered to vote, or 10.5 percent, cast ballots. However, in the 2004 presidential election, 66 percent, or 719, of the 1,076 registered 18-year-olds visited the polls, according to State Board of Elections records.

Some students said they're too busy to pay attention to smaller issues, and others said they don't think that local leaders can make any real changes.

"I mean, doesn't the same person get elected as sheriff every year?" asked Blacksburg senior Daniel McNeil.

But some young voters do care.

Christiansburg senior Leah Vaca said local politics are crucial to how she lives because she plans to stay in the valley -- although she does admit she's more apt to talk about the presidential race.

Christiansburg has three open town council seats with two incumbents running, and Vaca said she wants to see more change. Vaca suggested that all the council members should be replaced because of the state of downtown, particularly the construction on the sidewalks.

"It's a waste of resources. It's a waste of money. It's a waste of everything," she said. "I feel that a lot of council members they're set in their ways and won't listen."

But Vaca's voice is rare, Wertz said.

Despite the prominence of apathy, Blacksburg High government teacher Amy Stevens stresses the importance of local politics in her classes. She invites public officials to visit class and encourages students who have turned 18 to register to vote. She says it's their duty.

Students in her classes also are expected to attend a local government meeting each grading period.

"After going a few times, you kind of realize the issues they discuss really do affect you," said Blacksburg High senior Michael Blaske.

Blaske and several of his friends plan to attend Virginia Tech next year, which means town-level issues will remain important for them.