After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, sales of American flags skyrocketed in what seemed to be a neverending surge of patriotism, but it seems patriotic interest only goes so far.

Experts aren’t expecting people to exercise their right to vote as passionately as they’ve been flying the Stars and Stripes in recent months.

Today is the deadline to register to vote for Michigan’s Aug. 6 primary elections.

But Mark Grebner, owner of Practical Political Consulting, 220 Albert Ave., said Secretary of State offices shouldn’t have to worry about long lines of unregistered voters eager to participate in government in light of Sept. 11 and Independence Day.

“Things blow up,” he said. “But 104-degree weather or a forest fire on the day of the election would have more impact than Sept. 11.”

If Michigan residents aren’t registered, they can do so at their city or township clerk office, any Secretary of State branch office or by mail with a voter registration form.

MSU communication Professor Charles Atkin agrees that newly found patriotism won’t show itself at the polls this August.

“I don’t think that has an impact on the state level,” he said. “The average person hasn’t given it much importance.”

Despite political insiders’ positions, Lansing resident Dorothy Wade thinks political interests are on the rise - especially for students.

“They feel they can make a difference,” Wade, 84, said about young adults. “People are paying more attention to what the kids are saying now.”

Grebner said the registering deadline isn’t what students should be concerned about.

“If you’re going to register, you’ve already registered,” he said. “What students need to know is that they can go to city hall and vote any time.”

Ballots are available from now until Monday Aug. 5 during business hours at East Lansing City Hall for the primary election, Grebner said.

“All students need to do is say they’re going to be out of town on Aug. 6 and they can fill out a ballot right then and there,” he said.

Landscape architecture senior Anna Swiontoniowski said students should vote - not because of patriotism found in a national crisis, but to be a voice in democracy.

Swiontoniowski said East Lansing might be a temporary residence, but it’s still a residence students should have some say in.

“It’s our town, too, and people don’t seem to realize that,” she said. “They put in all these laws that affect students and we have no idea and we don’t care and we don’t vote.

“We have a feeling of apathy. It’s a shame.”

August’s primary will consist of city, state Legislature and gubernatorial candidates vying their parties’ endorsement.

In the 1998 gubernatorial primary, 12 percent of East Lansing’s 21,508 registered voters cast a vote.

Lansing resident Gail Haas plans on voting in the primary to “make a difference.”

“I think a lot of people think about it, but by the time they realize it, they see it on the news and go, ‘Uh-oh, I guess I forgot to vote,’” Haas, 56, said. “I just think most people just don’t write it on a calendar and make a big deal out of it like they should.”

Grebner, on the other hand, doesn’t consider all primary elections to be a big deal.

“Yeah, elections are important,” he said. “But they’re only important if there’s something important to vote for.”

This year’s primary will have a good turnout because “it’s easy to vote in and easy to understand,” Grebner said.

The election includes a bus mileage for the Capital Area Transportation Authority and other tax changes, both of which will bring people to the polls, he said.

But sometimes money isn’t even enough to get local people involved in the voting process.

“I never vote, it’s terrible,” 35-year-old Lansing resident Karen Miller said. “I’ve thought about it, but I’ve never done it.

“I guess I just blow it off.”

Miller’s sister, Amy, said many citizens ask themselves, “Why should I vote?”

“It’s not going to matter anyway,” she said. “I think a lot of people feel there are things going on in this country they can’t control, and they don’t trust the government.”

Amy Miller, 38, said she will vote in the fall when “the major stuff comes up.”

“I usually don’t vote in the primary,” she said. “I don’t have any children, so I’m not worried about school elections or those kinds of things.

“Maybe I should be, but I’m not.”

Lansing resident Sam Alanga, 70, said voting allows him to voice his opinion.

“I don’t miss one,” he said of the primary elections. “It’s a privilege we have to make a difference.”

But there is no question if voters like 30-year-old Lansing resident Amity Hinkley will hit the polls.

“I’m from America, I should,” she said.

Staff writers Kristofer Karol and Amy Bartner contributed to this report.