Why don't people vote?

After the election, I was in the market and ran into a guy I knew who worked there. I asked him how long he had to wait to vote.
Sheephishly, he muttered that he planned on voting, but just didn't get around to it
He further went on to say that the last time he voted, it was for George Wallace Now, I'm not gonna comment on his choice, but I went away amazed that a grown man, older than I, had only voted once in the last 30 years.

We had quite the turnout this election, for a change. But not nearly what we should expect from concerned citizens.
I am at a loss to explain this malaise. I can understand emergencies, but what about everyone else?
Are people so out of touched that they feel no need to vote?
So busy with their lives that they can't even do an absentee ballot?
Figuring the choices are so bad, they will simply abstain?
Don't give a damn?
Too drunk or high?

Any and all reasonable comments are welcome. Please no flaming.

Some people just like to stay out of it. They may find no candidate they identify with so don't bother to choose or are just generally apathetic to the whole situation. As you have only 1 vote it turns alot of people off knowing theres little power in an individual ballot.