Rational non-voting

In a recent ballot that the University of Western Ontario Economics Department was forced by university regulations to hold about some procedural issue, the announced results were:

44 ballots distributed
8 votes in favour
36 unreturned ballots.

I'll bet that if the election issue were controversial and wouldn't involve a tonne of work if we voted against it, the response rate would be a LOT higher.

My question is, "Who were the 8 who bothered to vote, and why?"
I would guess they are the new assistant professors.