Olivo, who played for the Missouri Tigers from 1994-97, said he has not voted once since becoming eligible more than a dozen years ago, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday.

"I got caught up in the wave of apathy that has affected many of my generation," Olivo was quoted as saying. "I'm the first to admit that I was wrong for not voting."

The 31-year-old Republican is running in Missouri's 9th Congressional District, which runs from Columbia to Lake Saint Louis. He and others are vying for the seat held by Republican Rep. Kenny Hulshof, who is running for governor.

Olivo reportedly registered to vote in Hermann, Mo., in 2006. Before that, he was registered in Washington, where he worked for the National Italian American Foundation. He voted in neither place, according to elections officials in the cities, the newspaper reported.

Olivo said he was "a little frustrated with the constant rhetoric and the broken promises."