Nathan Leitner, a senior political science major, is one of many students who voted absentee.

“I voted absentee because I am registered in my district back home,” Leitner said. “I feel that even though I live at EIU a majority of the months out of the year, I would skew the local elections since I don’t know the candidates as well as I do at home.”

Audrey Jorns, a deputy clerk of the Coles County Clerk’s Office, said the office granted 960 absentee ballots this year.

“It’s mainly from disabled people, people who are home-bound, in the military, and non-resident citizens,” Jorns said.

Although the office’s voter numbers are larger, the number of absentee ballots issued this year is not unusual, she added. People tend to get absentee ballots to vote for their hometown elections and issues, Jorns said.

“When people register for Coles County, they are voting for federal, state and local candidates,” she said.

Jorns added student registration has increased because of the national campaign, Rock the Vote, and from Eastern’s Student Action Team.

Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture and new technologies to engage young people and encourage them to register and vote in every election.

Student Action Team does the same around campus. The group focuses on being able to represent the student body through lobbying and voting registration.

Leitner said he voted absentee because there seems to be an interesting race back in his hometown that he would not want to miss.

Abigail Thompson, a sophomore music education major, also voted absentee. Thompson voted in the early elections with an absentee ballot to make sure her vote counted in her local government races.

“I didn’t want to re-register here in Coles County, and I still think it is important to vote so I ordered my absentee ballot in October,” Thompson said. “It’s more important to vote for people in my local government than here in Coles County because I know the issues that are taking place back at home.”

Sabrina Pripusich, a sophomore elementary education major, is also grateful to be able to vote absentee.

“I requested an absentee ballot because I still wanted to vote, but I did not want to go home,” Pripusich said.

Going home in the middle of the week is not an option for Pripusich, and neither is not voting, she said. Living three hours away encouraged her to request an absentee ballot for today’s elections.

“Growing up, my mother educated me on how important it is to vote as a woman and not voting is not an option for my family,” Pripusich said.

She added it shows how important the presidential and local elections are because she went out of her way to get the ballot.

“I am excited for Tuesday’s election considering I voted early,” Pripusich said. “I am interested in seeing (the) results.”

Brittni Garcia can be reached at 581-7942 or at bmgarcia@eiu.edu.