It is the season for elections and despite the national crisis, officials said the voting must go on as usual.

Three seats on the State College Borough Council, as well as mayor, are up for election Tuesday.

Council member Richard McCarl, who is not up for reelection, said that it would take something even greater than what happened on Sept. 11 to cause the voting to be cancelled.

"I have a very strong feeling about all local elections. Local elections are the most important, and we certainly have not put them on the back burner," McCarl said.

McCarl said local elections are the most important to the members of the community because they directly affect where the voters live.

Council member Tom Daubert said the election is important, but is worried about a possible decrease in voter turnout.

"I think it is very important that people come out and vote. We have good people running ," Daubert said.

Like McCarl, Daubert thinks the elections are a necessity to the growth of the community but is worried about a lack of publicity.

"I think the voting is very important to this town. Unfortunately there hasn't been a lot of publicity about who is running, and I'm not sure people are aware," McCarl said.

McCarl also thinks it is important to see more participation from Penn State students in the voting.

Michael Berkman, associate professor of political science, said it is important to continue with the elections as normal.

"We have regularly scheduled elections. We have no precedent for not holding them," said Berkman, who specializes in state and local politics.

"Our system relies upon these elections and there is no reason not to continue with them as scheduled," Berkman said.

Those interested in registering still have time to do so. Voter registration can be completed at the Centre County Elections Office in the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte.