"A substantial number (of students) are registered," said Joyce McKinley, director of Centre County Office of Elections and Voter Registration. But there has been a very low voter turnout in past elections, McKinley said.

Some students said they are registered to vote in their hometowns. Joe Luber (freshman-aerospace engineering) is registered to vote in Bucks County, Pa., but is not planning on voting in the upcoming State College borough election or the elections in his hometown.

"I do vote at home," Luber said, "I never thought about (absentee ballots)."

Megan Smedley (junior-public relations) also said she is registered to vote in her home county, but is also not planning on voting in this election.

The idea of an absentee ballot, "never crossed my mind," Smedley said.

Sarah Wendel (sophomore-communication disorders) is registered to vote in Centre County and said she will be voting on Nov. 6.

"What the town decides influences the college," Wendel said. "It ultimately influences the students."

Some students said they would like to vote, but are not sure how to register in Centre County.

"Everyone thinks it's a pain to vote here," said Steve Skaggs (junior-logistics).

Skaggs said he would have liked to vote in the last election, but did not because he did not know how or where to register to vote.

It's an "inconvenience," Skaggs said. "Lots of students are interested and want to vote, but no one understands how to."

The Centre County Office of Elections and Voter Registration sends out voter registration cards to banks, libraries and post offices twice a year, said Dennis Corman, a clerk with the office. People may get voter registration information and cards from municipal offices, state stores and the voter registration office, Corman said.

People can get cards for new voter registration or even a change of address, he added.

To register to vote in Centre County, a person must have permanent residence within the voting district. The person must also have registered to vote 30 days prior to the election and must be 18 years old by the time of the election.

If people are already registered to vote in Centre County, they can vote on Nov. 6 in any polling place, Corman said. Some of the places closest to Penn State include the HUB-Robeson Center; College Heights School, 721 N. Atherton St; Knights of Columbus, 850 Stratford Dr; and the Foxdale Village Retirement Community, 500 E. Marylyn Ave, Corman said.

Other voting locations can be found on the Centre County Web site (www.co.centre.pa.us).