Voter turnout for students and residents countywide was low for yesterday's election, while some students were turned away from polling places because of registration confusion.

About 7,100 people were registered to vote on campus and in precincts downtown where many students live, but only about 600 went to the polls. The 8.5 percent turnout was lower than last year, when 12 percent came out to vote in those precincts.

The turnout was lower than the overall tally for Centre County, where about 37 percent of those registered went to the ballot booth. Wanda Hockenberry, election office supervisor for Centre County, said student turnout was lower than she expected.

"We thought it would be higher since there was a student on the ballot [in the State College Borough Council race]," Hockenberry said. "We are surprised more did not come out for that race."

Voter turnout at the HUB-Robeson Center -- where all the ballots for on-campus precincts were cast -- was very low, with 58 out of 2,421 on-campus voters casting their ballots.

But many on campus were turned away before casting a vote.

Matthew Cullen, judge of elections for the 24th precinct, said some students who had previously registered at Findlay Commons were surprised to find they were not registered when they came to vote yesterday.

Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Ian Rosenberger said the on-campus registration at Findlay Commons took place Oct. 28. The registration deadline in State College for yesterday's election was Oct. 6.

Seth Kelly (freshman-engineering) registered at Findlay Commons.

"Supposedly I could vote today, and now I can't," Kelly said. "I just wanted to do something about my political views."

Jake Keefe (freshman-political science) said he also found out just yesterday that he couldn't vote after registering at Findlay.

"We met all of the candidates in one of my classes and I think it's important to vote," Keefe said.

Maren Larson, a polling clerk, said the voting turnout was very low early in the day.

"I was here last year, but the turnout seems to be pretty consistent with years past," Larson said.

Other student voters that did come and were able to vote said they came because of responsibility and issues raised by State College Borough Council.

Kim Kennedy (senior-marketing) is a USG town senator.

"I registered as a freshman and have voted every year," Kennedy said. "It's very important, especially that students in State College vote, because there is such a large pull from students."

Mike O'Connor (junior-computer science and biology) has voted every year since he turned 18. He said every issue that affects students is important to him.

"I think any issue that makes students second class citizens is important to vote on," O'Connor said.

Collegian staff writers Mike Catalini and Shaun Parcels contributed to this report.