Elected officials are encouraging students to exercise their civic responsibilities by voting in the Nov. 8 election, but opinions differ on where students should register and vote.

On Nov. 8, students who have registered are eligible to vote either in the borough of State College or they may vote by absentee ballot in their hometown.

State College Borough Council member Elizabeth Goreham said she has been working with various student groups to get more students involved in registering and voting in the upcoming elections.

"[Students] need to know how to interact and how to make their issues known," Goreham said. "The best way to do that is to vote."

There are absentee ballot applications available at the election office and online at VotesPA.com. Students who are interested in voting in their home districts are encouraged to apply for an absentee ballot so they do not need to travel home to cast their vote. The election office must receive completed absentee ballots by Nov. 4.

Goreham also said that as a council member she wants to have the students' perspective of the town. She said a large percentage of residents are students.

State College Mayor Bill Welch said he also spends a lot of time with student groups and he said he is always aware of them.

Welch said he tells freshmen every year at their convocation that it is important to get involved, register and vote.

"I think it is good for anybody to register and vote ... whether it is here or in their home state," Welch said. "But the reality is that students rarely vote, except in the general election."

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, said he thinks it is more beneficial for students to vote in their hometown by absentee ballot.

"They are more knowledgeable in local elections," Benninghoff said.

Benninghoff said students might only live in State College for a year or two and are not as concerned with the issues.

"People who are going to graduate in a few years, what do they care about the local officials in State College," Benninghoff said. "It is very difficult for students to get to know [officials]. I think they are better off using their right to vote absentee where they intimately know these people."

Goreham said she disagrees because she believes students actually live here for four years.

Goreham said a transient student who votes is no different than a resident who votes and then leaves in a few years.

Off-Campus Student Union President Ryan Bennington said many times the issues decided by elected officials affect students.

"As long as you know the issues and are interested in the issues you have just as many rights as those who live here all year," Bennington said.

Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said students are here from for enough time that they are part of the community.

"It's important for them to take part in civic affairs," Fountaine said.

Goreham and Welch are running for office in the Nov. 8 elections, but both said they encourage voting every year.

Joyce McKinley, director of vote registration and election, said that is an option for students at any campus. She said there is no way to determine how many off-campus students are registered to vote in the borough or in Centre County.

McKinley said that there are 7,012 on-campus students registered.