DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow was in the Pow-Wow Room of the Holmes Student Center Monday to answer questions about voter registration in DeKalb.

Sparrow responded to questions from students as part of the Student Association’s drive to increase voter turn-out in the city of DeKalb.

“I realize that everyone is close to home, but for all intents and purposes DeKalb is home, and the student voter turn-out is not as strong as it could be,” Sparrow said.

He said he is concerned about the issue of students who are registered in their home area and fail to re-register in DeKalb. “We had a steady turn-out today and although it sometimes can be deceiving, I think it is a good sign.”

Sparrow said students should realize that as they progress toward their degree and graduate they will probably not return to their home community to live and work. He said students should take advantage of a city government that “openly embraces their involvement.”

Sparrow also said those students who are registered and have had a change of address must re-register to be up to date.

SA Vice President Cam Davis said he was pleased with the number of students who registered Monday to vote.

Students can register to vote through Thursday at tables outside the Pow-Wow Room or in DuSable Hall from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration may be done at the Student Association Office from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. through Feb. 8 in order to vote in the March 15 primary.

The primary election will be held during NIU’s spring break week. Registered voters can pick up absentee voter ballot applications in the SA office and return them by March 10.

NIU’s Young Democrats have registered between 250-300 new voters, organization chairman John Morreale said. The group is giving out the absentee applications to students when they register. “We hope to increase student participation on campus, while registering democrats and republicans alike,” he said.

Morreale said by pushing registration at NIU students can more effectively use their voice in government, especially concerning recent cuts in the educational budget and tuition increases, he said.

Gary Yambor, College Republicans president, said registration efforts will start this week with a meeting Wednesday in the HSC Illinois Room at 9 p.m. “It has been really tough to get started with the primary over spring break,” he said.