Editor’s Note: The original article misspelled Jennifer Calderon’s name.

Freshman communication major Jennifer Calderon said students have the power to influence the election and should vote for whomever helps express them best.

Early voting for primary elections began Feb. 4 at the principle voting center and Feb. 29 at satellite locations. Voting will go through the primary election date March 15.

“Early voting allows students to navigate the cumbersome voter registration process,” said Scot Schraufnagel, political science assistant professor.

NIU students have started a Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) campaign on campus where students can get information to register to vote.

“I’ve gotten a lot of information from other students saying they are registered already or are asking how they can,” said sophomore geography major Emma Falk.

There are many students and professors who have registered to vote for other presidential nominees.

“I support [Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state,] because it is her time,” Calderone said. “She is qualified, professional and intellectual.”

Calderone said she wishes more people would support Clinton with her, as she believes a lot of students will support Sanders because they like his thoughts on free tuition.

Edward Bowie, chair of the NIU College Republicans, said he supports Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) because he believes Rubio represents the compassionate and hopeful conservative leadership.

The youth turnout was at its second-highest in the last 20 years at 11.2 percent in the Iowa caucuses, according to National Public Radio.

In Illinois, the 2008 primary elections saw 2,416,022 primary votes cast and the 2012 primary elections saw 1,567,354 votes, according to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform website.

“I think the professors of NIU will vote weighing very heavily on economic and social competing interest,” said Aaron Kushner, political science graduate teaching assistant.

Schraufnagel said if students don’t vote, politicians won’t have to worry about passing policies that satisfy the non-voters.

Early voting can be done 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Holmes Student Center, Blackhawk Annex. Registration can be done with proof of official address in DeKalb and a photo ID.