The primary elections for local and national government will take place today at the Coles County Courthouse, as well as various other locations.

Candidates for states attorney include Republicans Brian Bower and Duane Deters, as well as Democrats Tom Bucher and Todd Reardon. The Republican candidates for Coles County Circuit Clerk include Rustye Cooley and Melissa Hurst, with no Democratic candidate running for the position.

The polls will open today at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.

John Anderson, a second-year graduate student, said it does not make sense for him to vote in local government elections when he will only be residing in Charleston for two years.

Anderson said he also finds it hard to make it to the voting booths between working and taking care of his daughter.

Anderson, who is from Champaign, said he does not vote in local elections when he is home.

Charleston residents and Eastern students will also be voting in the preliminary elections for both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates today as well.

President Barack Obama will be running as the democratic presidential candidate during today’s preliminary elections, as well as Republican candidates Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich.

Sarah Englert, a junior geography major, said she will not be voting in the local preliminary elections, but she said she usually votes via absentee ballot in her hometown of Rochelle.

Matthew Womble, a senior kinesiology and sports studies major, said he is planning on voting for Obama in the presidential elections, but will not vote for local government.

“I have not really gone that deep into it,” Womble said about local politics.

Womble said he is from Champaign and usually votes for the local state’s attorney when he is home.

The candidates for the General Assembly Representative include Republican candidates Kevin Garner and Brad Halbrook.

The general election will take place November 6.

Kirstin Rohwedder, a junior special education major, said she will not participate in the primary elections today because she said she does not feel she knows enough about the candidates to vote.

Rohwedder, of Effingham, said she does not vote when she is in her hometown either.

Jennifer Colbert, a senior recreation administration major, said she is not registered in Coles County to vote.

Colbert said she does not know enough about the candidates to make a properly informed decision.

Colbert said she has not voted in any local elections in her hometown of Monticello in the past and usually forgets to vote via an absentee ballot when she is gone.

“I would think about it if I knew enough about the candidates (I would) vote,” Colbert said.

Kathryn Richer can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].