Eastern students will have the opportunity to cast their votes a week early for the 2016 general primary elections.

Election day is March 15, during Eastern’s spring break, and if students are registered to vote in the Coles County area, they can vote March 9-11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Bridge Lounge of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The last day to register to vote or make any changes to the voter registration card was Feb. 16 and according to an article in the JG-TC from Feb. 2, Sue Rennels, the county clerk, said the early voting process allows voting before the actual primary.

In a general primary, voters can vote for their presidential candidate as well as state and federal candidates for senators and representatives.

Republican candidates John Shimkus and Kyle McCarter are running for U.S. Representative for the 15th Congressional District.

Republican candidates Reggie Phillips and Jonathan Kaye are running for state representative for the 110th district and Dale Righter and Mike Parsons are running for State Senator from the 55th Legislative District.

There are no Democratic candidates for the federal and state legislative and congressional districts.

There are more than 7 million registered voters in Illinois.

Analicia Haynes can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]