With the May 6 Indiana primary less than two weeks away, Ball State University students who registered to vote in Delaware County can cast their ballots early this year.
A new state law, in its first application, requires county clerk's offices to open 30 days prior to election day for early voting.
Also, the law requires clerk's offices to open for the two Saturdays immediately preceding the election.
A clerk's office must stay open more than seven hours a day if the county's population exceeds 28,000 people, according to the law.
With the law's addition, Indiana joins a club of nine states that hold early voting 30 days or more before Election Day.
Delaware County Clerk Steve Craycraft said the law's purpose is to make voting more convenient.
"We've had between 400 and 500 people vote early already," Craycraft said. "Other than that number, I don't know how popular it will be."
Voters will also need government-issued photo identification at the polling place.
The controversial law was first put into effect during the 2006 congressional elections to protect from voting fraud. Ball State University professor of political science Gary Crawley said proponents of the bill argued the law stops people from voting under someone else's name multiple times during Election Day.
Under those circumstances, the same people could vote multiple times for their chosen candidate. in an effort to sway the electoral process in their favor.
However, Crawley said opponents of the act, who are largely Democrat, claim it is unconstitutional. The law requires voters to carry a valid ID with their name, a current photo and a displayed expiration date. More than 20 states have passed laws requiring voters to show more than a signature at the polls.
Crawley said lower income families and the elderly, two groups important to the Democratic electorate, may have trouble gaining access to the proper identification.
Despite the arguments, Crawley said he doesn't agree with the law.
"I haven't seen enough evidence that it helps either way," Crawley said. "More studies needed to be done on the subject."
Craycraft said he also disagrees with the law.
"I've lived in Selma for 47 years," Craycraft said. "All the poll workers call you by first name. It makes no sense having to show ID's when people know if it's you or not."
Even with the new laws, Crawley said turnout on the primary should be high.
"[Barack] Obama really energizes young voters, and [Hillary] Clinton also has a huge following," Crawley said. "With there being an open seat in the White House, turnout and interest will be large. The excitement should stay up through November."
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