Story County residents have started voting — and so far this week, more than 500 of them cast ballots on campus.

Satellite voting stations were set up throughout the week at the Memorial Union and Parks Library, allowing people to register and vote at the same time. Dani Dunham, Story County deputy auditor, said satellite voting was not created to prevent ballot controversies similar to those that occurred in the 2000 presidential election.

“The Iowa Administrative Code requires that we make satellite voting available,” she said.

Mary Mosiman, Story County auditor, said 247 ballots were cast Monday on campus, and 255 more votes were cast Tuesday. Results for Wednesday were not available.

Satellite voting at Parks Library ends at 3 p.m. Thursday; voter registration closes at 5 p.m. Saturday.

For many students, satellite voting was a matter of convenience.

“Some of us could be overloaded with tests, assignments or projects when Election Day comes up,” said Kim Landau, senior in exercise and sport science.

“And then getting to the polls would be a lower priority.”

To increase convenience, eligible Story County residents can register to vote and cast their ballot on the same day. Members of the New Voters Project were standing outside Parks Library registering people to vote.

The ballots cast by voters who registered on the same day are held until their registration is verified and then added to the rest of the ballots cast, Mosiman said. The satellite ballots aren’t counted until Election Day.

Brian Mastalir, junior in pre-architecture, said in addition to convenience, he chose to vote via satellite because dealing with regular polls can be difficult.

“I’ve heard of poll places closing before everyone has had a chance to vote,” Mastalir said. “And sometimes it’s hard to find the actual location of the poll.”

The average wait time was about 10 to 15 minutes.

“I almost decided to leave,” said Marilyn Condon, senior in psychology. “But I just wanted to get done.”

Condon said she saw at least two people leave while she was waiting in line.

“I expected to wait,” said Becky Clark, senior in finance. “I was in line for about 15 minutes, but I waited because satellite voting is way more convenient for me.”

“There has been a steady stream of voters,” Mosiman said. “People manning the satellite voting are very busy.”

Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democratic candidate for the District 45 seat in the Iowa House of Representatives, campaigned in the Memorial Union on Tuesday. She said campaigning in the Union and urging students to use satellite voting has been an effective strategy for her campaign.

“Of course, I think that the personal touch is important, and I think students especially appreciate that they can act on things so quickly,” she said.

“It gives more people the opportunity to vote, and that’s what the democratic process is all about.”

For those unable to visit the satellite voting booth this week, Dunham said there are other options throughout the county.

“Our office has been open for early voting since Sept. 24,” Dunham said. “We have booths throughout the city of Ames. We’ve sent out 12,000 absentee ballots and already received 7,000 of them back.”