Temple University voting

Temple University polling place volunteers, from left, Becky Fenton (student), Lena Kinney (student), Jessie Stanard and Theresa Nelson.

(Aaron Kasinitz)

Voter turnout during Tuesday's primary was up at the polling place on Temple University's campus in Philadelphia, judge of election Danna Gass said.

As of 1:30 p.m., 74 voters had cast ballots at the Norris Homes polling location, according to Gass, who estimated 20 of them were students. Gass suggested the spike in local turnout could be credited to Democratic presidential nominee Bernie Sanders, the U.S. senator from Vermont has made a strong appeal to students during his campaign.

Among his appearances in Pennsylvania were stops at Penn State's main campus, Millersville University, Gettysburg College, Drexel University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Sanders' campaign opened an office on the outskirts of Temple's campus several weeks ago, and sophomore Taylor Lam said his presence energized politically aware students searching for an alternative to Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

"He believes in something different," Lam said. "Hillary Clinton represents the same old, same old."

Lam added that Sanders has a history of advocating for shifts in policy that would benefit students, which has kept young voters engaged despite Clinton's hefty delegate lead. Sanders' aims to lower the cost of higher education and boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour have resonated across the Temple student body, Lam said.

Kirsten Tiroly, another Temple sophomore, believes student voter turnout would be much lower if Sanders weren't involved. She's noticed a distaste for Clinton, the former secretary of state and first lady, among her peers.

"We grew up with the ramifications of the first Clinton administration," Tiroly said. "So it doesn't excite us when we think about the possibility of the next one."

Lam and Tiroly, both first-time voters, said they've talked with fellow classmates about the importance of this election and their generation's role in politics moving forward.

"I hope our votes can make an impact," Lam said. "Even if it's a small one at first."