At 38 years old, this was the first presidential election Vijay Nagpal voted in.

“It was very exciting,” Nagpal said as he waited on customers at his Troy business, Mr. Ho’s. “I have always wanted to help decide who would become president.”

Nagpal was 17 when he left India and never had the chance in his home country.

On June 24, 2009, Nagpal became a United States citizen.

“The day I got my naturalization certificate, I went and registered to vote. That is my right, my responsibility. I have voted in every local election since then. I am blessed to be in America.”

Nagpal is one of  21,127 registered voters in Pike County. He was also one of 13,577 Pike County residents who cast their vote at the polls this year. Five hundred fifty-two absentee ballots were returned on top of those poll votes.

In 2008, 62 percent of registered voters turned out in Pike County. For the 2012 election, 66 percent voted.

Board of Registrars Chair Melissa Ingram said she was pleased to see so many people interested in local, state and national government.

“People cared and they showed up,” Ingram said.

Pike County Probate Judge Wes Allen said the election process was a smooth one and he was grateful to all the poll workers who spent all day assisting voters.

“Their hard work and dedication made today possible,” Allen said.

Brittany Harrison contributed to this story.