Faithless
09-25-2004, 09:43 AM
According to Rock the Vote (http://action.rockthevote.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=12205) --
Local election officials have denied college students all across the country the right to register to vote from their college address.
Is that true?
These officials claim that campus addresses are not “permanent residences” and students have to vote by absentee ballot at their parent’s address. Federal and state laws make it clear that students have the right to establish residency and vote where they go to school. However, in practice students face many legal obstacles that can ultimately discourage them from casting a vote.
An article in the May Rolling Stone magazine describes how many young people are losing their right to vote:
"Much as local registrars in the South once used poll taxes and literacy tests to deny the vote to black citizens, some county election officials now employ an intimidating mix of legal bullying and added paperwork to prevent civic-minded young people from casting ballots.
Federal and state courts have clearly established that students have the right to vote where they go to school, even if they live in a dorm. But interviews with college students, civil-rights attorneys, political strategists and legal experts reveal that election officials all over the country are erecting legal barriers to keep young voters from casting ballots."
What can you do about it?
Send a message to local officials in charge of elections by signing this petition to end student voter suppression. This petition will be used on September 23 to target election officials in problem states that continue to deny students the right to vote.
.
According to this ACLU article (http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/VotingRights.cfm?ID=16035&c=32) --
ACLU Asks Virginia Supreme Court to Allow College Student to Vote in Local Elections
June 24, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILLIAMSBURG, VA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia asked the Virginia Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow Serene Alami, a student at the College of William and Mary, to register to vote in the city of Williamsburg, where she currently resides.
Alami was one of several William and Mary students who were prevented by the Williamsburg voter registrar from registering to vote in local elections because their parents live in other jurisdictions.
"Some voter registrars seem to have decided to do whatever they can to keep students from voting in local elections," said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis. "Every student may not qualify to vote locally, but any student who no longer resides in her hometown and who has developed an interest in the community where she attends college, ought to be able to vote in that community."
Alami’s parents, who claim her as a dependent, reside in Roanoke, but Alami works, registers her car, resides and intends to remain in Williamsburg.
...
Local election officials have denied college students all across the country the right to register to vote from their college address.
Is that true?
These officials claim that campus addresses are not “permanent residences” and students have to vote by absentee ballot at their parent’s address. Federal and state laws make it clear that students have the right to establish residency and vote where they go to school. However, in practice students face many legal obstacles that can ultimately discourage them from casting a vote.
An article in the May Rolling Stone magazine describes how many young people are losing their right to vote:
"Much as local registrars in the South once used poll taxes and literacy tests to deny the vote to black citizens, some county election officials now employ an intimidating mix of legal bullying and added paperwork to prevent civic-minded young people from casting ballots.
Federal and state courts have clearly established that students have the right to vote where they go to school, even if they live in a dorm. But interviews with college students, civil-rights attorneys, political strategists and legal experts reveal that election officials all over the country are erecting legal barriers to keep young voters from casting ballots."
What can you do about it?
Send a message to local officials in charge of elections by signing this petition to end student voter suppression. This petition will be used on September 23 to target election officials in problem states that continue to deny students the right to vote.
.
According to this ACLU article (http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/VotingRights.cfm?ID=16035&c=32) --
ACLU Asks Virginia Supreme Court to Allow College Student to Vote in Local Elections
June 24, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILLIAMSBURG, VA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia asked the Virginia Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow Serene Alami, a student at the College of William and Mary, to register to vote in the city of Williamsburg, where she currently resides.
Alami was one of several William and Mary students who were prevented by the Williamsburg voter registrar from registering to vote in local elections because their parents live in other jurisdictions.
"Some voter registrars seem to have decided to do whatever they can to keep students from voting in local elections," said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis. "Every student may not qualify to vote locally, but any student who no longer resides in her hometown and who has developed an interest in the community where she attends college, ought to be able to vote in that community."
Alami’s parents, who claim her as a dependent, reside in Roanoke, but Alami works, registers her car, resides and intends to remain in Williamsburg.
...