2008.08.29
College students registering to vote
Virginia law is a mess when it comes to college students who want to register to vote. Basically, it leaves a ton of discretion in the hands of local registrars rather than establish uniform voting standards. The upshot is that we have registrars like the one in Radford who sometimes seems hostile to registering students and ones like Montgomery County's, who seems a little more open.
At least he did. The bloggers over at Think, Christiansburg! point out a press release from the county that warned students if they registered here, they could screw up their parents taxes and their financial aid. Of course, that's not the case, and students may register where they go to school under many circumstances without affecting tax standing.
So how about it? Should Virginia Tech, Radford, Hollins and Roanoke College students register in Southwest Virginia? For students from say, Texas, which is not in play for the presidential election, the temptation must be great to have a real say in the November outcome.
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Montgomery County since the '70s has done all it can to discourage students from registering to vote. There seems to be some fear that students will take over local elections, especially in Blacksburg. There has been the occasional student who has run for town council, but because of the hard-and-fast application of ALL the rules to keep students off the voter roles, the campaigns never really went anywhere. The rules need to be changed to clarify who makes the decision about where they can vote -- registrars beholden to the local political powers or individuals who know best what their situation is.
Comment by Joe Hokie — August 30, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
I witnessed the same trouble while I was a student in Williamsburg over the last few years, until finally last year William & Mary students were finally allowed to vote, if they so chose, in Williamsburg last spring with the aid of a new registrar and overcoming the objections of town councilmen, etc.
I say, students are living, breathing, and pouring economic support into their college towns so it is their right to vote where they so choose. Also, the new freshman (as well as other students who will likely be residing in the town for a not insignificant amount of time) will likely be spending the next four years in Blacksburg, VA, so I think it's fair that they get to help decide who runs their country as they will basically be a Virginian for that time.
Comment by tribepride — August 30, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
VA is not "in play" for Obama.
Comment by Jim — September 1, 2008 @ 3:54 pm