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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 2 March 2020

Some states make it harder for college students to vote

By ADRIAN SAINZ college identification cards Some Democratically con-
Associated Press are not allowed at polling trolled states, like California,
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — places, with laws enacted are trying to make campus
Vanderbilt University stu- by Republican-controlled voting easier. A new law
dent Will Newell wishes it legislatures between 2008 requires county elections
was easier for college stu- and 2018. The others are officials to consider placing
dents like him to cast bal- Arizona, Iowa, North Da- voting centers on univer-
lots in Tennessee, one of 14 kota, Ohio and South Caro- sity or college campuses.
states holding a presiden- lina — all are states won by State universities also are
tial primary on Super Tues- Donald Trump in 2016. required to designate one
day. Bills working their way person per campus as a
The campus has no loca- through some state legisla- "civic and voter empower-
tions for early voting, so stu- tures also address college ment coordinator."
dents must visit an off-cam- voting. In Tennessee, Democratic
pus polling location to cast A law proposed by a Re- state Rep. London Lamar
a ballot on Election Day. In this Feb. 27, 2020, photo, Vanderbilt University student Will publican lawmaker in has proposed a law that
Newell drives but worries Newell is shown on the school's campus in Nashville, Tenn. Arizona would prohibit stu- would require county elec-
that many students who Associated Press dents using college dormi- tion commissions to place
don't have their own trans- out among voters who typi- to use temporary mobile tory addresses in voter reg- early voting locations at
portation won't make it to cally lean Democratic. voting sites at college cam- istration. The state already colleges or universities with
a precinct. He said some College groups aligned puses, nursing homes and keeps student IDs off its list at least 8,000 students.
campus groups offer rides with the Democratic Party other locations. of approved voter identi- In Lamar's hometown of
to students, but the univer- are mobilizing this year in an Supporters say it's a re- fication. A bill proposed in Memphis, Landon Shelby
sity itself does not provide a effort to defeat President sponse to placement of the Arizona House would has to vote off-campus.
shuttle. Donald Trump's re-election, temporary voting locations explicitly prohibit the use of Shelby, a University of
He supports a bill intro- said Matt Nowling, national at high school events dur- college or university IDs at Memphis junior and a Re-
duced in the Tennessee director of communica- ing elections that feature polling places. publican, said he would
Legislature that would re- tions for the College Demo- local bond measures re- "It's not just trying to come like to see campus polling
quire early voting locations crats of America. quiring tax increases. The up with laws that directly places so students don't
at large colleges and uni- "Republicans see that and Texas Public Policy Founda- disenfranchise students," have to drive or hitch a ride
versities in the state. That's they're scared," said Nowl- tion, a conservative think said Rachel Clay, southeast to a precinct.
not the only restriction ing, a junior at Denison Uni- tank, calls rolling polling a regional director for the "In years past, the Univer-
working against college versity in Granville, Ohio. "predatory practice" that Campus Vote Project. "It's sity of Memphis has helped
students in the state. Ten- "College Democrats have causes taxpayers to suffer. creating laws that make find transportation to the
nessee, where overall vot- been at the forefront of "You had the bad actors something that's already polls, but I would definitely
er turnout is low, is among fighting against these is- go out there and use mo- challenging and confusing like to see it become more
several states that does not sues." bile voting locations to tar- more challenging and con- common," said Shelby, sec-
allow a college student ID. Their efforts face obstacles, get particular voters," said fusing for young people." retary of student govern-
But it does allow a hand- however. James Quintero, director of The Campus Vote Project ment government relations
gun license. Democrats say Republi- the foundation's Center for was launched in 2012 by at the university.
"It just makes the last part can-controlled legislatures Local Governance. the Fair Elections Center, a The chances of that hap-
of actually getting them to in some states are actively Quintero said the new law non-partisan voting rights pening any time soon
the polls to vote a lot more trying to keep college stu- allows polling places to be group, and has been work- aren't great. Lamar's early
difficult," Newell, a senior dents away from the polls. open on campuses for all ing to increase interest in voting legislation will face
public policy and econom- Some laws have been chal- 12 days of early voting. But voting among college stu- an uphill fight in the Repub-
ics major, said of the ballot- lenged in court, such as in Democrats have pointed dents. lican-dominated General
casting hurdles faced by New Hampshire, where a to the timing of the law, Democrats are counting Assembly, especially in an
students in the state. law essentially makes out- which was passed months on increasing the college election year.
As Democratic candidates of-state college students after a dramatic spike in voter turnout in this year's But the bill has a Republi-
seek a boost from young subject to residency re- voter turnout in 2018. presidential election, which can co-sponsor, and Lamar
voters in 2020, their impact quirements like obtaining a Glen Maxey, legislative af- also could help their candi- hopes her GOP colleagues
at the polls could be blunt- state driver's license or reg- fairs director for the Texas dates in races for Congress agree that it's important to
ed in a number of states istering their vehicles. Democratic Party, said the and state legislatures. A re- simplify the voting process
that make voting more dif- In Texas, Democrats have law hurts certain voting port from Tufts University's for college students.
ficult for college students. sued over a law requiring groups, such seniors and Institute for Democracy & "The bill is about everybody
Those include laws related early voting locations to be students. Higher Education showed being able to vote on col-
to voter IDs, residency re- open for the entire early "It was very clear they were that college student voting lege campuses," Lamar
quirements and on-cam- voting period of 12 days. trying to stop college stu- rates in the 2018 midterm said. "It's to ensure that
pus polling places. Critics The law is geared to stop- dent voting," Maxey said. elections doubled com- the younger generation
say many of those laws are ping "rolling polling," which Texas and Tennessee are pared with the 2014 mid- takes part in the political
designed to dampen turn- allowed local governments among seven states where terms. process."q