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Times Union
September 27, 2004
College students face voting barriers
By Michael Gormley
ALBANY -- As a close presidential election, new laws and registration drives
prompt more college students to vote in their school's community, concern is
rising over whether they will be turned away.
"There have been incidents in five or six different places where
students have been denied the right to register in their college
communities," said Jennifer Weiser, associate counsel with the Brennan
Center for Justice at New York University Law School.
The center has received reports from Arizona, Texas, Delaware, Michigan, New
York and other states ranging from confusion over college students' right to
vote in their campus communities to outright denial of the right to register
there, she said. Some communities have required questionnaires -- struck down by
courts under equal protection laws -- that ask where prospective voters keep
most of their possessions, or where they would go if kicked out of school.
Some officials have said state financial aid might be threatened if a student
attending school out of state registers to vote on campus, she said.
Much of the controversy revolves around whether a college identification card
can be used to register and vote -- if asked at the polls. The federal Help
America Vote Act calls for valid photo IDs, but that can be interpreted locally.
"There are great fears that will disproportionately affect
students," Weiser said.
A case that drew national attention was in Oneida County, where students at
Hamilton College and other campuses said they were denied the right to register
to vote there. In June, Oneida County officials agreed to stop telling college
students they can't register to vote locally.
This week, the New York Public Interest Research Group begins a drive
throughout the State University of New York's 64 campuses to enroll far more
students before Nov. 2.
SUNY's effort began Sept. 6 and has registered almost 5,000 students to vote,
said Jen Pufky, 20, a SUNY Oswego student.
She said the main point is to register -- with either their family or campus
address. But she acknowledged students are encouraged to register in their
campus community. Voters must be registered by Oct. 8 by mail or by Oct. 13 in
person to vote Nov. 2
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