Keeping College Students from Voting

[SWTXBelle]

When I was an undergraduate (83-86) Hays County (TX) did all they could to prevent college students from voting in San Marcos because we skewed much more conservative than the rest of the county. College Republicans did a great deal of education to make sure students knew how to register and vote, and kept in touch to make sure they didn't pull stunts like telling students who were in line at the official polling close time they couldn't vote. We ended up being given credit by Texas Monthly for voting in the first Republican state senator since Reconstruction.

As for absentee voting, I lived in San Marcos all year - even students who didn't live there year-round lived there for the majority of the year, so the local politics would be of more immediate concern for students, not to mention the amount of money that constituency contributed to the local tax base. Having a voice there is important.

I can't buy some cold medicines without showing an i.d., can't get on a plane, can't open a bank account. Showing an i.d. to vote is a simple thing; if some groups need help to get their i.d.s community groups should help them do it. If the process needs to be simplified, then let's do it.