"Anti-Student voting bill"

**Beige Lantern** · 03-15-11, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by WickedTribe

Do you have any evidence that students are voting in two elections in high levels? If not, then why even try to restrict their rights?

Do I need any evidence that someone is trying to break into your house before suggesting you lock your door? This is a bigger issue than just this one situation. Let me give you a hypothetical: A county in Delaware wants to extend marital social services to domestic partnerships. Some national "pro-family" organization draws attention to it, and members decide they'd rather vote in Delaware than their home counties. Suddenly a whole lot of people are claiming "part-time residence" with little more than letters mailed to Delaware addresses to prove it (how else could you?). Those people are still only voting in one county, but it's not THEIR county. But the system doesn't have anything in place to stop it.

It's not about these particular students and whether they're up to anything dastardly. It's about being very careful about keeping potential loopholes closed.

**Alundil** · 03-15-11, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Non Sequitur Persona

Do I need any evidence that someone is trying to break into your house before suggesting you lock your door? This is a bigger issue than just this one situation. Let me give you a hypothetical: A county in Delaware wants to extend marital social services to domestic partnerships. Some national "pro-family" organization draws attention to it, and members decide they'd rather vote in Delaware than their home counties. Suddenly a whole lot of people are claiming "part-time residence" with little more than letters mailed to Delaware addresses to prove it (how else could you?). Those people are still only voting in one county, but it's not THEIR county. But the system doesn't have anything in place to stop it.

It's not about these particular students and whether they're up to anything dastardly. It's about being very careful about keeping potential loopholes closed.

And that is an excellent and cogent example. If voting is the "cat's meow" and the "bestest most importantest thing ever" (and it is lauded to be and in IMO is

) then it ought to be protected. The right to vote is important. It should be treated as such.

It always seems that the arguments about validating registered voters prior to the vote gets cast as a racial or socioeconomic hurdle but I've never understood the reasoning behind those arguments.

Ensuring that people voting are registered to vote and are voting in the proper place should never be an issue.

**WickedTribe** · 03-15-11, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Non Sequitur Persona

Do I need any evidence that someone is trying to break into your house before suggesting you lock your door? This is a bigger issue than just this one situation. Let me give you a hypothetical: A county in Delaware wants to extend marital social services to domestic partnerships. Some national "pro-family" organization draws attention to it, and members decide they'd rather vote in Delaware than their home counties. Suddenly a whole lot of people are claiming "part-time residence" with little more than letters mailed to Delaware addresses to prove it (how else could you?). Those people are still only voting in one county, but it's not THEIR county. But the system doesn't have anything in place to stop it.

It's not about these particular students and whether they're up to anything dastardly. It's about being very careful about keeping potential loopholes closed.

Putting locks on my doors doesn't infringe on anyone's rights. Preventing people from lawfully voting does. That's an incredibly far-fetched hypothetical. Having some mail sent somewhere isn't going to do it. In general, you need a lease, utility bill, etc. We're not in danger of masses of people renting out apartments and changing their residency to change local elections. If they do choose to do that, it is their county.

**Red_Lizard2** · 03-15-11, 03:17 PM

With students though, it isn't that hard to prove that they are actually studying at the school (and not like that is something easy to "fake"). I've never lived on campus, but i would assume there is a way to prove residency in a dorm etc. as well.

**WickedTribe** · 03-15-11, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Alundil

And that is an excellent and cogent example. If voting is the "cat's meow" and the "bestest most importantest thing ever" (and it is lauded to be and in IMO is

) then it ought to be protected. The right to vote is important. It should be treated as such.

I disagree. Not only is it highly unlikely (the fact that we didn't see this with Prop 8, even though the Mormons were very vested in the outcome is evidence enough), but people should be free to change their residency as they see fit. We're a free society, and are free to move within our country. If I choose to move to a new town, I can vote in that town.

It always seems that the arguments about validating registered voters prior to the vote gets cast as a racial or socioeconomic hurdle but I've never understood the reasoning behind those arguments.

Unless you provide the IDs free of charge, you're forcing people to pay a fee to vote, and poll taxes are illegal.

Ensuring that people voting are registered to vote and are voting in the proper place should never be an issue.

And opponents to this bill aren't trying to allow unregistered voters to vote. You still need to be registered to vote (though in NH, you can register at the polling place), and you still need residency to register.

**Alundil** · 03-15-11, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by WickedTribe

I disagree. Not only is it highly unlikely (the fact that we didn't see this with Prop 8, even though the Mormons were very vested in the outcome is evidence enough), but people should be free to change their residency as they see fit. We're a free society, and are free to move within our country. If I choose to move to a new town, I can vote in that town.
I don't think that anyone is arguing against your (or anyone else's) freedom of movement. Nor are they arguing against being able to vote in the place that you've moved to. It is more to the point that you should have to prove that you actually moved there (aka taken up residence) prior to be allowed to vote there.
Unless you provide the IDs free of charge, you're forcing people to pay a fee to vote, and poll taxes are illegal.
I believe that the Supreme Court has ruled that requiring ID (photo ID) at polling places is not unconstitutional or a hindrance to voting so I believe that SCOTUS us firmly against your position on that one (I'll see if I can find the decision)

And opponents to this bill aren't trying to allow unregistered voters to vote. You still need to be registered to vote (though in NH, you can register at the polling place), and you still need residency to register.
OK - but if there is no method of verifying who is "registered to vote" at the time of the voting then what was the "real" point of the registration in the first place? I've voted more than once in polling places that required nothing in the way of proof of registration. in two separate states (not at the same time mind you) so stating that there is a registration process proves nothing

**SpecOpsScott** · 03-15-11, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Red_Lizard2

With students though, it isn't that hard to prove that they are actually studying at the school (and not like that is something easy to "fake"). I've never lived on campus, but i would assume there is a way to prove residency in a dorm etc. as well.

If thats the case, and there is a mechanism in place for students to declare residency at their school, thus vote in the precinct in which they reside, then this thread is done. No ones rights have been infringed or even inconvenienced for that matter, and the elected officials comments are simply a display of his bias against students... which is not a crime and does not infringe on anyones rights. The onus is on the student to meet the requirements. Dont want to follow protocol? Then dont vote, pretty simple really.

Ohhh.... there it is.
How to Establish In-State Residency in College | eHow.com