Registration Roadblocks: Why some Young Voters don’t Vote

Everyone is talking about why young people don’t vote. And it’s a discussion-worthy issue, since only 29 percent of 18 to 24 year olds turned out for the 2000 presidential election. But many of these debates center on young people’s political malaise, when the problem may be rooted in more than just laziness. The May 27, 2004 issue of Rolling Stone argues that many young voters are running into registration roadblocks.

Unable to register

According to Rolling Stone, misguided election officials are turning away college students who want to register. Many offices tell students that they must register where they permanently reside, i.e. their parents’ state and district.

But that information is just flat-out wrong. In 1979, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that students could register where they go to school, if that is where they establish residency. Since the Court has not clarified the precise meaning of "residency," local election officials interpret it for themselves.

The result is a disjointed system that varies by zip code. Some registrars make it easy and allow students to register if they consider their college address to be their primary address. Others make the process difficult by requiring students to fill out lengthy questionnaires that probe everything from personal finances to car registration. And even if the student is not scared off by the invasive forms, he or she may get turned down.

That is what happened to Young Han, a student profiled in the Rolling Stone piece. Han goes to Hamilton College in Utica, New York and was told that he could not register and vote in the New York primaries, but that he would have to travel back to his home state of Washington (during a school week) to participate in its caucuses. Although a professor from Hamilton later called election officials to protest, Han received a second rejection letter claiming that students must "vote from their home county."

Why should students be allowed to vote in their college towns?

Students live in their college towns anywhere from nine to twelve months of the year, for at least four years. Therefore, students are no more transient than the average American family, which moves an average of once every four years. Further, the U.S. Census Bureau considers students to be residents of their college communities, and federal funds are distributed to municipalities based on figures that include the student population.

Students also work, pay sales taxes, and volunteer in their college communities, and local government decisions impact them directly. Why are college towns resisting the student vote?

One theory is that the student vote could determine the outcome of local elections. In many college towns, the student population is much larger than the general population, so local election officials make it difficult for them to register.

Another more conspiracy-like theory, which Rolling Stone gladly put forth, is that dampening the student vote is a Republican plot to get Bush re-elected. College students favor Kerry over Bush by more than 10 points, and their votes could cost Bush the election. Rolling Stone writer Damien Cave points out that "if the race is as close as last time, keeping turnout down among voters at one major college campus in each battleground state could tip the election to the Republicans."

What about absentee ballots?

Of course, students who are denied the right to vote in their college towns can always vote by absentee ballot, but this takes more anticipation and organization and is likely to depress student voter turnout. ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE AVAILABLE ON WOMENMATTER.COM under "get involved" - register to vote.

What’s at issue

At issue is young people’s right to vote. Voters between 18-24 are new to the voting system, and erecting barriers to their participation early on could discourage their contribution in the long term. This is why GirlsMatter exists to prevent the shut down of young women. GirlsMatter Clubs are registering their older sisters.

Student reminder: to be eligible to vote, you just need to be a U.S. citizen and 18 years old. If you are in college, you must choose whether to vote in your prior state/district or at your college address. The choice is yours. If you have trouble registering in your college town, contact the Federal Election Commission.

You can also discuss this issue with other WomenMatter readers in one of our online forums. Sign up for an e alert to stay abreast of voting rights issues, and contact your representatives to let them know what you think. Make a donation to WomenMatter, which is dedicated to empowering women of all ages to engage in the political process.

Update Posted on: 5/21/2004