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We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
NPAction Staff

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Confusing Voter Registration Laws on Campus

Virginia Tech students recently became wrapped up in the confusion that surrounds the definition of residency when trying to register to vote. In a recent article in US News, the decision of the State Board of Elections in Virginia to jump in and revise the guidelines to say that a college address can be accepted as a residential address for voter registration is receiving vast attention.

The current commotion at Virginia Tech is no new phenomenon. It is a problem that college students have encountered in many states for many election cycles: "If I’m a college student, where should I register to vote?"

Despite the fact that federal courts have ruled that students have the right to vote from campus, state residency laws making things more convoluted. The decision of how to define residency is left up to the state, or more often, a particular municipality.

Eleven states currently have a very difficult registration process for college students that prevents them from voting on campus. In some states, PO boxes and college dorms are not considered legitimate addresses. Students also run into difficulty when their driver’s licenses do not reflect where they are living at school.

Student voting groups like Rock the Vote and SAVE are focusing on getting students the right information. Rock the Vote has recently introduced a "there’s no place like home" campaign to spread the word to students that their campus is there home too.

The main reason for all the attention: In what could be a very close election, the confusion could cost one of the candidates.

For more information on student voting, visit NP Action's .