CR80News | Confusion over voter ID laws could keep students from voting

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Campus Vote Project blog, a campaign to help college students better understand their voting rights, says voter ID laws can create confusion among students, even in states that enable the use of student IDs at the polls.

For example, one county clerk in Kansas commented that many students do not have the information they need to cast a ballot.

“I think there’s a lot of stuff floating around the Internet and through other sources that aren’t the truth but spread really quickly, especially in a campus environment,” said the clerk. Some of this misinformation could mean that students may believe incorrectly that they lack the proper credentials to vote. The blog also gives a few examples of the information students will need this year.

Because of budget cuts, the clerk added, it’s difficult for elections offices to implement a proper public education campaign that reaches out to students.

The Campus Vote Project is a campaign to help college students work with administrators and local election officials to make the process of voting easier for students.

Tougher voter ID laws in many states have some wondering if they could hinder voter turnout among college students.

There seems to be no definitive ID law. What’s required at the voting booth varies from state to state. Tennessee, for example, requires voters to present a photo ID to vote, but student IDs aren’t considered valid for that purpose. A Texas law, which is now in the courts, enables use of a concealed weapons permit as a voter ID, but not a student ID card.

Tennessee court rejects student ID bill

A proposed bill that would enable student IDs issued by Tennessee state colleges and universities to double at voting credentials has failed to pass.

Voter ID laws still confusing to many students

As the November election draws nearer, college students in some states still aren’t sure what kind of identification they’ll need to vote.

For example, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Indiana and Georgia are among states with voter ID requirements in place. So farm, Tennessee is the only state that bans use of any student ID. Others limit use to state institutions or require proof that the ID is valid, such as an expiration date.

Legitimate voter IDs still an issue; what about high school IDs?

While colleges and universities struggle to make sure their students can legally qualify to vote in the November election, another issue has cropped up, at least in one state. What about high school IDs that may meet voting law requirements but aren’t specifically mentioned in a voter ID law?

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Confusion over voter ID laws could keep students from voting