Student Voting

Hello All -

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Devin and I am a former graduate student at UMCP and former Chair of the University System Student Council. I wanted to post in response to the questions from Towson since I am currently working at my alma mater as the Coordinator for TerpsVote - the campus wide initiative to register, inform and support student voters.

We have a number of great things going on and I encourage you to check out our website at www.terpsvote.umd.edu to learn more about what we are doing, read our FAQs about student voting and get ideas for things you can do on your campus. Also, please feel free to email me at ellisd@umd.edu if you have other questions or want more information.

Devin

Student Voting Rights - Looking for Feedback/Input

As a part of Towson's 2009 Legislative Agenda I've been charged with researching voting rights issues as they pertain to students both across the country and for Maryland institutions specifically.

The main points I'm looking into are (1) what policies do different schools have concerning student voting, (2) are there polling places actually on campus or is there some form of transportation provided to sites for students registered using their on-campus addresses, (3) is there any policy that excuses students from class for voting or makes it clear that there it isn't an excused absence, and in general any other information concerning students attending Maryland schools.

I've tried combing through many USM schools' websites and haven't found much. If everyone could make an inquiry at their schools concerning these issues for me, it would be greatly appreciated.

Voting for College Students: Get the Facts Straight

Inside HigherEd ran a recent story highlighting tactics used in Montgomery County, Virginia, home of Virginia Tech, to discourage students from registering to vote. In a memo to students, the office of elections stated that students who registered to vote would be changing their permanent residence, and thus have to become independent from their parents for tax and healthcare purposes and would also have to file for a new driver's license. The Obama Campaign has been the lead in voter registration drives on many campuses, including Virginia Tech. They have found that according to a federal law, students can maintain dependent status will residing away from home. They also have contacted leading healthcare institutions to inquire whether students would be dropped from health plans if they registered to vote in another state. Each provider explained that students would not be dropped from their parent's plans.

While such a case has not occurred (yet) in Maryland, this issue in Virginia raises significant questions for us as students in Maryland. The important thing is that you register to vote somewhere and exercise your right to do so. Below are a few links that will be useful for you to register to vote and to find out more information (thanks for UMBC SGA Advisor David Hoffman for providing some of this information):

Maryland Voter Registration Application Form (last day to register in Maryland to vote in the general election is Tuesday, October 14, 2008).
Maryland Absentee Ballot Information and Application (last day to request an absentee ballot in Maryland for the general election is Tuesday, October 28, 2008).
National Voter Registration Form (works for all states except North Dakota, Wyoming, New Hampshire)
Information about all states' election deadlines (from Rock the Vote)
Contact information for all states' election offices (from Rock the Vote)
Maryland State Board of Elections (Phone- 410-269-284; info@elections.state.md.us)

If you have more questions or concerns, please email me and I will help you get your question answered.

Power to the people! Vote!