Should College Students be allowed to vote where they attend college

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Doesn't say you have to pay the taxes first though?

Children pay taxes, and have representation, but can't vote.

[smoothmoniker]

We had this issue a few years back in a local city - a mid-sized private college was running into zoning issues while developing property they owned for campus expansion. They encouraged all of the students to register locally, in the hopes that they would vote for a pro-university city council member to influence the rezoning issues.

The school was officially neutral on the candidates, and didn't actively campaign for the candidate at all, but the registration of the students was enough to influence the election, and change the zoning restrictions.

I'm of two minds on this issue. The students are living there for 4 years, and are residents of the local community. If you try to write restrictions to limit them from voting, you'll end up creating unintended consequences that prevent many of the more transient local citizens (renters, etc.) from voting.

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by smoothmoniker

They encouraged all of the students to register locally, in the hopes that they would vote for a pro-university city council member to influence the rezoning issues.

It's not at all a slam-dunk that the students are going to vote for what the university wants!

[piercehawkeye45]

Choice preferably but vote where they go to school.

I will be living here after I graduate and my hometown politics mean really little to me.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

The absentee ballot is made for this situation. It is essentially the same geographically-displaced situation as active duty military are in.

We end up shrugging at the inevitable question of how informed a voter the student is on any but a national election. It comes with the territory.

[TheMercenary]

They should be treated like we in the military were. You only vote where you are an official resident.

[headsplice]

So because someone has moved into an area, specifically to better themselves, they aren't allowed to influence local politics?
Why is going to college any different than moving to the area to work? Most college students aren't getting a free, parent-funded ride. They take out loans, while working side jobs for living money. The money that they give to local colleges and universities provide jobs and tax income for those same communities.
Tell me again in what way they aren't productive members of society?

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by headsplice

So because someone has moved into an area, specifically to better themselves, they aren't allowed to influence local politics?

GD right.

[smoothmoniker]

Dude. They're college students. They aren't productive anything of anything.

[Shawnee123]

MD: Is it a productive cough?

Dr Katz, Professional Therapist: I don't know. I'm not using it for anything.

[Happy Monkey]

For DC residents, it may be your only chance to vote for a member of Congress.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

I'm seeing one hell of a lot of ignorance here, and I don't get why it's present.

You want to vote locally, you damned well register to vote locally, giving your local address. You eventually go away, you register again, somewhere else.

At college age, this doesn't come up a frightful lot, as the 18-23 year olds aren't thrilled with doing wide-world politics, finding it tedious or variously discomforting. Generally, it takes ten years more or even longer to take an interest.

[headsplice]

The problem being, UG, that some folks don't want the college students to be able to register locally. Hence, the flyer from the Iowa Republicans and our discussion. I'm not disagreeing with your assessment of 18-23 y.o.'s, just noting that there are people that don't want them to exercise their franchise locally.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

In that case, headsplice, the locals-only manger dogs should not be allowed to have their way about it. Instead, they should recruit likeminded people, on the campus, into their faction. Natural competition, just like The Dartmouth v. the The_Dartmouth_Review.

[TheMercenary]

Poor college students are a souce of some income at a local level. But rich tourists contribute hugely to a local economy. Tourists are not allowed to vote.