GOP Lawmakers Attempting To Restrict College Student Voting Rights

What’s the story?

• Republican lawmakers are attempting to create voting barriers for young voters and college students, many of which are left-leaning. 
• Young voter turnout has skyrocketed in recent years, especially among college students, who historically have paid little attention to elections. With the 2024 presidential election nearing, groups focusing on youth civic engagement are ramping up their campaigns.
• As the fight for young voters develops, the GOP is attempting to make it more difficult for college students to vote.

Young voters by the numbers

• According to data from Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life (CIRCLE), approximately 28-31% of eligible young voters cast their ballots in 2018, a significant increase from the 2014 midterms. CIRCLE found 67% of these voters voted for Democrats, and 32% voted for Republicans. Turnout was especially high in battleground states — Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. 
• Historically, youth voter turnout has been around 20% for midterm elections.

What are states doing? 

Idaho

• Republicans in Idaho — where voter registration among 18 to 19-year-olds jumped 66% between 2018 and 2022 — successfully banned student ID cards as a form of voter identification. Idaho joined Texas, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee as states that will refuse student IDs at the polls. 
• Two lawsuits were filed in state and federal courts shortly after Gov. Brad Little (R) signed the proposal into law. Plaintiff Betsy McBride, the president of the League of Women Voters of Idaho, said: 

“The facts aren’t particularly persuasive if you’re just trying to get through all of these voter suppression bills.”

• Proponents of the law say it is necessary to prevent voter fraud, despite being incredibly rare. 

New Hampshire

• GOP lawmakers in New Hampshire, which has one of the highest numbers of college students from out of state, proposed a bill to restrict voting access for those students. The bill requires students to show their in-state tuition when registering to vote.
• The bill died in committee after failing to receive a single vote. 
• New Hampshire Republicans also attempted to roll back preregistration for teenagers residing in the state, which was unsuccessful.

Texas

• Rep. Carrie Issac (R-TX) introduced a bill to eliminate polling places on college campuses, citing safety concerns and fear of political violence. Issac brought forth similar legislation for polling places in elementary and middle schools. 
• Voting rights advocates and experts are skeptical about her reasoning and doubt the bill will pass.

Do you think student ID cards should be a valid form of voter identification?

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: Twitter/@Gboro_College)