2008 Woodie Awards
Your Right to Vote
Jesse White
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: Campus News
With November elections right around the corner, it is important that both local and out-of-town college students are aware of their rights as voters.
Why you ask?
In 2004, the Oneida County Board of Elections sent a letter to many local college students from out-of-town who attempted to register to vote in Oneida County. The letter discouraged students from voting locally, and suggested they vote in their own hometown election.
The letter drew an immediate response from Arthur Eisenberg of the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Eisenberg argued the letter doesn't conform to legal standards governing college student's right to vote.
Eisenberg also added that, "The appropriate voting residence for students is in the community where they attend school because students carry out the daily activities of their lives in their college towns."
Regardless of Oneida County's Board of Elections weak attempt to fool students, officials have no legal right to turn you away from registering locally.
According to a court decision in 1986, Williams v. Salerno, local officials cannot deny students from out-of-town the right to register to vote. However, local officials suggest students should register to vote in their hometown.
"We suggest students register to vote in their hometown", says Angela Pedone Longo, the Democratic Commissioner for the Oneida County Board of Elections. "But we are not going to turn away students if they show up at the polls in November."
Longo also added that local students from out-of-town are often unaware of issues affecting the local community or the candidates running for office.
Regardless of her voting district, Crystal Vandecoeverning, a junior from Kuna, Idaho, is very optimistic about participating in her hometown elections.
"Since I can't be there I'm going to use an absentee ballot," said Vandecoevering.
The last day to register for this year's elections was Friday, Oct. 14. Students who are registered to vote out-of-town and would like an absentee ballot should contact the Oneida County Board of Elections at (315) 798-5761.
If you are registered to vote locally, take some time to familiarize yourself with the candidates before Election Day on Nov. 8.
Here's a list of upcoming races in the Utica area.
Why you ask?
In 2004, the Oneida County Board of Elections sent a letter to many local college students from out-of-town who attempted to register to vote in Oneida County. The letter discouraged students from voting locally, and suggested they vote in their own hometown election.
The letter drew an immediate response from Arthur Eisenberg of the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Eisenberg argued the letter doesn't conform to legal standards governing college student's right to vote.
Eisenberg also added that, "The appropriate voting residence for students is in the community where they attend school because students carry out the daily activities of their lives in their college towns."
Regardless of Oneida County's Board of Elections weak attempt to fool students, officials have no legal right to turn you away from registering locally.
According to a court decision in 1986, Williams v. Salerno, local officials cannot deny students from out-of-town the right to register to vote. However, local officials suggest students should register to vote in their hometown.
"We suggest students register to vote in their hometown", says Angela Pedone Longo, the Democratic Commissioner for the Oneida County Board of Elections. "But we are not going to turn away students if they show up at the polls in November."
Longo also added that local students from out-of-town are often unaware of issues affecting the local community or the candidates running for office.
Regardless of her voting district, Crystal Vandecoeverning, a junior from Kuna, Idaho, is very optimistic about participating in her hometown elections.
"Since I can't be there I'm going to use an absentee ballot," said Vandecoevering.
The last day to register for this year's elections was Friday, Oct. 14. Students who are registered to vote out-of-town and would like an absentee ballot should contact the Oneida County Board of Elections at (315) 798-5761.
If you are registered to vote locally, take some time to familiarize yourself with the candidates before Election Day on Nov. 8.
Here's a list of upcoming races in the Utica area.