Government
College students deserve a voice in local government
In a city as disenfranchised as DC, it seems especially important to make sure that all residents have the opportunity to cast a vote. But one group is systematically denied a voice in local decision-making: college students.
Photo by arifzaman on Flickr.
It's true that students at schools like Georgetown, Howard, and Catholic are, in a sense, not permanent residents, and many of them may be unfamiliar with or uninterested in local elections. Most of them will probably move out of the neighborhood after four years or so.
But decades and decades from now there will still be students in that same area with similar interests, and there's no mechanism for taking their needs into account.
For example, in the elections last month, two American University freshmen ran write-in campaigns for ANC seats. ANC 3D chair Tom Smith filed complaints against both of them with the Board of Elections and Ethics, although one, Deon Jones, managed to get elected to the long-vacant 3D07 seat.
The other, Tyler Sadonis, who was running for Smith's own seat in 3D02, lost, although according to Smith himself nearly 60 AU students showed up to vote in that precinct. This was an unusually high turnout, but many students were prevented from voting by poll watchers specifically targeting students.
Smith has since called (huge PDF) for the repeal of voting reforms passed by the DC Council last year, including same-day registration and early voting, citing the fact that some AU students attempted to register without the proper identification.
Even if all 60 AU students who tried to vote in 3D02 had been allowed to, Smith still would have been easily reelected with 228 votes. But those students should have been welcomed and encouraged to participate in their local election, rather than intimidated and targeted for challenges.
Nor is this an isolated incident: AU student Sami Green says she's tried to get on the ballot in 3D07 eight times in the past two years. Sometimes she failed to get enough signatures, but other times her petitions were rejected on various technical grounds.
Meanwhile, down in Burleith, neighbors are vociferously opposing Georgetown University's 10-year development plan, which would expand graduate student enrollment from 6,275 to 8,750 while adding only 120 beds on campus. According to Burleith residents, the student presence in their neighborhood is already intolerable, between late-night parties and "walk-by noise." You have to sympathize with them; apparently they were unaware they were moving in next to a 200-year-old university.
The Burleith and Georgetown residents demand that the university build more on-campus housing to keep students away from them. But what if students want to live off-campus? Unfortunately for them, there's no practical reason Councilmember Jack Evans should even consider what students want, because it's mostly the residents who get to vote. Indeed, Evans told the Burleith Citizens Association that he supports them and opposes the campus plan. Why should he say otherwise when the political incentives are so clear?
Up in College Park, the University of Maryland's neighbors have shown a similar hostility towards the idea of students living outside the confines of campus. Elected officials are currently trying to prevent the construction of a residential project on the Maryland Book Exchange site, across the street from the main entrance to UMD. They may or may not be right that the project would adversely affect locals, but there's little question it would be good for the 830 students who'd be able to live there. Unfortunately they aren't really a party to the debate.
Some may argue that college students are free to register to vote at their college address or even run for local office if they meet residency requirements. (Others incorrectly warn of legal consequences for students who try to register at their college address.) But hostility and obstructionism on the part of local residents can be discouraging, and the transient nature of student life means many students are still getting to know their adopted neighborhood when their four years are up.
Unfortunately there are few easy options for increasing student representation in local decision-making. Foremost among them is gerrymandering, which can create a seat on a local body that's effectively reserved for students. Gerrymandering is what created SMD 3D07, the seat won by Deon Jones. Jones will join Georgetown student Jake Sticka as the only two college students serving on ANCs. That's less than 1% of the 276 commissioners citywide, in a city where college students represent nearly 15% of the population.
An intercollegiate campaign called DC Students Speak was launched last year partly to correct this imbalance. They've identified 11 SMDs with majority student populations that are represented by non-student commissioners. The campaign hopes to register and mobilize enough students to correct this imbalance somewhat.
For their part, college neighbors should be more welcoming of students, especially those interested in getting involved in their communities. It benefits everyone if DC-area college students graduate with an attachment to their adopted home, since they may choose to stick around and contribute to the tax base. And it's the right thing to do. Everyone deserves a voice, and only by making everyone's voice heard can we build a city that works for everyone.
 | Sam Feldman is a journalist and native Washingtonian.   |
Comments
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MMMkay.
How about voting for the best person for the position, regardless of whether they're a student or a permanent resident?
by Fritz on Dec 1, 2010 10:24 am
The argument, it seems, is that students don't actually live there, they live where they resided before going to college. But college generally has you living somewhere for four years. That's a lot longer than I've lived in my current home. Should I not get to vote?
Then there's the fact that many students don't actually return to their former home after college. Frequently, they look for a job elsewhere and move there. So really, it's not like they live somewhere and go to college with the intent of returning ... they live at college!
Students deserve representation where they live, just as much as anyone else who lives there does.
by Tim on Dec 1, 2010 10:28 am
In my experience, students voices are *rarely* if ever heard in local governments until a student has held office at least once in recent memory. The tone of many college-town city-council meetings is "Us v. Them."
At my Alma Mater (William & Mary in VA), after many years of trying, successfully managed to get a student onto the city council last year. However, with each unsuccessful attempt, the city became increasingly friendly (or, at least, less hostile) toward the student population, as it became apparent that they were a legitimate political force. The voter-intimidation tactics slowly died down, and the city finally started a discussion to reconsider its overtly discriminatory housing laws.
I suspect that increased student activism, *regardless* of the outcome of the elections will greatly improve conditions for DC's student population.
by andrew on Dec 1, 2010 10:35 am
by Jim on Dec 1, 2010 10:35 am
But that means being an actual DC resident. Which means having a DC drivers license, paying DC taxes, serving on a DC jury, etc. It also means not being claimed as a dependent by their non-DC parents' tax forms.
by Fritz on Dec 1, 2010 10:37 am
For further information on the gerrymandering mentioned in this article, please see this Hoya article (http://bit.ly/dldfXx) and my viewpoint in that same paper (http://bit.ly/ihbOKY).
by Jake Sticka on Dec 1, 2010 10:40 am
@Jim: DC Students Speak emphasizes the importance of sharing information between universities for working together on advocacy. That is far from all we do, though. We have established chapters on several campuses in this city and are positioning ourselves for the 2012 elections.
@Fritz: The majority of your second post is scare tactics that anti-Campaign Georgetown individuals used in 1996 to suppress student turnout. As was made clear then: those things are not necessary for a student to vote in this city.
by Scott on Dec 1, 2010 10:46 am
You're making a very good point there. No where does it say that a 'student' cannot vote in a DC election. It just says that 'non-residents' may not vote in a DC election. And if a student wants to become a resident of DC, there's nothing preventing them from doing so by taking exactly the actions you mention. I know I did that at my alma matter ... despite not having lived there before moving to the area specifically to go to school. But I also had no intention of returning to where I'd been the previous 3 years and had no one there claiming me as a dependent.
Really, when you think about it, whether 'students' should have the right to vote where they are going to school is a moot discussion. THEY have the power to become residents in the locality where they are going to school ... and then voting there if they wish.
by Lance on Dec 1, 2010 10:51 am
Can they be a resident while not having a DC driver's license, not paying DC taxes, not taking themselves off their home state's voting rolls, and while still being claimed as a dependent on their parents' taxes?
It seems that what you're arguing is that a student should be able to vote in DC elections simply because they are living here for a few months out of the year.
With that logic, why shouldn't military members stationed at the Marine Corps Barracks also vote in DC elections? Why not the same for foreign embassy workers who live in DC? Or illegal immigrants who live in DC?
I'm all for students voting in DC elections. Provided they are actually bona fide DC residents. Which means they can't be registered voters in their home state, then switch their voting registration to DC in time to vote in DC elections, and then switch back to their home state. That's basically fraud.
by Fritz on Dec 1, 2010 10:53 am
by eBonk on Dec 1, 2010 10:54 am
To vote you have to be a DC resident. But the right to vote does not depend on having a driverse license, much less on how (or even whether) your parents pay taxes.
Now if you are a resident who wants to own a car, you might have to get a drivers license. But there is a reciprocity agreement for students and military. If you want to park your car near Georgetown as a resident, however, you'll have to register the car in DC.
by Jim Titus on Dec 1, 2010 11:03 am
by Beltway Greg on Dec 1, 2010 11:03 am
Feel free to consult the DCBOEE for further information on this, but there are only three criteria for voting in this city: a voter must be a US citizen eligible for voting rights, they must live in DC, and they must no vote in any other state. To say that students don't really live in DC is inaccurate: they spend 3/4s of the year in DC, far more time than many traditional DC residents.
Income tax is not related directly to where one votes. If a student establishes DC residency and chooses to work in DC, they must (and should) pay DC income taxes.
by @Fritz, @Lance, @eBonk on Dec 1, 2010 11:08 am
by GWalum on Dec 1, 2010 11:21 am
If I were to support an out-of-state grandmother, providing her over 50% of her income, and I note this on my tax forms accordingly, would you deny her the right to vote where she lives? Would you argue she doesn't actually live in a house she owns in the other state, merely because she gets income from me?
What if she doesn't drive and has no driver's license? What if she lives in a nursing home and has no utility bills?
I'm not saying there shouldn't be some sort of standard for what "residency" means, but I think you need to make sure your examples aren't merely ageist, and that you'd treat an elderly nursing-home resident no different a 19-year-old college dorm resident.
by Joey on Dec 1, 2010 11:22 am
1. We do not make the same distinction for other residents. For example, a government official might last only a few years, and a legislative staffer only has a job for as long as his representative: 2 years in the House.
2. Students rarely return home, and a lot stay in or near the city where they went to school if there are jobs to be had. In college towns can be significant drivers of growth. In DC, there are enough jobs for college grads: why not make them part of the community now?
3. I would also extend the voting rights to legal immigrants. They are part of the community: they pay taxes, buy or rent housing, purchase goods, and use schools and other services. They should also be allowed to vote in local elections and even run for office, IMO.
4. These changes might actually attract even more people to DC, and costs almost nothing.
by SJE on Dec 1, 2010 11:26 am
As for student/military/Congressional reciprocity, I think the fact that you are filing to maintain your status as a resident of your home state (and therefore maintain your driver's license, tags, etc.), by its very nature, precludes your ability to be bona fide D.C. resident.
by Adam L on Dec 1, 2010 11:30 am
First, I reject the notion that DC students are transient. Personally, I've stayed in DC every summer I've been here, and intend to this summer as well. The longest I've ever been at the address I'm registered to vote at is 3 weeks over Christmas break. I'm certainly not alone. I intend to stay in DC after graduation, and DC itself is the #1 post-graduation destination of Georgetown grads.
Second, we do pay taxes. Our Sales tax revenues, utility tax revenues, and property tax revenues indirectly paid through rent are rather substantial. Such taxes are almost certainly higher than the rather small income tax most students would pay. Not to mention our support to DC economic activity itself. Georgetown's economy would look very different without the University. This all happens despite our relative underconsumption of DC resources. We have our libraries, our own buses, green space, and even volunteer EMS service. All of these services are also open and provided to the general public (well, our EMS service only covers West Georgetown, but we take non-students) at absolutely zero cost to them (including EMS, which would is otherwise very expensive). Of course, we do use DC public transit, libraries, etc. but one can hardly say we don't pay a fair amount. Not to mention how few students are on the TANF rolls or the like.
Third, what really bugs me is how the ANC SMD's in Georgetown are drawn. They have to meet equal population, so 3 districts draw from student dorms to increase their population, while never paying the slightest concern to students' needs. Either represent us or get your own population sources.
Fourth, the reason many students don't vote in the district is because it doesn't seem worthwhile. No congressional representation, a highly skewed Presidential vote, and districts that will either always or never elect a student representative make casting one's vote back home much more valuable. The mayor's & council races is about the only election where student votes could conceivably matter. Not to mention the necessity of registering as a Democrat to have any realistic say in the process. This is no excuse of course, and I recognize that having these concerns has consequences. But at the same time, you can't blame students. These factors alone of course, might not be enough if not accompanied by the presence of voter intimidation tactics and uncooperative residents that make it unlikely our vote would ever be counted in the first place in a truly competitive ANC election.
I think the real issue is just how adversarial and uncooperative the non-student council members are. GU has the 2nd highest proportion of students living on campus in DC, second only to Galludet (which is obviously a special case). The neighbors also don't seem to really understand the notion of a grad student, who are both far less likely to live in the neighborhood, and less likely to engage in disruptive behavior. They also are attempting to take control of things they aren't entitled to - like rerouting our buses while allowing WMATA buses that use the *exact same route* to continue - by holding hostage the things they do (sorta) - like zoning laws. The ANC commissioners have made numerous statements to the effect that they don't consider students part of the community, and that's the real problem here.
by Doug on Dec 1, 2010 11:42 am
by JustMe on Dec 1, 2010 11:51 am
I.e. It's a non-issue ... only being brought up because Sam may not understand how easy it is to become a DC resident. (And I'm not knocking on Sam, I'm just seeing so many of these posts lately on here where they are based on some alleged 'wronging' where it's really just that folks aren't understanding how things work. The Hank's post is another example of that ... And there's nothing wrong with not knowing something, but there is something wrong with one's first reaction being to knock something one doesn't understand.)
by Lance on Dec 1, 2010 11:53 am
BTW: I am taking note of the horribly hypocritical and narrow-minded definitions of what constitutes residency showing up here, with the single goal of disenfranchising a large group of people. One that most likely disagrees with a lot of their views. DC is a very transient city. It is utterly undemocratic to claim that people who stay here temporarily are no proper residents. They staying part matters, not the temporarily.
Finally, in several Dutch cities, student parties have managed to get students elected in city counsels. I think that it was in Delft where they actually managed to get in the majority coalition leading to the appointment of a student as municipal executive. Worked fine.
by Jasper on Dec 1, 2010 11:54 am
The answer to all of these questions is: yes! The only requirement is that you live in DC and not vote in another jurisdiction!
by JustMe on Dec 1, 2010 11:56 am
You do not find it a problem that thousands of people in your neighborhood do not participate in the democratic process?
by Jasper on Dec 1, 2010 12:05 pm
Like too many of the comments we're seeing from Lance of late, this comment is written on the premise that there's a problem ... where one doesn't really exist.
Pot, meet kettle.
by Matt Johnson on Dec 1, 2010 12:05 pm
Lance, have you heard of the internet yet?
by charlie on Dec 1, 2010 12:11 pm
Just make sure that the SMDs are designed to cover some of each campus exclusively. Since each SMD covers 2,000 or so "residents" I think you could make a voting rights act argument that drawing SMDs in ways where a college student population is diminished and dispersed across multiple SMDs is unconstitutional.
GU - residential population: at least 4,900
AU - residential population: at least 3,600
HU - residential population: at least 2,200
GWU - residential population: at least 7,000
CUA - residential population: at least 2,100
Since so few votes are required to win an ANC election, it ought to be very easy for a well organized student campaign to win an SMD seat.
This brings up another issue. Just as I say that we don't have a training and capacity building infrastructure in place to support ANCs and civic organizations, the universities tend to be pretty hermetic.
No DC-based university is a member of the "trade group" Coalition of Metropolitan and Urban Universities, which brings together center city based universities on issues of common concerns. Oops, I'm wrong. Recently, UDC joined.
http://www.cumuonline.org/
The student governments at the respective universities ought to come together and work together on the local representation issue.
Universities in the city have done this through their lobbying group. But this is on real estate and zoning matters for the most part.
http://www.consortium.org/consortium/index.cfm
And in Baltimore you have the Collegetown Network, which is also a quality of life focused organization, not just a lobbying group for universities. (There is a similar effort in Philadelphia.)
http://www.campusphilly.com/articles.nsf/pages/about.html
I don't know how much college students have to contribute really. I do think that the universities could do more. I thought the recent story in the Post about a community-based program at Georgetown was pathetic--I mean, the university has been here for awhile to not notice the world outside of the campus.
But many students and classes do important work that for the most part is sadly ephemeral, and that work needs to be captured, retained, and used (i.e., through Washingtoniana Collection, HSW, etc.).
E.g., this Friday is the "world premiere" of some videos by Georgetown U students on local history issues. I helped the group doing their project on the Uline Arena. Some of these projects are really quite good, but little is made of them.
CUA's architecture school classes do DC projects too that tend to be quite interesting.
In the short run, the best thing that interested college students could do would be to ensure that the ANCs in their areas have standing committees, and offer participation to local residents, including students, and the student governments should focus on getting people involved in that level.
Once people know you as not "the other" things can change in significant ways. Of course, the fact the student population turns over so frequently poses other issues.
by Richard Layman on Dec 1, 2010 12:11 pm
I was at GW in the early 1990s when we went through the same thing of getting a student on to the ANC. Biggest issue: Many students did not want to swap their voting registration. Some got a DC voting registration, voted in DC, and also voted in their home state. That's outright fraud, yet how many criminal prosecutions have occurred for a person casting a ballot in different states?
The gerrymandering issue is a good one. I'd support seeing ANC districts created that encompass the majority of a campus. That essentially assures a student representative (assuming they can qualify for an ANC ballot position).
What I have a big issue with is the argument of "let's let everyone vote", without really caring about what that means for democratic representation.
Supporters of encouraging voter fraud haven't answered my point above: What do you do with a student who changes his voter registration from his home state to DC, votes in the DC local elections, and then changes his registration back to his home state? Is that fraud? Should that student be prosecuted?
by Fritz on Dec 1, 2010 12:12 pm
This has absolutely nothing to do with this post but just immediately claiming residency does NOT mean that you will soon qualify for in-state tuition. I attended the University of Colorado and it was damn near impossible to qualify for in-state based on an address. The university itself didn't consider you legal until you were 22 and required that you legally emancipate yourself (!) if you were under 22. Then, you had to file any "significant gifts," report your wages, etc. to the university. Many states have really crazy stuff like this in place so that students don't game the system by simply changing their address, driver's license, and where they file their taxes. Trust me, I (and my parents) would have been happy to do that. Legal emancipation? We weren't so happy with that prospect.
I moved home and went to UMD, where I could get in-state tuition without question (and I'm not a DC resident, despite living here, so that I can continue to pay in-state tuition at UMD. I hate it—I'd rather vote in DC—but it's worth all the money I'm saving). Again, this has nothing to do with this post—every university on here is private, anyway—but having tried to get in-state tuition by changing my address and knowing it doesn't work that way, I felt compelled to share.
by alexbaca on Dec 1, 2010 12:16 pm
Of course you do. You're against people voting. You're even resorting to that time-honored act of all of those engaging in voter-suppression, claiming that this is all about "voter fraud" and arguing that this is a problem where none exists. I DO care about what "let's let everyone vote" means for democratic representation-- it means that we have BETTER democratic representation.
What do you do with a student who changes his voter registration from his home state to DC, votes in the DC local elections, and then changes his registration back to his home state?
What do you do about anyone who moves to DC for whatever reason and does the same thing? Why aren't you freaked out about the few people who do that who aren't students?
Besides which, my opinion that the ANCs must be destroyed.
by JustMe on Dec 1, 2010 12:19 pm
I note in your answer that you're quite supportive of what is essentially fraud.
Let's come up with a fun hypothetical: a measure is on the ballot to allow streetcars. The anti-street car forces get all of their relatives from Mordor to stay in DC for 30 days, declare themselves DC residents, cast a ballot against streetcars, and then move back to Mordor.
Under your utopian view, this would be perfectly ok, because it's, like, all about getting better democratic representation, dude. Regardless of whether that means, like, fraud.
And I agree with you - ANCs should be abolished since, for the most part, they do very little good.
by Fritz on Dec 1, 2010 12:29 pm
THAT is a lie and a sign that you associate students voting with "fraud," as is the time-honored tradition of voter suppression. All that is required to vote is that you be registered someplace you live and do not vote in another jurisdiction. That's ALL.
by JustMe on Dec 1, 2010 12:31 pm
The solution to what you suggest would be just for states to figure out how to communicate voter changes.
by David Alpert on Dec 1, 2010 12:37 pm
http://m.gawker.com/5702830/tea-party-leader-restricting-voting-to-property-owners-makes-a-lot-of-sense
by TM on Dec 1, 2010 12:40 pm
by Lynn on Dec 1, 2010 12:44 pm
I have no idea why you're bringing me into this (or Fritz for that matter). I've simply said anyone can vote in DC all they have to do is choose to be a resident of DC ... and being a resident of DC is no more complicated than not being a resident of another place. Surely you wouldn't think it okay that someone who is not a resident of DC should be allowed to vote here?
by Lance on Dec 1, 2010 12:50 pm
Want to vote in DC? No problem, register to vote here. Simple as that.
And letting "students" simply vote because you are under some odd premise that pure democracy reigns, what about places like GWU, where 1/3rd of the student population are international students? Are you really, honestly saying that simply their student status should give them a right to vote in City elections wherever, and whenever they are, even if they aren't US citizens?
Cmon.....
You want to vote, fine. Do what "adults" do and REGISTER to vote wherever you want.
by freely on Dec 1, 2010 12:51 pm
by TM on Dec 1, 2010 1:05 pm
@Richard Layman: DC Students Speak is attempting to do exactly as you propose and has had meetings with university administrators on how they can be more actively engaged in helping students be represented. George Washington, for instance, now has an office of civic engagement. The gerrymandering that you describe is very real and very much an obstacle to these efforts, though.
@Jasper: Do you have any idea how the students organized there or if there was a background organizational structure?
by Jake on Dec 1, 2010 1:06 pm
The elections board states:
"Acceptable forms of proof of residence include the following (must include the name and address of the voter):
Copy of current and valid photo identification, Copy of a current utility bill (does not include cell phone), Bank statement, Government check, Paycheck, Or other government document that shows your name and address"
So if a student only brought their student ID, and it didn't indicate their address, according to the regulations, they wouldn't be allowed to vote. I don't know if ID cards have addresses these days (mine didn't when I was a DC student), but if not, these student organizations should inform students who hope to vote for the first time what they need to bring in order to do so (this is not just a problem faced by students, by the way).
by DCster on Dec 1, 2010 1:09 pm
by David Alpert on Dec 1, 2010 1:10 pm
@freely: Although this discussion has turned into voting rights, more broadly we are talking about representation. Do you think it is fair that despite having over 7,000 students on campus, GWU students aren't represented by any member of their ANC (keeping in mind that each SMD is supposed to be representative of 2000 individuals living within it)? Those internationals you speak of may not vote here, but they still live here a majority of the year and should have their interests represented.
by Jake on Dec 1, 2010 1:19 pm
And they are ... That's why countries establish consulates in foreign lands ...
by Lance on Dec 1, 2010 1:34 pm
No, I don't think they deserve representation...UNLESS they want to register to vote in DC. Then fine. Have at it.
We have nearly 300K MD and VA residents who come into DC 5 days a week for work. Thats more than 8 months a year they spend in the District yet I doubt you would ever rationally consider giving those folks equal voting rights in DC.
According to the Georgetown Academic calendar, classes start in the fall on September 1 and end May 3. Factor in a 3 week winter break and the students are in DC for 7 months a year. Why in the world would anyone consider giving special consideration to a group of students (3% of the population per the tally above) who can't be bothered to register to vote like the rest of us?
The barriers to entry in registering to vote are minimal. If you can't be bothered to perform that incredibly simple task, then I don't want you voting anyway.
by freely on Dec 1, 2010 1:39 pm
IMHO, as someone who attended college in DC and now lives here, if someone wants to register to vote in DC, or run for a ANC seat (especially if the incumbent is anti-THEM), they should be strongly encouraged and not accused of voter fraud like some posters on this site have asserted.
by John on Dec 1, 2010 1:58 pm
1. There have been some blatant falsehoods presented by some individuals in these comments. Obviously DC Students Speak does not aim to register international students. DC Students Speak complies with all regulations and implying such false motives, are uncalled for and lack all evidence.
2. Thank you to those who have been writing in support of students voting in DC. Students spend the vast majority of their four years in the city, and pay many taxes and are in general greatly influenced by the policies of the DC Government.
Considering how DC already gets the short end with inadequate representation at the Federal level, it is important that DC does not work to disenfranchise students.
3. Many organizations throughout the United States work to assist individuals to register to vote. DC Students Speaks aims to continue this tradition, which is something that should not be discouraged.
by Scott on Dec 1, 2010 2:06 pm
That said, because of the way SMDs are set up, I disagree with you. Each SMD is to represent approximately 2,000 individuals. Currently each university has more than that on-campus and should have the representation in line with that.
As for the length of time spend in the District each year, I disagree with your total. Georgetown has one of the shorter calendars in DC. Even using it, your start and end dates are incorrect. Although classes do start on September 1st, move-in is a week earlier. Additionally, although May 3rd is the last day of classes this year, finals do not end until the third week of May, and many stay on through graduation at end of May. To say that winter break is three weeks is not totally accurate either, again that uses the denoted start and end dates rather than the practicalities of when people are in and out of DC. All students are here for eight months, a number here for nine.
If you want to prevent all those who leave DC for Christmas and summer outside the city from gaining representation, I think you are going to be disenfranchising a larger group than just students.
by Jake on Dec 1, 2010 2:10 pm
this is a non-issue. moving on...
by dano on Dec 1, 2010 2:13 pm
by yup on Dec 1, 2010 3:52 pm
I went to college in a different state than the one in which I grew up and in which my parents continued to live. I lived in student housing during the academic year and random sublets for the summers I stayed on campus. But all throughout, I still felt very connected to my hometown, and its politics, and altogether disconnected from the city where my college was. I knew I wasn't going to stick around after graduation. I kept my voter registration (and drivers' license) from my home state.
The key to residency, I think, is a self-consistency revolving around intent.
I started grad school with the same outlook, but after getting through coursework and into research work that wasn't so strictly structured around academic terms, I decided I was a resident of the state I was going to grad school in.
I doubt I'm the only one with this outlook, although I understand it's far from universal. I probably would have reconsidered my residency if my parents had moved to another state. Many, perhaps, only become politically active and aware when off to college, but I would not be surprised if those who are inclined to want to vote at all, and to be active at all, might already feel ties to their hometown. And in DC, I'd think it would be a hard sell to give up votes on Senators and an enfranchised Representative in exchange for a vote on an ANC rep.
by thm on Dec 1, 2010 3:53 pm
A student's voter registration does not affect their parent's taxes whatsoever. (Check out http://www.brennancenter.org/content/pages/svg_faq/#taxes)
This isn't the 1930's anymore. Moving from state to state isn't a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Feel victimized by people moving from one jurisdiction to another? Well, you feel victimized by the democratic process. It only takes thirty days to establish voting residency.
Finally, no matter what some like to allege, it's not the 60's, either, and a citizen of the United States is more likely to be hit by lightning than commit voter fraud. Voter intimidation - which can include forcefully stating facts or what you believe to be facts, don't think you can do whatever you like - is far, far more common.
It's disappointing that so many of the same establishment figures in DC who seek voting rights for the District are scared of letting students exercise the rights they already have.
by Daniel on Dec 1, 2010 4:34 pm
"establishment figures in DC who seek voting rights for the District are scared of letting students exercise the rights they already have" (IN ANOTHER STATE).
I think voting is the greatest thing since microwavable pizza, really I do. And I have absolutely nothing against local college students registering to vote in DC.
But I will be damned if someone who can't be bothered to register here, or wants his cake and eat it too by keeping their voting registration elsewhere, AND getting to vote here, gets to vote.
The only way a non-DC registered voter gets voting access here is if I get a reciprocity vote in their home district as well. No? Imagine that.
I don't know why people are clouding this issue by discussing parents taxes etc. It has nothing to do with the fact that if a local college student wants to take the whopping 5 minutes I took when I moved here and get registered to vote, then let them. Otherwise, no local vote for you.
And really, the easiest way for local students to get a local vote is for them to elect a representative from the college, either a student or faculty who is an actual DC resident to speak on their behalf. Student body elects someone, that person then speaks on behalf the entire student body. Done.
by freely on Dec 1, 2010 4:43 pm
I haven't seen a single piece of proof - plenty of allegation, no proof - that students are trying to double-dip. It's a provable fact that local students' votes were challenged this year and that the DCBOEE ruled against most of those challenges.
by Daniel on Dec 1, 2010 4:50 pm
1 How is giving a person who is here only 7 months and some days of a 12 month year accepted as a resident.
2 Why should someone living in campus housing and not renting or buy property in DC get a voice.
3 What about people who have extended stays here because of Travel (tourist), or in a hospital with in/out patient treatment such as a the spouse or parent of someone in the hospital.
4 If college students deserve a voice than everybody stay over 1 month does.
by kk on Dec 1, 2010 4:55 pm
2) Living in campus housing is renting property in DC. You're renting from the university. DC law explicitly states that living in university housing establishes voting residency.
4) That's correct! You've hit upon the secret of modern voting law: you can vote anywhere you live for over a month.
by Daniel on Dec 1, 2010 4:59 pm
The right to vote comes with responsibilities, too. You should vote where you are domiciled. If you care enough about DC politics that you want to vote, register here. And then get a DC drivers' license, register your car here, and serve jury duty here, and pay taxes here if you work.
What were the reasons DCBOEE was ruling students ineligible?
by jcm on Dec 1, 2010 5:13 pm
@kk: I think Daniel responded to that well. In regards to 3) such people don't plan on being in DC for voting cycles. Students are here for two, at the very least.
@jcm: They mostly didn't. When they did, it was because students lacked the documentation they needed. They only lack it because of factor unique to students (not too many receive utility bills for on-campus housing).
by Jake on Dec 1, 2010 5:24 pm
It should also be noted that homeless people legally have the right to vote as well, despite not renting or owning a residence. Also, for all those arguing that students only spend 7 or 8 months a year here: as there are only 12 months in a year, those students must necessarily spend more of their time in DC than anywhere else, so if you don't think they should register here, you presumably think they shouldn't be allowed to register to vote anywhere.
by Sam Feldman on Dec 1, 2010 5:25 pm
@Jake If you want to vote here, act like a real resident is supposed to and change your drivers license. Don't take advantage of a reciprocity program designed for temporary residents while simultaneously claiming you're deeply vested enough in DC to vote or run for office. The DC proof of residency has a really low bar. If you can't meet it, you probably shouldn't be voting here.
by jcm on Dec 1, 2010 6:04 pm
by jcm on Dec 1, 2010 6:14 pm
by Canaan on Dec 1, 2010 6:50 pm
But yes, the SMDs are based on population, not on the population of "registered voters". This accounts for the anomaly of the DC Jail being an SMD but never being able to have an elected representative.
The big thing is once you have the "power" to do something with it, for good. E.g., ANC6A is great. Many ANCs suck.
by Richard Layman on Dec 1, 2010 7:28 pm
Residency is like a relationship, you have to take the good with the bad ... you can't just cherry pick the parts of it you like ... and leave the rest behind ...
by Lance on Dec 1, 2010 10:22 pm
I think a good solution would be to make the campus a precinct and if you live on campus then that is your precinct. You can register (or change your registration to) your special campus precinct. Obviously if you don't live in on campus housing you vote in that precinct (or vote absentee back home)
by Canaan on Dec 1, 2010 10:38 pm
@ Fritz: What I have a big issue with is the argument of "let's let everyone vote", without really caring about what that means for democratic representation.
I don't think anybody is arguing for "let's let everyone vote" People are arguing to let residents vote. Other people are arguing that students are no residents. Which is interesting because I suspect that many local ANC reps do rent out property to students.
Furthermore, democracy contains the word demos, the people. By shutting out certain groups, you are changing from democracy to a few-o-cracy. Morally, every democratic system should be looking to include the opinion of as many stake-holders as possible, even if they do not have the legal right to vote. Again, it's democracy, not voterocracy.
BTW: EU citizens can vote in city elections based on their residence, not on their citizenship. So, there is a precedent where foreigners do have voting rights.
@ alexbaca: This has absolutely nothing to do with this post but just immediately claiming residency does NOT mean that you will soon qualify for in-state tuition.
I should have expected that different states have various rules about it. Interestingly, I knew of a girl that formally moved in with her aunt somewhere in CO while finishing her undergrad degree in DC, because she wanted to qualify for in-state tuition in CO for grad school. NC doesn't make it hard either, as far as I understand you need to have an off campus address in the state for more than one year to qualify for in-state tuition. For grad students, and even undergrads that should not be hard.
But you're right, I am sure some state try to work around this. Quite a despicable practice actually. Most students are adults and should be free to establish residency wherever the hell it pleases them. OH requires you to get a driver's license on day 1 of you moving into OH. The courts tend to give people a 30 day window, because proving residency on the day of moving somewhere can be quite hard actually because the required paperwork may take a few days to get to the new resident.
@ freely: what about places like GWU, where 1/3rd of the student population are international students?
First qualification to be able to vote is being a US citizen (or national?). And see above. There is a precedent where foreigners have voting rights in city elections.
@ Jake: Do you have any idea how the students organized there or if there was a background organizational structure?
Students just founded a party and ran a campaign. It does help that in the Netherlands all elections are proportional, which helps minorities and small parties.
I may be influenced, but I like proportional elections because it's much easier for anti-estalibishment anger to materialize in new parties. But then again, I grew up there. But surely it must beat DC's communist-like one-party system.
Voter registration also works very different in the Netherlands (and most of Europe) - as in, there is none. Napoleon introduced the idea of a citizen's registry which we kept after the Brits helped us kick the maniac out. To exist for the government, one must register his residency with the city. At election time, all registered adults get a voting card. Students always register in the city where they study because they then qualify for higher state tuition.
In my experience, students in the Netherlands (and Europe) are way more active than the American students I've seen at the four universities where I've worked. I myself was a(n elected) student representative for 3 or 4 out of the 5 years I was an undergrad. I served in the departmental education board as well as the departmental council. Granted, the elections were rigged in the sense that we usually had a hard time finding enough serious candidates to actually fill the available positions (small department, few students), but we tried hard to represent students as best as we could. But we did accomplish tangible stuff, and most students did understand that it was very relevant to have student representation.
Local political parties often recruit heavily under students, because students tend to have strong ideals, and are available to demonstrate. This way students get involved, and sometimes they even form their own political party.
The problem with student representation is that students are very transient. So you need to establish organizations that maintain continuity as students rotate through at a rather high speed. Once these organizations are stable, university administrations learn that they can trust the students in those organizations. It was not so much my voice that counted, but the fact that professors knew that I represented students and could cause major mayhem if needed.
The problem that I've seen in the US, is that students are not interested in forming such organizations. I talked to GW's student president once, and he was all talking about how his office was trying to model the organization of the White House with different departments and secretaries blah blah. When I asked what his latest tangible achievement for students was, he drew a blank. I asked him what he ran on, he drew a blank. He also admitted that the administration rarely listened to student presidents anyway. He also admitted that he never had had the idea of actually organizing a demonstration.
My conclusion is that students in the US generally do not believe they can achieve anything, and that many of the students that running for various offices, are just padding their resume. Oddly, American students are very active and efficient in raising money for charities.
@ John: Voting isn't based on who you get your money from or how you pay taxes, it's based on where you live most of the time and if you're a US Citizen over 18 without a criminal record.
+1
@ kk: 1 How is giving a person who is here only 7 months and some days of a 12 month year accepted as a resident.
Where else would that person be a resident? In the place where they are the other 5 months? How does that make sense?
2 Why should someone living in campus housing and not renting or buy property in DC get a voice.
Universities are no property in DC? Students effectively rent their dorms through tuition. It's a separate item on the bill. Furthermore, many students do rent off-campus property. Few even buy (well, their parents do).
3 What about people who have extended stays here because of Travel (tourist), or in a hospital with in/out patient treatment such as a the spouse or parent of someone in the hospital.
They are no US citizens. Travel visa are only valid for three months. The hospital argument is bogus and you know it. But if someone can get a bill addressed to their hospital bed, fine, let them be a resident.
4 If college students deserve a voice than everybody stay over 1 month does.
Nup. Nobody suggested that.
And what Daniel said.
by Jasper on Dec 2, 2010 9:33 am
together and the children, if any, of either or both
spouses; or, a lone parent of any marital status with at
least one child living in the same dwelling. The reason is families generally pay taxes, follow laws, contribute to clean parks, streets, and don't trash communities with their young behavior. A student group house simply does not meet the use requirements of R-3 zoning laws. In the specific case of Georgetown, Georgetown University has been provided an overlay within the community to build dormitories and provide a lifestyle for its students that fit in that area. That is why there are zoning laws, and students simply want to expand their dormitory lifestyle outside the overlay.
by R-3 on Dec 2, 2010 12:34 pm
by KevinM on Dec 2, 2010 12:41 pm
@R-3: If you take a look at Jake Sticka's piece in the Hoya, you'll see some of the issues he was running on. They don't include repealing open container laws, but they do include public safety improvements to address the sexual assaults occurring against Georgetown students.
Speaking only for myself (a non-student), I don't mind lax enforcement of open container laws, so it appears you and I have a disagreement. In a democracy, the proper way to settle a disagreement like this is by voting, not by one side trying to prevent the other from voting.
by Sam Feldman on Dec 2, 2010 12:57 pm
by R-3 on Dec 3, 2010 3:42 pm
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