NORFOLK
Norfolk elections officials today reluctantly loosened their procedures for registering college students to vote after protests from presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign and an admonishment from state election officials.
Obama’s campaign complained that the Norfolk registrar’s policy of sending a questionnaire to anyone applying to register from a college campus discourages students from following up with registration. The state Board of Elections asked general registrar Elisa J. Long to halt the practice.
The Norfolk Electoral Board agreed to no longer send the questionnaire, but said in a statement, “This compliance is with the understanding that the Board strongly feels that by doing so, we are out of compliance with Virginia Election Laws.”
State law requires registrars to make decisions on eligibility based on residency, which has two components: place of abode and domicile. Long said the questionnaire had been used to determine domicile and was based on suggested questions from the state elections office.
“The frustration is that the code says you may ask questions to help you make the determination of domicile, yet now we’re being told we cannot use a questionnaire,” she said.
“They did not relieve me of the responsibility of determining domicile, but they’ve tied my hands in order to do that.”
A firestorm erupted in other Virginia college towns this month – including Virginia Tech - over the handling of college student registration, particularly out-of-state students.
Virginia is viewed as a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election.
Obama’s campaign has actively been registering college students in Virginia.
Campaign spokesman Kevin Griffis said Obama “is energizing young voters in a way that’s not happened in a generation or more.”
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Federal
law supersedes state law. The US Supreme court decided in 1979, that college students can vote in the area in which they live while attending school. That decision was affirmed in 2004. Nothing illegal in these actions. Stop crying over a smart move.
Oh, I get it . . .
Some of the other states are not "swing" states so once their electors have either gone Democrat or Republican in the election . . . it is what it is.
So we are trying to take numerous people from those states, already very red or very blue, and get them to use their votes in Virginia instead, since we are a swing state. Hmmmm! Pretty good tactic, Mr. Obama. Cheers, MGM
Well folks, Obama promised "Change", and...
Now its coming to you. Norfolk being forced to change its (valid) voter registration process to accomadate the Obamaniacs. And now the ACLU is circling around, vowing to represent any student not allowed to register. The Leftists must really want Virginia this November. Just be ready to scream "election fraud!" when your Manchurian Canidate loses.
No, it is not illegal
You anti-Obama people are wrong. It is not illegal. The reason the Obama folks are (rightfully) protesting is because the U.S. Supreme said back in 1979 that college students may vote in the precinct where they attend school. Obama is not "changing" the laws, he is demanding they follow the law. Unfortunately, there are still a few voter registrars around the nation who are not aware of this.
You can Vote for Obama in Two States if you go to College????
So what stops college students from voting in two states....distance and time...Gee...if you live close enough to border states you can make that happen... NC, MD, Delaware, New Jersey etc.....two votes per college student for Obabma....What a CROC!!!!!!
College
students & military members, not in their home district at times of national elections, should be allowed to vote, where ever they may be. As long as they provide proof of citizenship, they should be allowed to vote by provisional ballot.
it surprised me too
Guess what other city Obama fought for. He also got Lynchburg to do the same thing so students at Liberty University and Lynchburg College could vote in Lynchburg. That surprised me very much. Also, the ACLU has agreed to represent any student that is rejected from voting in their college town.
Pardon
That should read, "Why AREN'T college students handled the same as the military folks?" Sorry for the typo.
So...
They're going to use college students to pad the numbers in November? Oh that's just great..more post election finger pointing. I thought you had to vote in your state of residency(home state)..isn't that how the military does it? Why are college students handled the same way as military folks? If they claim a state other than VA as home...then they shouldn't be allowed to vote as a VA resident...absentee vote in your home state..how hard is that? Nothing like winning by any means necessary..
prepare yourself
only a fool won't be prepared for the civil disobedience to follow on election night....no matter what the outcome..
State Board of Elections at
State Board of Elections at 1-800-552-9745, or via email at info@sbe.virginia.gov. Contact your legislator. A representative at the State Board of Elections stated that they changed their directions due to extensive media coverage of the issue due to the complaints from the Barack Obama campaign! The Norfolk board may have had this policy in place for a long time, but let B.O.'s campaign make complaints and it doesn't matter what your residency is as a college student, you can vote in the state of Virginia. Ridiculous. Call the State Board and complain, and contact your legislative representative. This is outrageous.
Illegal voter registration
I want to know how I can file a formal complaint. This is an illegal practice.
college student, myself
I'm retired navy and am now a full time student at ODU. I interact with as many fellow students as possible to enlighten them from their youthful ignorance on many things. I've converted numerous from Obama to McCain. There are, however, a lot of out of state students on campus and I'm sure the democrats would love to double dip their votes with an additional Virginia vote. I will be watching how this carries out on my campus.
voter fraud
Obama doesn’t run the registrars how could anyone allow this to happen. Now the registrars cannot determine residence or domicile of voters. “This compliance is with the understanding that the Board strongly feels that by doing so, we are out of compliance with Virginia Election Laws.” This leaves the door open for possible voter fraud. When does the investigation start? Oh I forgot its’ Obama’s people.
Change
Well this is what Obama means about "Change" He meant changing the laws so it would be in his favor. This is the type of president he would be. Now it's clear about what change is. Let's pray that he is not elected, we don't what his type of change.