STUDENT VOTING RIGHTS

The NCC calls for a multi-dimensional, varied approach to advocacy on a national scale — there are hundreds of ways we can meet our goals beyond the ballot box, but ensuring electoral access and freedom for our communities is still essential to our success. 

As both historical and contemporary data has shown us, the youth and undergraduate vote is often enough to sway elections, particularly in swing states. Unfortunately, it is this exact demonstration of power that makes college and university campuses a main focus for voting law changes, gerrymandering efforts and procedural disenfranchisement. 

This disenfranchisement manifests in some of the following ways: 

• Voter ID requirements for authenticated photographs and expiration dates disallow students from using their school identification. 

• Voting requirements that mandate a single address disallow students from listing their college/university for their registration address. 

• Regulations that prohibit satellite voting locations or enforce restrictive requirements for these locations disallow colleges and universities from providing campus-based polling stations. 

• Redistricting that splinters and dilutes the total voting power of college and university communities, particularly HBCUs and other minority-centered institutions.

• Regular, undisclosed voting roll purges that de-register individuals if they move out of state, miss an election, or other restrictive standard disproportionately impact student populations. 

• Underdeveloped and mismanaged mail-in ballot systems disallow students from effectively participating in their local elections.