Virginia Tech Students blocked from registering to vote

[Juan_Bottom]

http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/09/03/voting

“The Code of Virginia states that a student must declare a legal residence in order to register. A legal residence can be either a student’s permanent address from home or their current college residence. By making Montgomery County your permanent residence, you have declared your independence from your parents and can no longer be claimed as a dependent on their income tax filings — check with your tax professional. If you have a scholarship attached to your former residence, you could lose this funding. And, if you change your registration to Montgomery County, Virginia Code requires you to change your driver’s license and car registration to your present address within 30 days.”


What? I don't even know if anyone else cares.... but lots of people read these anyway...
Oh yeah.... you should prolly make note that Virginia is a battleground state...... and who do you think the college crowd supports?

[Snorri1234]

Yeah, it always seems the ones who are most likely to vote Democrat are the ones who get the shit. I mean, a cynical man would say that the evacuation of New Orleans played pretty good into the hands of the republicans as the majority of people who'd vote Democrat were evacuated.

It's shit like this that makes people lose faith in the democratic progress.

[Nikolai]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

[Curmudgeonx]

That is not limited to Virgina Tech, this is commonplace at most campuses across the nation for out of state students.

Not every noise is a bump in the night . . .

[got tonkaed]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

I actually agree with this, this doesnt seem to be nearly as heinous as you suggest. Id gather this is fairly common in a pretty large area as it does prevent voter fraud. It is regrettable perhaps in the context of near election voter drives, but it does serve a clearly identifiable purpose.

[Jenos Ridan]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

I actually agree with this, this doesnt seem to be nearly as heinous as you suggest. Id gather this is fairly common in a pretty large area as it does prevent voter fraud. It is regrettable perhaps in the context of near election voter drives, but it does serve a clearly identifiable purpose.

Some people love to jump the gun GT, you ought to know that.

[got tonkaed]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

I actually agree with this, this doesnt seem to be nearly as heinous as you suggest. Id gather this is fairly common in a pretty large area as it does prevent voter fraud. It is regrettable perhaps in the context of near election voter drives, but it does serve a clearly identifiable purpose.

Some people love to jump the gun GT, you ought to know that.

I should clarify...post was made mostly for cataloging purposes. Anytime i post anything that isnt far left its put in a file somewhere.

[Jenos Ridan]

Still, this is anti-fraud legislation, nothing more. Enough with the tin-foil hat paranoia already !

[Juan_Bottom]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

WHO called this a conspiracy in ANY way? I just implied that Dems were getting the shaft. NEVER called it a conspiracy; would you seriously stop putting words in my mouth? (Before you encourage me to drag out annoying smileys--- ----like that one?) [Who's the bastard that labeled me as a conspiracy theorist?]

It's not so much that they are discouraged, they are pretty well blocked. Why shouldn't someone be able to use their college address as their address? So long as you're registering in the right place?

[Jenos Ridan]

Pretty much everyone here thinks you're a conspiracy theorist (or rather, that you are easily sold on conspiracy theories).

[Juan_Bottom]

Pretty much everyone here thinks you're a conspiracy theorist (or rather, that you are easily sold on conspiracy theories).

WTF? For what conspiracies? It was only the 9-11 threade that I ever participated in??? WTF people?

[Dancing Mustard]

Pretty much everyone here thinks you're a conspiracy theorist (or rather, that you are easily sold on conspiracy theories).

That seems a little harsh...

Sure Juan is a believer in a couple of conspiracy theories, and yes they were the first issues he posted about (911 + Ameros)... but he's not a 'nut' or a Kool-Aid swilling tinfoil hatter (AKA 'a Jay'); he's actually a fairly decent guy who seems to possess just enough capacity for rational thought to sustain a sane conversation over the internet. Let's stop pillorying him and denouncing all of his ideas as 'conspiracies' whenever he opens his mouth, because that's really not what he's trying to say.

In other words, cut him a bit of slack here, Juan isn't accusing the NWO of trying to rig the elections, he doesn't appear to be alleging any sort of concious conspiracy, and he's willing to discuss his beliefs in a calm, rational and youtube-free fashion.

So come on guys, let's all remove our aluminium headgear and stop upsetting dear old JB with all this "You smell like Xtra" stuff... he really doesn't deserve it.

[black elk speaks]

Juan's biggest problem is that he only seeks the viewpoint of those that he agrees with. he wouldn't want to have his mind changed, so he wont seek opposing viewpoints to that which he reads. he is also an avid supporter of jumping to irrational conclusions and thumbing his nose at authority. i found myself scratching my head at the text that juan posted as an excerpt from the article thinking, what could be wrong with that.

juan, learn to read and then seek alternative opinions and explanations to the circumstances that surround a story. your constant "reporting" of the worlds ills are like the little boy who cried wolf. no one really cares about the crap you dig up because more often than not, your alarming news is really just an overblown reaction to something that was slanted in the first place.

[gdeangel]

They left out probably the most important considerations from this flier. If you declare residency in a state, your wages become subject to tax (some states) and at a minimum you must file a return in that state.

So let's just see... college student in Virginia goes to a Obamma-wanna rally, gets pumped up, decided to declare residence in Virgina and fills out the paperwork presented by the movement organizers, who only care that they are "winning the war in a battleground state" and don't really give a crap about the student in question (i.e., don't bother to explain this stuff to him/her). Student in question doesn't read the fine print, or maybe there is no fine print because it's simply noted by everyone that you have to file income tax where you live.

Student goes home to New York for the summer. Works at an internship for a bank. Low and behold, at tax time, New York, the state where the income source was reported, sends an income tax to mom and dad's house. Mom and dad dutifully send it to our friend, who then files as a NY resident and pays NYS tax. The VA tax forms went drop ship to campus mail, and unfortunately were never delivered. Some months/years later, our friend receives a letter says, "Our records show you were a resident of Virginia in 2008 but you failed to file Virginia state income tax. Please call this number."

Upon which calling, our friend learns that he owes tax, interest and penalties, (which he doesn't have, cause he paid tax in NYS), and must decide whether to claim he didn't actually reside in Virginia (in which case, he is admitting to voter fraud) or to come up with the money to pay the Virginia state tax.

Whereupon he pimps out his really hot girlfriend, so everything ends up fine.

[Nobunaga]

... Can't these kids vote in their own states? A vote is a vote, right? Absentee if they can't or don't want to go home.

... <edit> Electoral college votes... now I get it.

[Dancing Mustard]

Hey there Nobunagger! Good of you to drop in and share your views.

[Simon Viavant]

... Can't these kids vote in their own states? A vote is a vote, right? Absentee if they can't or don't want to go home.

Causeses?

[Juan_Bottom]

I don't get it. Won't these kids be in college, when it comes time to vote?

So lets say I'm from Alaska, either I drive back to Alaska and vote, OR I CAN register in Virginia, but I lose my scholorship.

That's why I'm saying kids are being blocked here. Am I right? In my hometown, there's 80 people, and we all vote at the firestation. No voter fraud here.

[PLAYER57832]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

WHO called this a conspiracy in ANY way? I just implied that Dems were getting the shaft. NEVER called it a conspiracy; would you seriously stop putting words in my mouth? (Before you encourage me to drag out annoying smileys--- ----like that one?) [Who's the bastard that labeled me as a conspiracy theorist?]

It's not so much that they are discouraged, they are pretty well blocked. Why shouldn't someone be able to use their college address as their address? So long as you're registering in the right place?

They are not blocked AT ALL. What you need to do is to register in your HOME area and then request an absentee ballot if you will not be home on election day. That applies to EVERYONE who might be somewhere other than their official residence.

When you say it is "unfair", think about this: How much do you REALLY know about the local politics in Montgomery county (or whereever you are) when you are in College. Are you going to stay there after you graduate? How much do you REALLY have vested in the area. Granted, you may not move back home, either, BUT at least you have lived there and should know more about the issues. "Unfair" is to have 3000 young people who spend only part of the year, who don't really know much about local issues having a huge sway on local elections. THAT would be unfair!

You CAN vote ... no one is stopping you. You just have to do it where you actually live, which in the case of students, is usually not where you happen to be staying while you attend school.

[PLAYER57832]

I don't get it. Won't these kids be in college, when it comes time to vote?

So lets say I'm from Alaska, either I drive back to Alaska and vote, OR I CAN register in Virginia, but I lose my scholorship.

That's why I'm saying kids are being blocked here. Am I right? In my hometown, there's 80 people, and we all vote at the firestation. No voter fraud here.

You request an absentee ballot from your home area and follow the directions for voting. Simple!

I had to do this when I was in school, when I worked at sea. You need to do this if you will not be in your home area for ANY reason ... and usually they suggest you request one if you are not sure, because you can always submit the absentee ballot locally, but cannot vote by remote if you end up being away.

There are a few special procedures to do with foreign embassies and military individuals, but if those things apply, talk to your bosses about the specifics.

[Juan_Bottom]

This is gonna sound crazy to ya'll, because I am a little too political at times, but I thought absentee ballots were only for those overseas.
Wow, I'm ashamed.

[PLAYER57832]

Good you asked and posted, then. Now you know and, I hope, will tell your friends as well.

[black elk speaks]

This is gonna sound crazy to ya'll, because I am a little too political at times, but I thought absentee ballots were only for those overseas.
Wow, I'm ashamed.

holy shit!

he actually learned something.

[ksslemp]

I don't get it. Won't these kids be in college, when it comes time to vote?

So lets say I'm from Alaska, either I drive back to Alaska and vote, OR I CAN register in Virginia, but I lose my scholorship.

That's why I'm saying kids are being blocked here. Am I right? In my hometown, there's 80 people, and we all vote at the firestation. No voter fraud here.

Ever heard of an absentee ballet??

get a clue Juan!

[Hologram]

Uh... that's not a block, and it makes perfect sense. The students need to register to vote from their home addresses to prevent voter fraud. That just explains that they can't put their college address as their home address. As the article says, it's providing information so that students don't screw themselves over in a big way during voter registration drives, which are notoriously bad at providing this sort of information. The only people blocked from registering to vote are students from other states, who shouldn't be registering to vote in Virginia. And they aren't even actually blocked, just discouraged. Discouraging voter fraud being, in fact, a good thing... stop with the conspiracy theories, seriously. (Before you encourage someone to drag out Tony Rezko and his dead voters.)

WHO called this a conspiracy in ANY way? I just implied that Dems were getting the shaft. NEVER called it a conspiracy; would you seriously stop putting words in my mouth? (Before you encourage me to drag out annoying smileys--- ----like that one?) [Who's the bastard that labeled me as a conspiracy theorist?]

It's not so much that they are discouraged, they are pretty well blocked. Why shouldn't someone be able to use their college address as their address? So long as you're registering in the right place?

There is no discouraging or blocking going on. Like it's been stated, this is just anti-fraud legislation. In fact, this law has been around for a long long long long long time.

The point is, the dems aren't being shafted at all. All that was was a notice telling people how to register to vote in a way where they wouldn't screw themselves, especially about financial aid and all. If they used their college address as their legal address, it would be telling the government that they don't live with their folks anymore which means they can't be claimed as dependents. It doesn't mean that they can't vote, it just means that they'll have to use their home address, and, if they live out of state, an absentee ballot. Simple as that.