Oracle Online

That is how the process is supposed to work, and, for the high profile-election last year, it did work.
According to the Ramsey County Elections office, for primary elections where there is typically low-voter turnout, the county typically does not request the lists from local colleges and universities. However, Coordinator of Service Learning & Volunteerism (OSLV) Sharon Jaffe wasn’t about to let the students be
turned away. She sent an e-mail to Javier Gutierrez, Associate Director of Residential Life letting him know that the election was going to take place and recommend that he fax a roster over to the county office. Gutierrez said he faxed over the list later that day.

Apparently, however, the list never made it to the polls. Nancy Klein, an administrative assistant at the residential life office and the person who usually would receive the communication from the county election office said, “we rely on either the county or the city to ask us for the housing roster so we know where to send the information.” A letter from the county could have prevented a problem like what happened at the primary, by ensuring that the information the school sent made it to the polling places.

The problems for students at the polls weren’t limited to just on-campus students, however. Sophomore Renee Crowley, who recently moved off campus, was turned away as she attempted to place her vote at Knox Presbyterian Church. “The presidential election was the last election I voted in, which I was registered [for] in Eagan,” said Crowley.

Crowley was told that the school billing statement she presented with her new off-campus address on it
was insufficient proof of residence, and the person she found to vouch for her had registered that day and therefore was not qualified to vouch for someone. Crowley recounted, “they said you could only use your student ID if you lived on campus, and they didn’t have any list.”

Professor David Schultz, who teaches election law at the Hamline Law School, said, “a lot of times people don’t like student voters and will come up with all sorts of ways to hassle them. Students have to be insistent. If the election judge doesn’t let them vote, protest to the chief election judge.”

Professor Schultz said that students can vote at an election even if there is no list by finding someone who was registered to vote prior to the election day in the community to vouch for them. Schultz also said that students can avoid this type of problem by taking the time to register in advance.

Dean Alan Sickbert has already contacted the county election office to ensure that there will be communication between the office and the University in time for the next election.