Ohio Measure Punishes Public Colleges For Helping Out-Of-State Students Vote

[marmar]

A new effort from Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House of Representatives would financially punish state universities for helping out-of-state students vote in Ohio during their college years.

Under the proposal, if a state university provided an out-of-state student with a letter or utility bill to prove Ohio residency and thereby allow the student to vote locally, the Columbus Dispatch reports, the school would then be forced to charge the lower in-state tuition rate to that student.

The measure has been tacked on as an amendment to the main operating budget bill for the state, Sub. H. B. No. 59. The amendment was sponsored by state Rep. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster), who did not return a request for comment from The Huffington Post.

In the face of declining financial support from state legislatures, public colleges have become more dependent on students who pay non-resident tuition rates, which are typically two or three times higher than what in-state residents pay. The Ohio GOP proposal could hurt state universities in their coffers -- depending on the university, by nearly $10,000 per out-of-state student voter annually. Overall, it could cost public four-year institutions in the state more than $370 million, the Columbus Dispatch reports. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/ohio-college-vote_n_3195154.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037

[Downwinder]

1. Seems that this would encourage students to vote.