Reply #28: VA: W&M president criticizes voter registration policy

[rumpel]

Daily Press

President Gene Nichol writes state officials that planned changes are detrimental to college students.

BY CAROL SCOTT
223-5686
October 6, 2006
WILLIAMSBURG -- College of William and Mary President Gene Nichol has written state officials, criticizing proposed changes in voter registration policy that he says don't treat college students equally.

Nichol, a constitutional law professor, said the State Board of Elections proposal remained inconsistent statewide in how college students registered to vote. He also suggested the General Assembly pass legislation similar to that in Iowa, where students can choose whether to vote in their hometown or their college towns.

Voter registrars in Virginia determine whether a would-be voter is a resident of the city or county where they want to vote. That's been controversial in some Virginia college towns, including Williamsburg, where the voter registrar doesn't consider a college dorm a permanent residence. Other college-town registrars, such as in Charlottesville, do consider a dorm a permanent home.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/williamsburg/dp-45942sy0oct06,0,56529.story?coll=dp-news-local-wbg