Article

Ballot Boxing

May/June 2011
Article
Ballot Boxing
May/June 2011

Despite their differences, students of all political stripes agree on at least one thing: They want to

vote in state and federal elections. A bill that would have prevented college students from doing so in New Hampshire (unless they declared domicile in their college towns prior to enrolling or declared an intention to stay beyond graduation) failed to move out of committee last month, preserving the ability of Dartmouth students to register in Hanover. The threat to voting rights mobilized students across the state—including Dartmouth Democrats,

Republicans and Libertarians—all of whom were represented at a February hearing in Concord that attracted more than 200 people. "There was a lot of murmuring," says Jeremy Kaufmann '12, president of College Democrats of New Hampshire, as bill sponsor Gregoiy Sorg (R-Easton)

described colleges as "educational theme parks"

and their students as "transient inmates" with "the easy confidence that only ignorance and lack of experience can produce." Adds J.P. Harrington '12, vice president of Daitmouth College Republicans: "During his defense of the bill the committee was surprisingly combative." Although the chairman of the house election law committee declared the bill's fate "sealed," some legislators hope to revisit the issue prior to the 2012 election.

DID YOU KNOW?

300 Years ago that Dartmouth founder Eleazar Wheelock was born (April 22).

"If President Kim is serious about doing something about binge drinking, he needs to admit that pong equals binge drinking." -BILL SJOGREN '67, COFOUNDER OF HEALTHY SELF HOUSE