A few hours ago a Grinnell alum diaried about a Republican effort to challenge Grinnell student votes in Grinnell, IA.
Apparently the challenge was partially successful. But a Grinnell College professor suggests this may be part of a systematic effort to challenge college students nationwide.
Grinnell College students, alumni, and faculty share a community message board. I have been following the updates posted there by individuals as well as the college Democrats.
I am a current alum, so I am not on campus and cannot personally verify the things that have been written. I wanted to share what I had read with the Kos community, though, because I think that this might warrant a broader investigation.
First, on the Grinnell situation. The previous diary has the details, but basically the challenge was that students had registered using the address of the campus post office (the address every student uses to receive mail). The republican lawyers challenged the registrations, asserting they needed to be registered to their physical address (which many students don't even know)
Then I read this: "UPDATE: Good news! Of the challenged student votes, 700 have been ruled valid. 50 have been successfully challenged. But the local Democratic party has vowed to help the Campus Dems to ensure that these 50 disenfranchised students get their votes counted."
But then I read a message from a current professor: "I had heard earlier today about a similar challenge by Republicans to the votes of students at Radford University in Virginia. Here's the story. You'll note that the challenge there seems to be against dorm addresses--almost the opposite of the Grinnell challenge. I'm guessing that the strategy is simply to challenge whatever the students at swing-state colleges were told to write down for their local addresses. "
So there is evidence this may not be an isolated incident. Hopefully, the Obama campaign will recognize if this is a pattern of suppression.
Here is a local, independent press account of the Grinnell challenges with more detail.
UPDATE: Grinnell Campus Democrats have provided the following information for students currently registered at the campus post office address. This would not be possible if Iowa did not implement same-day registration in the last year, so Grinnellians should thank Democrats in the Iowa Legislature for protecting their right to vote.
50 ballots (of close to 700) that students cast at early voting locations on Oct 1st and Oct 13th were challenged by Republicans today. If you were challenged, we will reach out to you personally very soon with information on what to do next. The Obama legal team in Iowa is working vigorously to defend your vote and we are confident that your vote will be counted.
IMPORTANT: If you have not yet voted, and you were planning on voting tomorrow, WE WILL HELP YOU VOTE AND YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED. All day tomorrow, the Campus Dems will be outside the JRC helping anyone who plans to vote to prepare the necessary documents and then giving them a ride to the polls. Please, do not go to the polls tomorrow before you come to our table outside the JRC.
Here is how voting tomorrow will work:
If you are registered to vote off campus, you should not have any difficulties voting. Just bring unexpired ID (like a driver’s license) to the polls. Grinnell ID is not sufficient. If you’re not sure where you are registered to vote, email democrat@grinnell.edu.
If you are not registered at all, come to the table outside the JRC tomorrow and we'll help you vote.
If you are registered to vote on campus at 1115 8th avenue, you will need to bring an unexpired ID (like a driver’s license) to the polls (Grinnell ID is not sufficient) AND you will likely need proof of residency. This is a little complicated, so read closely.
Republicans are challenging ballots by saying that students should not be registered at 1115 8th Avenue – they argue that students should be registered at their dorm address. It’s possible that you’ll get to the polling location tomorrow and be able to vote as an 1115 8th avenue voter – but it’s unlikely, as Republicans seem interested in challenging student voters, given their actions today. So, we need to prepare you to deal with a challenge – trust us, this sounds scarier than it is. In the event of a challenge, you will register (or re-register) to vote at your dorm address. When you come to our table tomorrow, we’ll show you how to register at your dorm.
To prepare for a challenge tomorrow, we’re going to do one of two things:
- For some of you we’ll generate written proof of residency. This can be a cell phone bill or a bank statement printed from an online account. To work, it’s going to need to have your physical dorm address (like 3103 Loose). We know – nobody has a bill sent to their dorm room. BUT, if you can change your address online to your physical address, even if it’s just for the purposes of proving residency, and then print out the statement (we’ll have printers handy), you’ll have proof of residency sufficient deal with a challenge.
- There is another option – and it’s one that most of you will use, because you won’t be able to get written proof of residency. When you come to the table tomorrow before you go to the polls, we’ll match you up with a buddy – in all likelihood, another student who has already voted. Your buddy will go to the polls with you, and be able to sign a form testifying that you do, in fact, live at the physical dorm address that you say you live at. Then, you’ll be able to register at the physical dorm address without a problem.
We know this seems confusing -- the important thing is to come to our table outside the JRC tomorrow so we can explain everything again and get you to the polls! If you come to our table, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to vote, and your vote will be counted.