College students are constantly bombarded at the end of the semester. As tests, projects, and papers pile up, and the thought of finals loom in our future, the very last thing on our minds is voting. In Mississippi it is very difficult for students to vote unless they can drive to their hometown. Of course they can absentee vote, but that requires a whole host of other requirements. Changing your voting area to Oxford is not quite as difficult, but unfortunately that means they will be unable to vote in their hometown.
Since Freshmen are required to live on campus, most of us do not have a working mailing address. That immediately becomes an issue when a circuit court clerk is unable to send out your ballot. In the event that you have paid to have a mailbox (or didn't miss the deadline to rent one like I did), then you must remember to fill out the ballot and send it so that it is received by 5:00 pm the day BEFORE election day. Ballots signatures must also be notarized in order to insure that you are the person who's name appears on the ballot. If the ballot isn't exactly right then the vote cannot be accepted and will be thrown out.
Of course, if you're from out of state, or even if you plan on living in Oxford after graduation, you can just register to vote in Mississippi and in Oxford elections. The only problem is that then you cannot vote in your own town if there are elections over the summer or right before school begins. Students also have to remember to register before the deadline, and bring a state issued photo id with them to the precinct on voting day.
Voting is so important, and so many people take it for granted. It seems like we should encourage newly registered 18-year-olds to begin a lifelong habit of voting, instead of giving them hoops to jump through. All of these rules are there to insure that voting follows all the laws and rules, but there has to be an easier way to allow the students of Mississippi to have their voices heard in city and statewide elections.With voting numbers declining year after year, its time we take a look at our voting laws and make some changes that allow college students an easier way to cast their vote.
