ASUN discusses same-day registration

During the Association of the Students of the University of Nebraska's Senate meeting Wednesday night, senators voted 13 to 11 in favor of Election Day Registration legislation in Nebraska. ASUN now endorses their Government Liaison Committee to lobby the issue before the Nebraska Legislature.

The legislation highlights statistics compiled by the Vote Nebraska Initiative Committee, claiming that in states where people can register to vote the day of an election, instead of only 10 days prior, voter turnout is significantly higher.

Many senators weighed in on the prospect of allowing would-be voters to show up at a polling site on Election Day and register.

"I didn't think we'd debate Election Day Registration," said Emily Zimmer, a senior political science major and president of ASUN.The bill had grassroots support and beginnings in ASUN, Zimmer said, but she didn't realize many senators this year might be completely new to the legislation.

The discussion ranged into questions about the nature of democracy. Senators asked if the legislation supports or detracts from democracy by allowing voting behavior that, to some people, appears irresponsible and uninformed.

"We never restricted the right to vote to people who are smart, organized and ‘with it,'" Sen. Monica Sanford said. "If you want to walk into a booth and flip a coin, that is your right."

Other senators talked about how deadlines differ from state to state,  and out-of-state students who are informed and fully intend to participate may be turned away on Election Day. Others talked about statistics that show in states where people can register the day of an election, voter turnout is at 74 percent, compared to 60 percent in states without.

Senators opposing the Election Day Registration held that instead of changing the system, more education of voters was needed. Making the well-publicized deadline, they argued, demonstrates a crucial level of investment in voting.

"If you don't know the registration deadline is coming up, you're not reading the newspaper, not watching the news, not being aware of what's going on around you," said Jack Ehrke, a junior international studies major and senator for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Beside concerns about  voter investment and education, senators also worried about the possibility of voter fraud.

The bill passed with a narrow majority.

The senate passed another directive allowing the GLC to lobby for LB 127, a bill that would place a sales tax exemption on the purchase of textbooks. The action is estimated to save a typical student $60 out of a total textbook fee of $880 a year.

The senate also voted to support expansion of UNL's Chinese Language Program. The expansion would include two 300-level courses and the possibility of a minor degree program in Chinese.

renaeblum@dailynebraskan.com