House Bill 176

If the backers of a bill in the New Hampshire House of Representatives have their way, you may need to skip class to vote in elections. House Bill 176 would require students to return to their permanent town of residence or request an absentee ballot to vote.

 The bill was introduced by Rep. Greg Sorg (R – Grafton) earlier in January and was supported by the New Hampshire Speaker of the House, William O'Brien (R-Hillsborough). The Union Leader reported O'Brien had the following to say to a group of conservative activists about Plymouth and other college towns in the area: "I look at towns like Plymouth and Keene and Hanover, and particularly Plymouth."O'Brien told the group. "They've lost the ability to govern themselves."

O'Brien also voiced his opinion regarding college student's political awareness saying that they "are basically doing what I did when I was a kid and foolish, voting as a liberal." O'Brien went on to also say, "That's what kids do," O'Brien said.  "They don't have life experience and they just vote their feelings. And they've taken away the town's ability to govern themselves. It's not fair." 

The comments from O'Brien about college students caused a wildfire of controversy resulting in the backlash of scathing editorials in college newspapers nationwide, as well as speculation on what many believe is the bills true motive: hindering a liberal demographic from voting.

Leo Sandy, a professor at PSU and overseer of the Peace and Justice studies minor, agrees. "The conservatives are afraid of college students because they believe they are all liberal." Sandy said, "That's why they vote against bills that help working class kids go to college. Many of them believe that only white, rich kids should be in college because they need to run the world as they know what is best. College students vary politically and some are apolitical. But at the end of 4 years, many students are more open to new ideas and that is what conservatives fear."

The comments about Plymouth, ‘and college students in general', upset many people including a junior at PSU, Elyse Sedgley. "Just because he was foolish in his college years does not mean every college student is as foolish as he was." 

"I don't think that should be a factor," Sean Downing, a student at PSU, said about O'Brien's comments. "They're stereotyping and segregating us as students."

Rep. Suzanne Smith (D - Grafton County District 7) said, "It is preposterous to assume that all students vote in a block, whether Democrat, Republican, conservative or liberal. College students are not sheep. They think for themselves. They study and learn about the world and all of its ups and downs and learning about government and taking a stand for or against causes is part of the experience." 

Shannon Shutts, a spokesman for O'Brien, reportedly spoke out about the purpose of the bill. "The Speaker is committed to making sure we have an open and transparent election process including having a clear definition of who constitutes being a New Hampshire resident. This is so we ensure any one person can only claim residency in one location in order to protect the integrity of the ballot process. I think the majority of people agree with the principle ‘one man, one vote."

Smith opposes the Bill and said "It holds college students to a different standard than the general population." Smith also referenced a case in 1972 of a Dartmouth student being denied the right to vote because he admitted that after he graduated he would return to Hawaii where his parents lived; it was found to be unconstitutional.

"I believe his viewpoints are considered unconstitutional," PSU sophomore James Paxton said, "They infringe upon the rights of the first, fifth and fourteenth amendments and their equal protection clauses." 

 As for New Hampshire college students being constituted as a New Hampshire resident, Smith brought up the point that "students are counted in the census where they are on April 1." The census has been a central topic in the debate of the bill and many believe that if federal funds are distributed to local communities based on the residency of students counted in the census, they should have the right to vote.