Madison County warns students about changing state residency in order to vote

The Madison County clerks want students to exercise their right to vote Tuesday, however, they want to first educate students before they hit the polling booths.

The Idaho Democratic Party called foul on what they see as “voter suppression,” in Madison County. This came after informative signs outlining state residency requirements were posted. Madison County Clerk Kim Muir said the posts weren’t made to suppress Brigham Young University-Idaho students from voting. But instead how changing residency status in order to vote can affect them negatively in the long run.

“If you change state residency it can change your scholarships, grants and even school residency,” Muir said.

According to Idaho State law under article 6 sec. 5 it states “As a student, you should not be registering and voting in your college locale simply because you failed to register and vote at your true domicile. State laws control registration and voting and State residency requirements must be met.”

It also states “No person deemed to have gained or lost a residence for voting purposed by reason of his or her presence or absence while a student at any institution of learning.”

Muir said every election year she anticipates and receives angry phone calls from parents of students who lost their scholarships because they registered to vote in Idaho and changed their residency in order to vote.

Muir added that she reached out to students prior to the signs to remind them to request an out of state absentee ballot before the last day which was Oct. 28.

“Students need to think ahead, six weeks ahead before the election. Get online, request an absentee ballot and then mail it back. Remember to give yourself plenty of time especially when it comes to mailing it,” Muir said.

Muir explains why she still is receiving absentee ballot requests, “Students procrastinate, they don’t think about it until about a day or two ahead. I’m just still receiving absentee ballots requests, which of course there’s no way we can get those back in time. Unless someone wants to receive it by email and drive it to us by 8 p.m. Tuesday night.”

Muir said it’s not just a Madison County law. “By law we had to Madison County along with every other county is mandated to post and educate the local public especially large out of state student populations about state residency requirements.”

Muir said, “We are not suppressing student voters, we are informing them.”