New Texas law aims to ban college polls

Austin, Texas. In Texas, a new bill was filed to ban college and university polls. The bill was introduced this week by Texas Rep. Carrie Isaac, a Republican from Hayes County, south of Austin. Groups opposed to the bill see it as a major setback.

“Students in Texas have been crying and fighting for their right to vote and access to equal polling places for four decades,” said Katya Eresman, Common Cause Texas program manager for voting rights.

If polling places are banned on college campuses, some students say it will be difficult for them to vote because they have to travel farther, which is not easy for everyone.

“Personally, I don’t have a car with me right now,” said Harley Hensley, a student at the University of Texas.

Hensley said he was unable to vote in the last election because he was not fully aware of all the candidates. In addition, he was focused on his busy college schedule.

“I just felt like I had more important things to do, like my school work,” he added.

If Hensley is unable to vote under the current circumstances, he said those chances will be even lower in the next election if the bill passes. This may affect efforts to attract young voters.

“We will be the ones to make those kinds of political decisions,” Hensley said. “We are learning to make the future better. So obviously putting in someone with our ideals, or someone we think will make the world a better place, then I feel like that’s very important to most of us. to be voting.

Eresman said every college student should be able to vote, especially in this growing and powerful demographic. If this controversial bill passes, it will go into effect on September 1, 2023. However, Eresman said her group will not go down without a fight and will help college students, as they have done in the past.

“We are working with partners over several election cycles to make sure buses get students to the polls,” she added. “Students also need to be sure that there are many organizations that are going to add to the staff if this new attempt and barrier is overcome.”

Last year, The Texas Tribune reported on other hurdles college students have had to overcome. Many Texas universities do not have early voting locations on campus, and state laws regarding voter identification and registration have made it difficult for young voters to nominate.

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