STUDENT HOUSING LIST REQUIRED TO SHOW U.S. CITIZENSHIP

We're Watching Wisconsin Elections.org

As many of you know, during late registration (20 days before an election) and during Election-Day registration, a citizen must show “proof of residency” when registering. This is still the law. But did you know that state law allows colleges and universities to provide a certified current list of students who reside in housing sponsored by the school and who are U.S. citizens, to the municipal clerk prior to an election? This list is then passed on to the appropriate polling place serving each dormitory so that when a student registers to vote, they are allowed to show their student photo ID. They then ask the poll worker to refer to the list to verify their “proof of residency” in the dormitory. Remember, state law specifically requires that the list be current and that it only include students with U.S. citizenship. All non-U.S. student names must be redacted or removed from the list.

During the last election, at the largest dormitory in the state (Sandburg Hall, over 2800 residents) it was found that this law was not being followed. The certified letter (which should either be at the polling location itself, or at the municipal clerk’s office) clearly stated that the list contained the names of “all” residents. There was no mention of the U.S. citizenship requirement. Not surprisingly, the lists at the four other dormitories on UWM’s campus were also not in compliance.

So, what is happening at a school near you?

PLEASE, if you live near a college or university, make a visit to your municipal clerk’s office and ask the questions listed below. Or go to a polling place used by a college or university dormitory on Election Day, sign in as an election observer and ask the chief election inspector (the poll worker in charge) the same questions:

1) Has the school submitted a student housing list for purposes of proving residency at the polls?

2) Ask to see the list of student names and addresses.

3) Ask if these students are all U.S. citizens.

4) Ask to see the required certified letter from the school that accompanies the list verifying that students on the list are all current residents of the dorm and are all US citizens.

If the list is not certified by the institution as having only current students with US citizenship, call GAB at once at 608-266-8005 and request that the list be pulled from the polling place until proper certification is made. You could also go to your local district attorney to make a formal complaint. Why is this important? We want our young people to realize that their vote is EXTREMELY VALUABLE and that only qualified U.S. citizens are given the right to vote, as stated in the Wisconsin State Constitution. Do not assume another law abiding citizen is doing this, this is YOUR responsibility.

Remember, when ONE illegal vote is cast, YOU have been denied your CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to have your vote count!

Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com