Stephanie Tracy, The Examiner
2007-03-01 08:00:00.0
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Annapolis -

College students could be the answer to the state’s dwindling supply of poll judges on Election Day.

A bill proposed by Del. John Bohanan, D-St. Mary’s, would do just that. Bohanan defended his bill at a hearing Wednesday before the House Ways and Means Committee, where some delegates questioned whether a day off from classes would be incentive enough for disengaged college students to take an active interest in politics.

“I can tell you the highlight of your life isn’t voting; it’s a four-day weekend,” said Del. Susan Krebs, R-Carroll.

But Michael Cain, associate professor of political science at St. Mary’s College, cited a recent University of Connecticut survey of college students that showed class attendance as the second-biggest reason for not voting, behind believing that voting doesn’t affect them.

“We’re not asking to shut down the entire institution,” said Zach Messitte, an assistant political science professor, also from St. Mary’s. “We’re trying to increase the voter turnout. Let’s cut the hoops and hassles so we can make it easier for them to vote.”

Bohanan said the university system did not oppose the idea of canceling classes once every two years on Election Day, but some committee members questioned why it was so hard for students to request absentee ballots.

“When they get out they’re going to have to make time,” Del. Ann Marie Doory, D-Baltimore City, said. “I think the concept is great, but why give them a break for four years before they have to get used to the real world?”

Proponents of the bill also argued that college students would be more comfortable operating the new electronic voting machines that often require familiarity with computers.

“One of the challenges we’ve faced is the average age of judges … many are not as comfortable with the technology it takes to run an election these days,” Messitte said.

stracy@baltimoreexaminer.com