A bill before the Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 147, could bring more polling places to college campuses.
Filed Nov. 11, 2024, the bill seeks to mandate adding polling place locations on the campuses of public institutions of higher education to make voting for college students and people off campus more accessible.
Senate Bill 147 was filed by Democratic Senators Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, Nathan Johnson of Dallas, Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, Sarah Eckhardt of Austin, César J. Blanco of El Paso, and José Menéndez of San Antonio.
Attempts to reach all six state senators for comment were unsuccessful.
Senate Bill 147 is a step in the right direction, said Aisha Ahmadu, assistant professor of American government at Sam Houston State University.
“It is important to focus on removing barriers that might discourage student voters,” Ahmadu added. Young voters have constituted an important voting bloc in U.S. elections since 1971, when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.
According to the News House, college students are the most registered group in America, but they don’t always make it to the polls. College students register at an 82% rate, while the rest of the United States is registered at a 66.7% rate.
“In recent elections, we have seen a steady increase in youth and college student participation at the polls. To keep this momentum going, it is important to focus on removing barriers that might discourage student voters,” Ahmadu said.
Students often deal with tight schedules, a lack of transportation, and confusion about where and how to vote, Jared Scott, the Student Government Association president at Sam Houston State University who answered as a regular student and not in his official SGA position.
“Senate Bill 147 addresses those issues by removing logistical obstacles and embedding voting opportunities into the campus environment. It also opens the door for increased voter education and engagement programs,” Scott added.
Other people are unsure if polling sites will lead to higher turnout. Students often vote using home addresses or don’t register at all, said Stacy Ulbig, political science professor.
“Since many students failed to register to vote at all, and those that do often choose to retain voting rights at their home rather than school address, placing polling places on campuses might not have much impact,” said Ulbig.
Concerns about campus safety and disruption fuel opposition to the bill according to KERA News, NPR for North Texas.
“I don’t believe it’s wise to be inviting people onto our campuses that would not otherwise have any business on our campuses,” Central Texas Republican Rep. Carrie Isaac of Austin told KERA News.
“Safety is a significant point of discussion,” Ahmadu said. This may bring concerns about students’ safety during elections.
“In fact, House Bill 3144 recently proposed removing polling places from public school and university campuses unless those campuses were entirely closed for voting,” Ahmadu added. It was filed Feb. 21 by Rep. Carrie Isaac.
Senate Bill 147 highlights a broader debate about expanding voter access while ensuring campus security.
The authors of Senate Bill 147 are currently working to move the bill out of the Senate committee on state affairs, where it awaits a vote. If it passes through the Senate committee, it goes to the full Senate. If it passes there, it goes to the House and a House committee.
