AS COLLEGE-aged citizens, we should all be familiar with these words from the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution: “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State ...” A recent initiative by Student Council, aimed at persuading the University to allow absences from class on Election Day to make it easier for students to vote, raises the question of how far we should go to protect that right. Thus far, the University — which determines the academic calendar far in advance — has not given in; University spokesperson Carol Wood claims that, “It is unnecessary to cancel classes because students have so many options for getting to voting locations on Election Day” in an Oct. 23 Cavalier Daily news article. If the University were to cancel classes or negate absences on Election Day, it would be insulting students’ intelligence and robbing them of an important lesson: learning to take responsibility for oneself.
It is no surprise that third-year Colleen Clark’s petition “asking for leniency from professors if students miss class on that day,” has enjoyed such support (2,754 signatures as of Tuesday); every student, myself included, could use more time. But the arguments made by Clark, Student Council and others have no logical foundation and — although formed with strong civic principles — boil down to nothing more than an attempt to gain just that: an extra day off. Nonetheless, the idea’s popularity is not restricted to Charlottesville. The Liberty Journal, a publication for Liberty University in Lynchburg, reports that the school “is cancelling classes on Election Day and offering bus service to the polls.” An Oct. 23 editorial in Georgetown University’s school newspaper, The Hoya, takes the same stance and asks “why [Georgetown can’t] treat Election Day the way it treats certain religious holidays?” The majority of schools, however, are still holding classes on the fourth of November. Sara Marchello of the University Registrar at the College of William and Mary said that “the decision was made not to cancel classes across the board” and points out that “the polls open well before classes begin and remain open later than the bulk of our classes, so voting does not have to conflict with our class schedules.”
The basic argument for allowing absences on Election Day — today’s students are very busy and the obligation of attending class, along with other commitments, may prevent their ability to vote — is easily countered. Voting polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., are located on Grounds or nearby, and can be accessed by students fairly quickly by walking or taking public transportation. Dean of Students Allen Groves points out that “a motivated student should have no difficulty voting.” In addition, absentee ballots are readily available to those who are unable to vote on Tuesday. This is especially useful for students with heavy Tuesday schedules or volunteers who will be busy with other political measures on Election Day. This year’s swell in voter registration may lead to longer lines (and more time required to vote), but this by itself is no reason to justify excusing absences due to voting. Rather than trying to cancel classes, Student Council should be working with the City to establish a more efficient system for University students to vote. The political passion expressed by some is an encouraging sign, but it is better spent informing students how, when and where to vote (or, given the importance of this year’s election, figuring out who to vote for) than pressuring University deans to change the school’s attendance policy.
One could argue it is our duty as a public institution to ensure that our students and faculty have every opportunity to vote on Election Day. However, our nation was founded on the principle that everyone is created equally. Why should members of the University community enjoy special privileges that are not given to most working adults? What message would the University be sending if it cancelled classes on Election Day but not holidays like Yom Kippur, Chinese New Year, or Veteran’s Day? Most agree that the University should stress the importance of participating in democracy, but there is nothing valuable to be learned from waiting in line at the polls. Instead, we should encourage students to integrate democracy into their everyday lives by finding a time to vote that works for them.
By proceeding with normal class scheduling on Election Day, the University is in no way depriving its students of their right to vote. In fact, it is treating them like responsible, adult citizens – citizens worthy of the enfranchisement granted to them in the Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
Mitch Ross’s column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at m.ross@cavalierdaily.com.
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