GOP bill encourages out-of-state students to vote at home

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Out-of-state college students would be provided more information on how to vote absentee in their home state under a bill proposed by Republican lawmakers.

The bill would require the Universities of Wisconsin to provide freshmen with information on how to vote absentee.

Rep. Clint Moses, a Republican co-author of the bill, said the goal is to encourage out-of-state residents to participate in elections where they might have a better understanding of the issues or candidates on the ballot.

"I want to make it easier for them to get information on how to absentee vote back home, where maybe they know the issues better," Moses said.

During the last few statewide elections, Democratic turnout in Dane and Milwaukee County skyrocketed on college campuses.

Wisconsin also recorded the highest young voter turnout in the nation during the 2022 midterms, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Some critics say the bill is designed to discourage likely Democratic voters from casting a ballot in the battleground state. However, Moses argues that's not the case.

"The main concern we get from the critics on this is that we are trying to suppress Democratic votes on this, it does not," Moses said. "They can vote back home or in school. It just provides more information on absentee voting."

UW-Madison does have a website where students can learn more about voting in Wisconsin and in their home state.

Supporters of the proposal say this bill would streamline the process to ensure all UW campuses provide that information.

The measure was referred to the Assembly Campaign and Elections Committee last month. It has yet to receive a public hearing.