Each year, Moscow residents struggle to understand their voting locations and how to vote, this is a particular challenge for University of Idaho students.
Last year, students had difficulties finding where they could go vote. Moscow has three polling locations, the Student Recreation Center, Hamilton Indoor Recreation Center and the Latah County Fairgrounds.
Since the SRC is located on campus, most students living on campus assume it would be their polling location, right? Unfortunately, wrong.
Moscow’s precincts cut right through campus dividing a southern portion of campus residents from the rest. These students were sent to the fairgrounds instead. This remains the same for this coming election.
While the need to divide populations to assign locations in understandable, dividing right through campus is not. To separate one Greek house from another simple creates confusion and lessens the motivation for those students to vote.
For students in particular, transportation does not come easy. Those who live on campus may not have a car. Mistaken students who walk to the SRC on Election Day, and then are referred elsewhere, are unlikely to make it to the other side of town.
If you’re planning to vote, check your precinct ahead of time on Idaho’s election page.
In addition to the complication of polling locations, students may have issues registering to vote. To register, students need photo identification and proof of residential address.
In the past year, moves have been made to limit access to voting. House Bill 344 has been pushed by Idaho representatives to stop the use of student identifications to register.
However, Idaho is a same-day registration state. This means that you are able to register as late as Election Day itself.
Student turnout has been on the increase, as seen in the 2020 general elections as well as the 2018 midterms.
As a college town, around 9,000 students attend Moscow’s UI campus, moving in every fall. In a town with a total residential population of 25,850 in the 2020 census, 9,000 students is a lot.
However,, people tend to underestimate the importance of local elections. While it may not feel as high stakes as Joe Biden versus Donald Trump, the officials of the town you live in for four years have an influence on your experience.
“Local offices and issues have a direct impact on a student’s home and college community,” the Campus Vote Project explains. “Officials make decisions on topics like student debt, funding for higher education, and the economy.”
Last year, students took issue with mayoral candidate Jim Gray after out-of-touch remarks were made about UI’s student body.
“They have issues with holding a job, they have issues thinking they should have something just because they want it,” Gray said at Moscow Chamber of Commerce’s Mayoral Candidate Forum. “That’s been an issue with me as far as university students are concerned.”
While Gray may not have won the race, candidates like this will continue to appear in local elections — so student votes matter. In 2021’s mayoral race, just about 5,500 votes were cast. The influence of UI’s population can be monumental in local elections.
Local elections are so important for people to vote in. Every vote matters, and these are the candidates who will make change in your day to day life.
While it may be confusing to figure out where, who and what to vote for. It is still very important for students to vote and make their presence felt in local elections. Making sure you are informed and register ahead. You can find more information about Idaho elections at voteidaho.gov.
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