UW-Whitewater students get on-campus polling place
(Published Wednesday, February 7, 2007 11:38:42 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Carla McCann Gazette staff
WHITEWATER-UW-Whitewater students are getting a place of their own to vote.
Historically, residents in all five of Whitewater's aldermanic districts have voted in one place-the downtown Armory.
Having one polling place may have saved money, promoted a sense of community and eliminated confusion. But during the last presidential election, UW-Whitewater students found themselves standing in long lines.
Inside, poll workers were dealing with the new voter registration laws, and at times the process was chaotic.
City Clerk Michele Smith told the city council Tuesday that Whitewater has grown and the Armory isn't big enough to accommodate busloads of university students.
Students for years have asked for a polling place on campus, and they asked the council again Tuesday after collecting 688 signatures on a petition. Students argued that an on-campus voting place would encourage more students to vote and eliminate crowding downtown.
The council agreed Tuesday with a 6-1 vote.
Beginning in 2008, voters in District 2, which is mostly students, will cast their ballots on campus at the newly constructed Hamilton Center.
Council members voting in favor were Maxwell Taylor, Jan Bilgen-Craggs, Kim Hixson, Gregory Torres, Marilyn Kienbaum and president Jim Stewart.
Councilman Craig Stauffer voted against.
Hixson wondered whether the university could provide enough parking for non-students.
Barbara Jones, assistant chancellor for student affairs, said the renovation includes a new parking lot next to the building.
The university supports the plan and has approved $10,000 to set up the polling place on campus, Jones said.
Hixson also wanted to know if university police would monitor the new parking lot to make sure students weren't using it to park their cars and go to classes.
"I would feel better if I knew Whitewater police were there monitoring it," he said.
He was told the plan is to have members of student government monitor the lot during an election.
Despite his concerns, Hixson said he supported the change.
"I believe UW-Whitewater is the only four-year campus that doesn't have a polling place," he said.
Stewart cautioned the council that the change wouldn't be without challenges.
"There's going to be growing pains," Stewart said. "Some students will be upset that they can't go vote on campus. I have to compliment the council for supporting this. It's a big step."
