ACLU Calls Out Misinformation Targeting Student Voters in Pennsylvania

With the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania just a day away, two leading voting rights organizations are urging counties to ensure they process valid student voter registrations. This comes after troubling reports from Lancaster County, where students attempting to register to vote were reportedly given inaccurate information, threatening their ability to cast ballots in the upcoming election.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania has called out Lancaster County for failing to properly process student voter registrations. According to reports, county election officials gave incorrect instructions to voters, including students and faculty from Franklin and Marshall College, about the registration process. The misinformation has led to concerns that many eligible voters might not be registered in time.

Amy Widestrom, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, emphasized the significance of the situation, stating, “The Supreme Court affirmed back in 1979 that college students have the right to register where they attend school. If you’re 18, a U.S. citizen for 30 days, and a resident of Pennsylvania for 30 days, you can vote here. Yet, some officials in Lancaster County are spreading false information that could keep these young voices from being heard. Voter suppression is a threat to democracy, and we can’t allow it.”

In response to these concerns, the ACLU sent a formal letter to Lancaster County, demanding that the county stop providing misleading information and immediately process all valid voter registrations. Signed by ACLU’s Legal Director Witold Walczak and Senior Policy Counsel Marian Schneider, the letter stressed that Pennsylvania law allows students to register in the area where they reside while attending school and that no student should be turned away for failing to deregister in another state. “We’re asking Lancaster County to correct its actions immediately,” said the letter. “Any eligible voter denied registration must be given the chance to register by tomorrow’s deadline.”

As Pennsylvania residents scramble to meet the October 21 registration deadline, it’s important to remember that Pennsylvania law does not require voters to cancel their previous registrations in other states before registering in the state. Students, as well as others without Pennsylvania driver’s licenses, can still register using the last four digits of their Social Security Number, as allowed by law.