On Election Day, I went to my polling place to vote and was turned away twice because of lack of proper identification. The first time I went with my student ID and tried to explain that my address listed with the University was my current address âÄî not the one on my license. The second time, I came with a copy of my current lease to prove that I lived in the precinct. This was also deemed unacceptable and I was told I could either go have my license changed or find someone to vouch for me.

Like many other students, I was not about to have my license changed to an address I am not likely to remain at for more than a year. So I walked home in defeat. As I arrived home, I saw that my neighbor was sitting outside with campaign materials. I walked over to his house and asked if he would be willing to vouch for me. He agreed and left his home to accompany me to the polling place and vouched for me so I could exercise my right as a citizen of this country.

It is disappointing that it is so difficult to provide proper identification in a precinct filled with student voters. I would like to thank the students who vouched for students like myself so we could have a voice too.