In anticipation of next month's congressional and local elections, the USG and College Democrats have been rallying students to register to vote. From noon to 7 p.m. on Oct. 6, members of the USG sat at tables outside the Frist Campus Center and helped students register in New Jersey, change their residence to New Jersey or request absentee ballots from their home states. The College Democrats conducted similar efforts in the residential colleges.
Because University students represent about 20 percent of the population of Princeton Borough and the Borough has only 6,099 registered voters, students can potentially have a significant influence on local elections.
At stake is an informally discussed Borough ordinance that would allow police to arrest underage drinkers on private property.
The USG and College Democrats' initiative "gives students a greater chance to cast a vote [for candidates]," said Zack Surak '05, chair of the USG Campus and Community Affairs Committee and a 'Prince' staff writer.
Often, students do not remember to request an absentee ballot from their home state and are consequently unable to vote, Surak said, adding that registering in New Jersey or signing up for an absentee ballot ahead of time ensures that does not happen.
Combined, the USG and College Democrats registered more than 110 students in New Jersey, and the USG filed an additional 45 requests for absentee ballots.
"For the amount of time we put in, we got more [voters] than we expected," Surak said. "The number of seniors we lost was fewer than the number of new people we registered this year. Marginally we've increased the number of people that are registered on campus."
Surak estimates that before this year's drive, 300-400 returning students had already changed their voter registration to New Jersey. Many more are already New Jersey residents.
Last fall, the USG specifically encouraged students to register as Borough residents so that they could vote for student candidate Steven Abt '04. "Last year was different. We did the New Jersey registration more because we were hoping to get students involved in local politics," USG President Nina Langsam '03 said. "This year, we just wanted people to vote in general — we didn't care so much if they wanted to vote here or if they were tied to their home state."
Abt, who ran as an independent, did not win a council seat and is not seeking election again this year. There are four candidates for two open seats in the currently all-Democratic council: Green Party candidates Scott Salus and Steven Syrek and Democratic incumbents Mildred Trotman and David Goldfarb.
Also on November's ballot are Frank Lautenberg (D) and Doug Forrester (R) in the race for the U.S. Senate.
At the University level, the potential Borough ordinance that would alter existing laws about underage consumption of alcohol on private property has raised concerns among many students that its passage would lead to police raids on the eating clubs. The current law prohibits serving alcohol to minors and underage consumption on public property.
However, Tim Szostek '02, Inter-Club Council advisor noted that the police already have a right to search the clubs if they suspect that minors are being served alcoholic beverages.
"I don't think more probable cause would exist [as a result of the ordinance]," he said.
The real danger of the ordinance, he said, is that it might deter students from seeking assistance for intoxicated friends because under the ordinance, minors could be arrested simply for being drunk. "People will fear going and getting help because they would be in trouble," Szostek said.
McCosh Health Center and Public Safety, which keeps records confidential, would be forced to disclose treatment or transport of intoxicated minors to Borough Police.
"It will be dangerous to the overall health and welfare of the students," Szostek said.
Violators of the ordinance would face fines of $250 to $350 and possible suspension of driving privileges.
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