The Bowdoin Orient

November 10, 2000
Volume CXXXII, Number 9

Students turned away from polls

Anna Dornbusch, Editor in Chief

   This past Tuesday, at least ten Bowdoin students were initially refused the right to vote by Town Registrar Pauline Brillant when they attempted to register as Maine citizens in Brunswick.    According to Brillant, the students asked her questions regarding residency that intimated that they were not interested in becoming residents of Maine, but, rather, only wanted to use their Maine residency to vote this past Tuesday.
    “Students were making statements to me that they only wanted to register as Maine citizens so they could vote in this one election,” commented Brillant.
    Several students were alarmed when Brillant informed them that they could be arrested for voting as Maine residents.
    Brillant contends that she told the students, “If they are knowingly on voting lists for two states, and they know they are actively listed in both states, then they are committing a crime.”    Students who were initially denied the right to vote returned to Bowdoin to seek assistance from the government department. After receiving emails from several students, government professor Mark Hetherington offered assistance.
    “I was sympathetic with the registrar’s position,” commented Hetherington, “because the students didn’t provide her with clear answers regarding their residency.”
    Hetherington argued, though, “The students are residents of Maine for eight months out of the year, and the registrar should facilitate students in their desire to vote, rather than discourage them.”
    Professor Hetherington called Brillant and was able to reach an agreement that, if the students explicitly told her they were residents of Brunswick, she would allow them to register as Maine residents and vote.
    “Once I talked to the professor, I agreed with him and decided it was up to the students to look into the law regarding residency in a state,” remarked Brillant.
    In addition, Tom Allen ’67, congressman for this district of Maine, sent an attorney to Brunswick in an effort to assist students. Following Hetherington’s discussion with Brillant, the students who were initially denied ballots were allowed to register as Maine residents and cast their vote.
    “The students persevered through the entire process, particularly those students who had to return several times to try and vote,” commented Hetherington.
    Brillant stated, “I really try not to give people a hard time.”
    “I don’t think it’s a matter of anyone in the town not doing their job.
    “I don’t think anyone in the town had impure motives. Then again, the students’ motives were also not impure. The students were well within the law, “ commented Hetherington.

The polls were filled Tuesday as voters cast their votes for the national and local elections. (Nicholas J. LoVecchio/Bowdoin Orient).