Sally Morgan, Blacksburg, VA

Sally Morgan is a student at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. As reported by the New York Times, a local elections official there in Montgomery County falsely alarmed students that they could not register to vote at their college address without being at risk of losing their student loans, health insurance, or their "dependent" status on their parents' IRS forms. The untruthful statements were made in a voter registration notice to students, which may have had the effect of preventing some students from registering to vote in the county in which they reside for most of the year.

In this video short, Sally Morgan gives her explanation and reaction to these incorrect statements. 

Sally Morgan, a senior in geology at Virginia Tech University, received a letter from the Montgomery County Registrar’s office warning students that registering to vote locally could cause them to lose their scholarships, affect their dependent status on their parent’s taxes, and potentially cause problems with their insurance.  Ms. Morgan was, however, optimistic that the subsequent campaign to inform students about the misinformation on the registrar’s flyer was successful.  Her major concern involved the coercive influence such voter suppression techniques would have on first year students.  She worried that the registrar’s threats would be more likely to intimidate voters living on their own for the first time.  

Ms. Morgan’s parents live four hours from Blacksburg, an inconvenient trip on a day scheduled full of classes.  Furthermore, she does not own a car, nor does Virginia Tech give students time to vote.  Denying her the right to register in Blacksburg would amount to an undue burden on her right to participate in our democratic system.

For Ms. Morgan voting provides a means of participating in the community.  She finds it to be an easy, direct action that allows her to “plug into democracy.”  Her recommendation for other voters is to simply engage in the process, as what may initially seem difficult or intimidating (thanks to the Montgomery County Registrar) is actually simple and rewarding.

For more information on this story, please call (202)518-6186.