Madison Albers, a student at Fort Hays State University and co-chair of the American Democracy Project, is actively advocating for the establishment of an on-campus polling place.
Hundreds of individuals have come together to sign a petition, demanding the establishment of a polling location on the Fort Hays State University campus. This ongoing conflict between university students and the county clerk in charge of elections has garnered significant attention.
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Madison Albers, a student at Fort Hays State and co-chair of the American Democracy Project, along with other individuals involved in the polling place initiative, handed over a total of 480 signatures endorsing the proposed change to Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling on Tuesday.
During an interview with the Kansas Reflector, Albers discussed the advantages of utilizing the college campus.
Albers emphasized that there is ample parking available on campus, as every building is required to meet ADA compliance. Additionally, there is a significant number of students who are eager to assist as poll workers. The Student Government Association has even passed a resolution stating that over 30 students would be willing to work as poll workers if a polling location were to open on campus.
She added, “Imagine the tremendous boost this would provide, not only to this polling location, but to all polling locations in Ellis County.”
During the Tuesday meeting, Albers noted that the discussion with Dreiling did not yield any conclusive outcomes. Dreiling, however, expressed her intention to carefully review the signatures.
Albers expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of a convincing explanation from her regarding the impracticality of this action.
Anniston Weber, a long-time resident of Hays and a graduate of the university, believes that this decision will enhance civic engagement and provide an opportunity for student voices to be heard. Weber expressed confusion over Dreiling’s rationale for the move.
According to Weber, the candidate’s responses are vague and indecisive. He expressed frustration at the difficulty of obtaining a clear and direct answer from her, noting her apparent reluctance to provide one.
Dreiling did not respond right away when the Kansas Reflector reached out for inquiry.
A campaign led by Fort Hays State gained momentum in 2023, reigniting the long-standing discussion of having a polling station on campus. To tackle this matter, members of the Ellis County community sought the support of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas. Their aim was to collaborate on a proposal and draw attention to the importance of this issue.
In the fall, Dreiling made the decision to close two polling places in Hays. Since then, he has been actively searching for a suitable consolidated polling location in the area. Albers and her colleague, Hays student Grace McCord, suggested two on-campus locations to Dreiling. Unfortunately, these suggestions were rejected due to certain poll station requirements.
When presenting their argument to Dreiling, the students conducted research on voting statistics and discovered that Fort Hays State students exhibited lower levels of voter engagement compared to other universities in Kansas. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, the average national voting rate for college students stands at approximately 66% engagement.
At the University of Kansas, where there is a voting station on campus, approximately 71% of the student population, which is around 28,000 students, actively participates in voting. Similarly, at Fort Hays State, a smaller campus with just over 14,000 students, the average voter engagement stands at 62.4%, as reported by Albers and McCord.
According to a report by the ACLU, Ellis County had a total of 19,526 registered voters in 2022. The voter turnout for the 2018 general election was 59.1%, but it experienced a significant drop to 51.24% in the 2022 general election. This decline in voter turnout is one of the largest decreases observed at the county level across the state.
Dreiling accepted the contract offer from the Messiah Lutheran Church before the students presented her with a third on-campus location that met all of her previous requirements.
In a letter to Hays Post on March 11, Dreiling mentioned that the church had a favorable location.
Messiah Lutheran Church provided the perfect opportunity for the election, with its spacious room and ample parking. Dreiling emphasized the convenience of this location for all four Wards and Precincts. Additionally, Dreiling reminded not only the students but also all county residents about the availability of early voting at the nearby Administration Center, just 0.40 miles away from the campus. This early voting option starts two weeks before any election. Alternatively, individuals can also request an advance mail ballot.
According to Albers, having an on-campus location would increase student voter engagement, make voting more accessible for the entire precinct, and provide a convenient option for lower-income and elderly residents to vote.
Albers, who has dedicated their efforts to addressing the issue since 2022, expressed their commitment to continuing the campaign.
Albers expressed her desire for a polling location on campus, emphasizing that this has always been the main objective. She acknowledged the clarity of their message and the possibility of having more discussions with Bobbi. However, she emphasized the need for concrete answers that would enable them to find alternative solutions and make the idea of a campus polling location more feasible.
