Following intense debate and discussion, the Undergraduate Assembly narrowly approved a proposal last night to encourage the University to support the addition of four new polling places on campus.
City commissioners are holding a hearing on Wednesday to address a petition supported by a group of Penn students -- who are also College Democrats -- to add more polling places on campus. Currently, according to Pennsylvania state law, the rights of voters in two districts on campus are being violated because their residence is more than one district removed from their polling place, David Rittenhouse Laboratory.
The proposed additional polling places include Harrison and Harnwell college houses, Houston Hall and Steinberg-Dietrich Hall.
Penn officials once backed the petition, but when the College Republicans withdrew their support two weeks ago, the administration found it inappropriate to endorse what could be seen as a partisan issue.
If the University does decide to again declare support of the petition, its influence could weigh heavily on the decision of city commissioners.
UA Chairman and College senior Jason Levine described last night's proposal, which was passed in a 16-13 vote with one abstention, as "a general sentiment to the University on behalf of the undergraduates."
UA member and Wharton junior Daniel Cope argued for the proposal, while Wharton senior David Copley -- a representative of the College Republicans from outside of the UA body -- argued against it.
Levine maintained, however, that the proposal was non-partisan, and mandated that all discussion remain non-partisan.
The debaters clashed over what they considered to be in the best interest of students.
The UA's "interests ought to be the undergrads'. In my opinion, undergraduates would like to vote as close to their homes as possible," Cope said.
Copley countered that the confusion of increasing the number of polling places so close to the election would disenfranchise many voters.
However, students registered from their campus addresses have not been explicitly told by the city to vote at DRL.
Speakers at the meeting also emphasized the permanence of a decision to increase the number of polling places on campus.
"Let's not just think of the present selfishly," College senior and UA member Klair Spiller said, noting that confusion may arise in later years when students go to the polling place of their current residence, only to find that they are registered to vote at a location appropriate for their previous residence.
The audience -- relatively large for a UA meeting, with approximately 15 people unaffiliated with the UA or UA Steering in attendance -- was invited to participate in some of the discussion.
Many audience members were drawn to the meeting solely because of this proposal.
"We're just waiting to hear what they decide so we can get the word out," said College junior Farrah Freis, a leader of "Penn Leads the Vote," a non-partisan voter registration, education and mobilization effort.
Freis said that members of "Penn Leads the Vote" did not have a position on the proposal.
Penn American Civil Liberties Union President Michael Patterson was encouraged by the UA's decision to support additional polling places, which may or may not subsequently influence the position of the University.
"We're exhilarated," he said. "It's a good day for the voting rights of Penn students."
