“I don't think it's wise we're inviting people to come on to our school campuses that would otherwise not have any business there,” Isaac said. “So, I believe that we should do anything and everything possible just to make sure that our campuses are as safe as possible.”
However, college students argue the bill, if signed into law, would disenfranchise them. Texas State University junior Adriana Montoya said she doesn't buy the argument that this is about safety.
“This has nothing to do with school safety,” she said. “This has to do with suppressing student voters.”
Montoya, who is the president of her campus' College Democrats group, said she feels it is hypocritical for a member of the Republican Party to argue that banning polling places will keep college students safe after the same party pushed a campus carry bill through the Texas Legislature in 2015.
“It seems that they're okay with guns on campuses, but polling sites is where they draw the line,” she said.
Burd said that college students often feel safest voting on campus because they’re familiar with it and comfortable there.
“There are also a lot of young people who are queer or who have disabilities or who have mental health issues, and the polling location is a safe place on campus,” she said. “Many of these people don't necessarily feel safe going out into San Marcos but campus is a place of relative safety.”
Montoya and Burd both said they think Isaac’s legislation would make it harder for students to participate in elections. Many do not have access to cars and already struggle to find the time between classes to cast a ballot, they said. Montoya added that making students figure out how to get off campus to vote creates an unnecessary barrier.
“You shouldn't have to figure out democracy. You should not have to figure out how to participate in your government,” she said. “It should be easy and accessible to you.”
