Ohio Republicans want to force universities to grant in-state tuition to students from other states if the schools provide documents that allow the students to register to vote in Ohio, a move that could cost universities millions. Republicans in the state House, who included the provision in the state budget now under consideration in the Senate, say they’re trying to streamline the system. Critics say the amendment really is designed to prevent universities from making voting easy for out-of-state students — who traditionally disproportionately vote Democratic.
“The amendment has the purpose of getting a discussion going on sort of the mismatch that exists in Ohio, where we have one requirement for when a student becomes in-state for tuition purposes and another requirement for voting,” said Republican state Rep. Ron Amstutz, chairman of the Finance and Appropriations Committee.
But the bill could have the effect of essentially eliminating out-of-state tuition in Ohio: If the item remains in the state budget, universities say they’ll continue to provide documents to students requesting them for voter registration.
Students from other states would then have a powerful incentive to register to vote in Ohio: They’d save thousands of dollars in annual tuition.
For instance, the extra tuition charged to out-of-state students is $7,782 at Miami University and $7,516 at the University of Cincinnati, according to opponents.
Full Article: Ohio GOP wants to tie tuition to voting.