Waller County DA stirs up student voting controversy

07:15 PM CST on Tuesday, December 9, 2003

By Jason Whitely / 11 News

Click to watch video

PRAIRIE VIEW – Prairie View A&M students have fought off and on for 30 years to vote in Waller County. There is now a new attack in this old battle.

The end of the semester brings relief to college campuses. But at Prairie View A&M there's a sense of concern about the intentions of Waller County District Attorney Oliver Kitzman.

KHOU-TV Hundreds of Prairie View students vote in Waller County elections.

Prairie View A&M Student President Hendrik Maison says, "What he's trying to do is strip us of our power."

"It is not a black and white issue," says Kitzman.

Kitzman has revived a sore spot in local politics -- that is whether Prairie View students can vote in county elections.

In 1979 the U.S. Supreme Court said they could.

But last month, in a letter, Kitzman challenged it again.

Other politicians have protested the DA's letter in Commissioners Court, vowing to fight again to protect student voting rights.

Hundreds of Prairie View students vote in Waller County elections. They say they don't live at home anymore and consider campus their address of record. But the Waller County DA disagrees, saying students are part-time residents and won't make their home here permanently.

"I don't see any law that says a dorm room is a residence," says Kitzman. "In fact I've seen it to the contrary. Whatever the law is I assure you I'll follow it."

"We are growing at a faster rate," says Maison. "The power in Waller County is going to be in this vicinity. I feel that they just want to strip us from our power."

It's unclear how far the DA is willing to take the issue, but if the past decisions and the protest at Commissioners Court are any indication, Kitzman will likely have difficulty keeping students from casting ballots.

Right now Kitzman's urging students to vote in their hometown instead of at school.

Activists say it shouldn't matter. They're planning a big march to the courthouse with several thousand people next month.