Va. Registrar's guidance prompts ACLU complaint

[demnan]

Va. Registrar's guidance prompts ACLU complaint
September 8, 2008 - 5:10pm

By LARRY O'DELL
Associated Press Writer


RICHMOND, Va. - Election officials in the county that is home to Virginia Tech were wrong when they issued a news release saying college students who register to vote there cannot be claimed as dependents on their parents' income tax returns, a civil liberties group said Monday.

The news release came late last month during a voter registration drive at the university conducted by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The statement said that along with the tax benefit, students could risk losing residence-based scholarships.

"First of all, it's not true," said Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia. "Second, it's obviously sort of an intimidation tactic to discourage students from voting in local elections."

E. Randall Wertz, voter registrar for Montgomery County, said there was no nefarious intent.

More:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=600&sid=1474471 (cross-posed in Presidential forum)