The “A Voice 4 U” campaign is disappointed that a petition has been filed with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics alleging potential misconduct.
Seven residents of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D 02, including ANC 3D Commissioner Tom Smith, filed a petition Friday with the BOEE asking the agency to issue a “declaratory statement” regarding AU student groups, including the “A Voice 4 U” campaign, among others.
“There are potentially serious consequences that the [BOEE] should explore through a hearing,” the petition says. “Inducing registration in D.C. under false pretenses touches on interfering with the voter registration process.”
The petitioners allege that AU student groups have issued misleading voter registration information to students about their ability to register to vote in D.C. and then change their registration back to their home states. Assistant Campaign Manager Adam Daniel-Wayman said AV4U will seek legal advice from the Washington College of Law, but they are “not really majorly concerned.”
He said the group is more worried about students’ reactions, rather than legal consequences.
“Their petition is largely based on hearsay. It consists of some quotes from an Eagle article,” he said. “They don’t have a supported argument.”
In the petition, a quote from Student Government President Nate Bronstein in a video posted to The Eagle’s website is used as evidence.
“President Nate Bronstein stated at a voter registration rally, this is about, 'getting people to switch registration for this one time,' the petition says.
A portion details how Carter Gibson, a coordinator for AV4U’s greek life section, would help voters switch registration back to their home states after the campaign.
The petitioners also submitted The Eagle’s Sept. 21 cover as evidence. The cover had a “to vote” section that listed “Ditch your D.C. registration in time for the 2012 presidential election” as step four.
Daniel-Wayman said “it’s no secret” that some students may want to change their registrations back to their home states, and AV4U is aware that there may be problems with certain states. He said he believes students know what they are doing when they change their registration.
“These students are making an informed decision," he said.
Freshman Tyler Sadonis is running as a write-in candidate against Smith, The Eagle previously reported.
Smith could not be reached for comment.
More to come on this developing story.
sdazio@theeagleonline.com
