WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Student voting in the Nov. 4 general election will be easier than ever, thanks to a new system worked out between Purdue and county election officials. Under the new system, Purdue student identification cards will be accepted as a photo ID, provided election officials can verify current enrollment by tapping into the online Purdue directory.

In the past, Purdue student IDs proved troublesome to election officials because there were no expiration dates on the cards, one of the criteria required by Indiana law. Now, because Purdue officials have worked with the county to make the online directory of current students available, election workers will accept the Purdue student ID cards in lieu of an Indiana- or government-issued photo ID.

Early voting for the general election begins Monday (Oct. 20) in the Greater Lafayette area, and an early voting location will be set up in Stewart Center for the ease of voters on the Purdue campus.

Anyone who registered as a Tippecanoe County resident can participate in early voting here, which will continue at various locations in the county through Nov. 2. The early voting location in Stewart Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday (Oct. 20-22) under the mural. A complete list of early voting sites is available on the Tippecanoe County Web site at http://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/egov/docs/1221059238_341064.pdf

When voting early or on Election Day in Tippecanoe County, voters must present an Indiana or government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, Indiana photo ID card, military ID or U.S. passport. A Purdue student ID can be used, but students must be currently enrolled, and they can’t have asked to be withheld from the Purdue online directory. Out-of-state driver’s licenses will not be accepted, said county Clerk Linda Phillips.

Each of the 20 polling locations open Nov. 4 throughout Tippecanoe County, including one in the Purdue Memorial Union, will have Internet access so election workers will be able to look up students in the system, she said. A complete list of Tippecanoe County vote centers is on the county’s Web site at http://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/egov/docs/1209140926_407409.pdf

New Indiana voters who registered by mail also will need to bring a proof of their residence when they vote. Acceptable documents must include their current name and address, such as an Indiana driver’s license, valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document. Phillips said voters who need to bring additional documentation proving their place of residence should have received a letter in the mail explaining the requirement.

Voters coming to the polling site without a valid photo ID or proof of Tippecanoe County residency – if required – will have to cast provisional ballots. Voters who don’t provide proof of residency will have until 6 p.m. Nov. 4 to bring the necessary paperwork to the Tippecanoe County Office Building at 20 N. Third St., Lafayette. Voters who don’t have a valid photo ID have until noon Nov. 14 to bring a photo ID into the Board of Elections Office on the first floor of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, 301 Main St., Lafayette. Phillips said provisional ballots that are not supported by the necessary paperwork will not be counted.

Anyone who wants to verify that they are registered to vote in Tippecanoe County can visit the Indiana Statewide Voter Registration System online – where they can enter their county of residence, name and date of birth – at http://indianavoters.com/PublicSite/Public/FT1/PublicLookupMain.aspx?Link=Registration

Registered voters also can vote via absentee ballot if they are unable to vote on Election Day. Rules and deadlines for absentee ballots in Indiana are listed online at the GetInvolved@Purdue site at http://www.purdue.edu/getinvolved

For information about voter registration, contact the Tippecanoe County Voter Registration Office at (765) 423-9303 or (765) 423-9316 or e-mail electionboard@tippecanoe.in.gov

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Immigration issues were a divisive force in the 2004 election, so this year’s candidates are taking a quieter, more direct approach to reaching the Latino population, says a Purdue University political scientist.

“What we’re seeing instead is microtargeting the Latino demographic,” says James McCann, a professor of political science who is surveying Mexican immigrants regarding political participation and other civic issues.

“Instead of mass appeals, commercials and speeches, the candidates are airing Spanish commercials in specific cities with large Latino populations. The Republican and Democratic parties also are reaching Latinos through surrogate leadership and outreach through the local grassroots levels and politicians. The emphasis on the demographic is there, but it’s not visible to everyone.”

McCann says this political strategy also is focusing on the candidates’ character issues instead of how they stand on issues such as immigration reform. The microtargeting strategy could change closer to the election if more public emphasis is placed on the Latino vote, McCann says.

“Even though there is more attention on the black and female vote because of the candidates who ran for president this year, the Latino demographic will play a strong role and could be a deciding factor,” McCann says. “And the Latino population’s influence exceeds just those who are able to vote. Even immigrants who cannot vote in U.S. elections contribute to American politics by attending rallies and meetings, talking informally with others about elections, convincing U.S. citizens to vote and contributing funds to parties and other political causes.

“We call this group the emerging electorate. They are part of our cultural fabric, and we should not underestimate their influence and contributions to the American political process,” McCann said.

For example, McCann found in 2006 that 30 percent of those surveyed who were not citizens reported encouraging someone who could vote in an American election to do so.