Sen. Bill Cook
North Carolina State Senate Republicans filed a bill Tuesday that could have drastic consequences for young voters and their parents.
The bill requires dependents to register for voting at their parents’ home address, otherwise they will forgo their tax exemptions.
Specifically the bill says, “If the voter is a dependent of the voter’s parent or legal guardian, is 18 years of age or older and the voter has registered at an address other than that of the parent or legal guardian, the parent or legal guardian will not be allowed to claim the voter as a dependent for state income tax purposes.”
This is mainly a problem for college students, who either have to go home to vote, or force their parents to give up part of their tax return.
The legislation only applies to state taxes, therefore out-of-state students won’t be affected.
However, the bill could hurt state Democrats, causing them to miss out on a key demographic.
In Watauga and Orange counties, where college voters play a big role, entire election results could be altered.
Bill Cook (R-Beaufort) is sponsoring the bill, along with Budget Chairman Neal Hunt and three other Republican state senators.
House Minority Leader Larry Hall is strongly opposed to the bill, claiming it will raise taxes on middle class families with college-age students.
“I refuse to believe the Republican leadership has become so desperate to limit voting for partisan gain that they would be willing to support tax increases to achieve that goal,” Hall said, “It is the definition of arrogance to penalize parents with new taxes just because their children want to exercise their right to vote in the community they live in.”
Representatives from the N.C. Board of Elections declined comment.