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State Democrats Say Transportation Budget Provision May Hit Voting Rights

The provision in the budget says, to vote in Ohio, you have to register your car here, if you have one, and get an Ohio driver's license. Democrats say it is intimidation of college students and a violation of the federal voting rights act.

But John Fortney with the Senate Republicans says it merely lays down residency requirements for all Ohioans, not just college students, and it's not intimidation as Democrats claim.

Fortney: "They are just not being honest with Ohioans. This is strictly a residency issue."

Democrat Clyde responds this way:

Clyde: "If this was about residency, let's give these students in state tuition."

In state tuition would allow out of state students to attend college in Ohio at a greatly reduced rate. But Clyde says lawmakers are not proposing that as part of this plan. Democrats say they may vote against the transportation budget if the provision isn't removed.

Tony Ganzer has reported from Phoenix to Cairo, and was the host of 90.3's "All Things Considered." He was previously a correspondent with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, covering issues like Swiss banks, Parliament, and refugees. He earned an M.A. in International Relations (University of Leicester); and a B.Sc. in Journalism (University of Idaho.) He speaks German, and a bit of French.