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AFFECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY, GOING TO THE POLLS IS AN EASY STOP ON THEIR WAY TO CLASS. TOWSON IS ONE OF 8 COLLEGE CAMPUSES HOPING TO EXPAND VOTER ACCESS. >> THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT BARRIERS THAT PREVENT STUDENTS FROM VOTING. IT’S INFORMATION, IT’S ACCESS ITS TRANSPORTATION. TIM: THAT HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS GROUP OF MARYLAND COLLEGE STUDENTS IS THROWING ITS SUPPORT BEHIND HOUSE BILL 245, OR THE STUDENT VOTER EMPOWERMENT ACT. IT WOULD HELP INCREASE CAMPUS REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION. >> I HAVE MEMORIES OF MY DORM FLOOR BEING COVERED WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS FROM EVERY STATE TRYING DESPERATELY TO FIGURE OUT A PROCESS TO HELP STUDENTS VOT TIM: THE BILL’S SPONSORS, TWO MARYLAND LAWMAKERS, SAY THE VOTER LEGISLATION IS LONG OVERDUE. >> WE DO A TERRIBLE JOB TELLING PEOPLE HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE, HOW TO GOT VOTE, HOW TO GET ABSENTEE BALLOT. >> WE DO NEED TO NEED TO IMPROVE TURNOUT AND VOTER REGISTRATION AMONG OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY REALLY ARE OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. TIM: THERE’S A PUSH TO HELP THE VOTING BILL BECOME LAW BEFORE THE 2020 ELECTION CYCLE. THIS IS NOT JUST ONE PARTY OVER ANOTHER PARTY, THIS IS INITIATIVE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE. TIM: THE VOTING BILL HAS BEEN HEARD BY LAWMAKERS AND NOW HEADS TO COMMITT

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The voting rate among U.S. college students more than doubled between 2014 and 2018, but some Maryland lawmakers would like to see those numbers go even higher.Maryland lawmakers want to give students more access to voting booths on their college campuses.This legislation would affect tens of thousands of students on college campuses throughout the state.At Towson University, going to the polls is an easy stop on their way to class. Towson is one of eight college campuses hoping to expand voter access."There are so many different barriers that prevent students from voting. It's information, it's access, it's transportation," said Ireland Lesley, student government president at University of Maryland College Park.That helps to explain why one group of Maryland college students is throwing its support behind House Bill 245 or The Student Voter Empowerment Act. It would help increase campus registration and participation."I have memories of my dorm floor being covered with absentee ballots from every state trying desperately to figure out a process to help students vote," former MICA student Maddie Wolf said.The bill's sponsors, two Maryland lawmakers, said the voter legislation is long overdue."We do a terrible job telling people how to register to vote, how to go vote, how to get an absentee ballot," said Del. Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery County."We do need to improve turnout and voter registration among our young people, because they really are our future," said Sen. Clarence Lam, D-Baltimore and Howard counties.There's a push to help the voting bill become law before the 2020 election cycle."This is not just one party over another party; this is an initiative for all students, and we want to be able to vote," TU student Jordy Diaz said.The voting bill has been heard by lawmakers and now heads to committee.