Council Endorses Bill to Standardize Voter Registration

The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously last night in favor of establishing uniform voter registration procedures for all city residents.

The Council recorded itself in favor of a bill before the Massachusetts Legislature, which would require only the name, address, length of residence, last previous place of residence, and place and date of birth of person seeking to register to vote.

"Uniform registration procedures are needed badly to combat the harrassment of students by the Election Commission," David E. Sullivan, coordinator of the Cambridge Committee for Voter Registration, said after yesterday's vote.

Extra Inquiries

"Students right now are asked many irrelevant questions that are put to no other class of voters," Sullivan said.

Student voter registration in Cambridge has been a controversial issue in the city ever since the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971. Several city councillors last night expressed eagerness to resolve the issue once and for all. "I'm willing to vote for this resolution, because we need more guidance from the state on voter registration," councillor Robert P. Moncrieff said.

City councillor Daniel J. Clinton denied Sullivan's assertion that "most university students" are not permitted to vote in Cambridge. "Thousands of students register ever year, and only a handful are turned down," Clinton said.

Sullivan said that the state legislature will probably consider the uniform voter registration bill in "three or four weeks." Registration for Cambridge's November municipal election closes on October 17.

City councillor Alfred E. Vellucci charged that the Election Commission "also harrasses immigrants who have become naturalized citizens. They won't register because they're scared of the treatment they get."