Seasons greetings to my detractors who frequently register their disagreements with me in this column.

There have been several letters recently regarding the effect of Bates College students on elections in Lewiston. I assume voting is limited to registered residents of a community. Maine statutory references follow.

Title 21-A, chapter 3, sub chapter 2, subsection 112(1) says “Residence of a person is that place where the person has established a fixed and principal home to which the person, whenever temporarily absent, intends to return.”

Among the factors for an applicant to qualify to register to vote in the municipality includes the dwelling location and the place where any motor vehicle owned by the person is registered.

Title 21-A, subsection 112(7) deals with not losing residence because of prolonged absences. The last sentence of subsection 112(7) says “This subsection may not be construed to prevent a student at any institution of learning from qualifying as a voter in the municipality where the student resides while attending that institution.”

Does this mean local or “away” institutions of learning?

It appears to me that this part of subsection 112(7) is the key. If removed or clarified it would help determine eligibility for college students to vote locally.

Incidentally, Title 29-A, subsection 351 (1-A) requires that a vehicle owner who becomes a resident of Maine has 30 days to register that vehicle. Do the “resident” voters at local colleges meet this requirement?

Thomas F. Shields, Auburn