PRARIE VIEW, Texas -- Voting rights have been conversation that has spanned decades in Texas and it is back in the spotlight after a dispute over registrations for students at a historically black college.  

• Students originally encouraged to use a common campus address when registering to vote
• One of the addresses allowed puts the students in a different precinct than the campus

Late last week, thousands of students at Prairie View A&M learned they may have registered under the wrong address on the final day to register to vote. 

On college campuses nationwide, students can register to vote in their college towns, but it hasn't always been that way. Just over a decade after the Voting Rights Act was signed, students in Waller County fought for that ability and it was a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court. 

Democratic congressional candidate Mike Siegal is running to represent District 10 which includes Prairie View A&M. He worried an extra registration requirement would depress turnout from students because the university does not have individual mailboxes for students. In the past, university administrators and local officials have agreed that students should use a common campus address when registering to vote, but one of the addresses allowed puts the students in a different precinct than the campus, so elections officials wanted a change of address filled out.  

Siegal thought the extra paperwork was unconstitutional and ultimately the county conceded.

The Texas Secretary of State's office released the following statement in part:

"...No student will be impeded, hampered, or otherwise delayed in exercising their constitutional right to cast a ballot in the upcoming General Election."

Seigal said he's happy with the eventual outcome and will continue to push for increased turnout.   

"The idea that Texas, one of the biggest states in the country has only a 28% participation rate in elections is absurd," said Siegal. 

The dispute over where to vote escalated into an arrest last Wednesday involving a member of Siegel's campaign.  The worker was arrested at the Waller County courthouse after delivering a letter regarding the registration issue. Siegel said his campaign staffer was charged with a misdemeanor for "failure to identify" himself, but the charge was dropped after a review of the incident.