Long lines and large crowds have been the rule at DC's Office of Elections and Ethics as Election Day approaches.

As Jessica Forres reports, officials are trying to solve the problem...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Voters have waited for as many as a few hours to cast their ballots at 441 Judiciary Square, but when we were there, it only took approximately 15 minutes to cast an in-person absentee ballot.

Gina Barr is smiling...

THEY WERE VERY WELL ORGANIZED, I ZIPPED IN AND ZIPPED BACK OUT. IT WORKED OUT FINE.

Dan Murphy...with DC's Office of Elections and Ethics....explains some of the changes that have been made...

WE MOVED THINGS DOWNSTAIRS ACTUALLY WE WERE UPSTAIRS ON THE SECOND FLOOR SINCE WE STARTED ON THE 20th AND I THINK THAT THINGS ARE MOVING A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENTLY TODAY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SIGNIFICANTLY A HIGHER NUMBER OF PEOPLE PROCESSING VOTERS AND WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE SPACE DOWN HERE THAN WE DID UP STAIRS.

But for Akite Daniel, voting absentee wasn't so easy...

I CAME HERE TO VOTE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY ABSENTEE BALLOT YET.

She says the system seems antiquated...

AND EVEN WHEN YOU'RE CASTING THE VOTE HERE THEY HAVE LIKE RUSTIC BOXES YOU HAVE TO FOLD IT AND LIKE SHOVE IT IN. I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT SECURE.

DC residents can still cast their in-person absentee ballots from 8:30a.m to 4:45pm today, Saturday and Monday.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

A local non-profit is tackling the problems that day laborers face in DC.

As Jessica Forres reports... the group wants the city to build a workers' center...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

[THE COMPANY DRIVER TAKES YO U IN THE BACK OF A VAN]

Hassan Shakur, a homeless Vietnam Vet, who works as a day laborer, says even getting to work can be dangerous...

SOMETIMES A VAN HAS NO WINDOWS AND THE DOOR LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE SO IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE COULDN'T GET OUT.

The Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs reports that immigrant and homeless day laborers are often exploited.

Lisa Estrada with the Arent Fox law firm supervised the study...

WE DISCOVERED NON-PAYMENT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF UNDERPAYMENT, INSSUFICIENT CHECKS...

The committee supports building a workers' center in Ward 5 near the Home Depot, where day laborers wait for jobs.

Harry Thomas, Ward 5's council member, says such a center should also consider the concens of local residents...

I THINK THE BIGGER SOLUTION IS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND HAVING A SOLUTION TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT RELATED ISSUES.

The committee's report says approximately 500 day-laborers regularly seek work in the District.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

One local non-profit is trying to raise awareness about domestic violence in faith-based communities.

Jessica Forres visited a local church in D-C and spoke with a survivor turned activist.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

[NAT, HALLELUJAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME]

Rayshel Murphy is wearing a sharp, red suit. She is speaking to a group of seven people at a Catholic church in southeast DC.

ME SHARING WITH YOU MIGHT SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE, ME SHARING WITH YOU MIGHT HELP YOU TO SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

She's sharing her experience with domestic violence...and how the leaders of her church reacted when she told them about how her husband ...an aspiring minister... had physcially abused her.

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH I FELT HAD SIDED WITH HIM. HE DIDN'T GIVE ME THE ANSWERS THAT I NEEDED. HE DIDN'T GIVE ME THE HELP THAT I NEEDED.

That's why Murphy started Women of Freedom Foundation...a faith-based organization that provides many services for abused women and raises awareness about domestic violence in Christian communities.

BECAUSE IN THE CHURCHES WHAT WE FOUND IS THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS AND SO TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THEIR AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ENTAILS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND IT AND TO BE ABLE HELP SOMEONE ELSE.

Murphy says one in four women are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

In Fairfax County, Virginia the Office of Elections has been asked to closely monitor satellite voting sites after someone defaced an absentee voting sign.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Nearly twenty people are waiting in line to vote at the Franconia Government Center…a satellite voting site where someone deliberately changed the hours for in-person absentee voting.

At the Center, Antoinette Glover, a resident, waits with her son.

I THINK THAT'S HORRIBLE AND I HOPE THEY CHANGED IT BACK AND PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE REAL HOURS ARE.

Jeff McCay is the Supervisor for that district.

SOMEBODAY HAD TAKEN A BLACK MAGIC MARKER AND JUST TRANSFORMED THE ONE INTO A FOUR AND A VERY SIMPLE MOVE CONFUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SENT OUT A VERY WRONG MESSAGE.

He thinks it was an effort to suppress voting.

THE STORIES ARE ALREADY OUT THERE THAT IN FAIRFAX COUNTY WE ARE HAVING RECORD HIGH NUMBERS OF PEOPLE VOTE AND THERE ARE SOME FOLKS OUT THERE WHO BELIEVE IF LESS PEOPLE VOTE THEY WILL FAIR BETTER IN THE ELECTION.

The Board of Supervisors voted last week to ask the Office of Elections to closely monitor every sign at each of the seven satellite voting sites.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News


______________________________________________________________
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has voted to ask the Office of Elections to closely monitor informational signs about voting hours.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

The Board of Supervisors is asking election officers to examine signs at each of the seven satellite voting sites after someone tampered with one at Franconia Government Center.

Jeff McCay is the supervisor for that District. He says someone neatly changed the one into a four.

IT READ ABSENTEE VOTING WAS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM FOUR TO EIGHT PM.

He says it's the responsibility of election judges to make sure people are getting accurate information.

THERE'S SO MUCH EMOTION ATTACHED TO THIS ELECTION THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS THAT ARE ILL-CONCEIVED OR THAT ARE BEYOND PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND THE ELECTION JUDGE SHOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY EACH DAY WHEN THEY OPEN THE POLLS AND CLOSE THE POLLS THAT THE RIGHT INFORMATION IS POSTED.

The hours for in-person absentee voting are from 1 to 8pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

The "Respect My Vote" bus is touring across the U.S. to encourage young people to vote on November 4th.

Jessica Forres reports the bus stopped in the District last night.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 885 FM

A 45 foot, wrapped tour bus is parked outside the 9:30 club, a popular music venue in D.C. The words "Respect My Vote" are written on the side.

Reverend Lennox Yearwood with the Hip-Hop Caucaus helped organize the tour. He sits inside a small room at the back of the bus.

THERE IS A TV AND EVERYTING BUT THIS WHERE WE COME IN AND PLAN OUT THE DAY. IT'S ACTUALLY OUR CONFERENCE ROOM.

The tour is meant to target registered voters between the ages of 18 and 29 who have not gone to college. He explains 93 percent of the people who fall in that group did not vote on Super Tuesday.

IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY AREN'T GOING TO A STUDENT CENTER. A LOT OF THEM ARE MARRIED, A LOT OF THEM HAVE KIDS, OR MAKE A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES AND JUST GOING HOME. THAT'S WHY THIS CONCERT TONIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT. IT HELPS US BRIDGE THAT INSTITUTIONAL VOID...SO 9:30 CLUB BECOMES OUR STUDENT CENTER SO WE CAN REACH THOSE NON-COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Crystal Gissentanna, who recently graduated from Howard University, is happy to help out.

BASICALLY I'M GOING TO PASS OUT AND INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR VOTING RIGHTS AND VOTER PROTECTION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

The bus will tour 18 cities in the next two weeks.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 NEWS

As Barack Obama and John McCain race to the finish line, some local residents are hitting the streets and working the phones to campaign for the presidential candidate they support.

Jessica Forres met up with some volunteers from both campaigns in Northern Virginia.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[NAT: knock, knock..good morning. My name is Jan Jacobs and I'm a volunteer in the neighborhood for the barack obama campaign.]

Jacobs is canvassing a neighborhood near her house in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Mary Fry is working the phones at MCCain's campaign office in Arlington.

[HELLO MY NAME IS MARY AND I'M CALLING FROM THE JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN]Both volunteers are similar... They spend their free time campaiging for the presidential candidates they support. But their differences become apparent when they explain why they got involved.

Jacobs started knocking on doors in June.

WELL I'M DIONG THIS MAINLY BECAUSE I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN. MY SON WAS IN IRAQ THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND I'M READY TO SEE AN END TO THIS WAR.

And Fry says she's made at least a thousand phone calls since March.

I CAME ORIGINALLY IN MARCH BECAUSE I FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN. I'M VERY MUCH A PRO-LIFE PERSON. AND HIS PRO-LIFE STAND WAS VERY CLEAR AND I WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT MINE.

Jacobs and Fry say they will campaign up until election day on November fourth.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

______________________________________________________________

As Election Day approaches, Jessica Forres reports that both presidential campaigns are seeing more people in Virginia stepping up to volunteer.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[HELLO MY NAME IS MARY AND I'M CALLING FROM THE JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN]

Mary Fry is making phone calls at McCain's campaign office in Arlington. She's been helping out since March.

WELL THERE WAS A PHONE FOR EVERY PERSON BUT THERE WERE ONLY THREE PHONES WHEN I FIRST STARTED AND SO EACH TIME I CAME THERE WERE MORE TABLES AND MORE PHONES.

Now…there are more than 50 volunteers making phone calls in the same room as Fry.

Jan Jacobs is also volunteer, but for Barack Obama's campaign. She is canvassing a neighborhood in Woodbridge.

[NAT: KNOCK, KNOCK]
I'M LOOKING FOR JESSE IS THAT YOU
-SPEAKING

She says there are more volunteers now compared to when she first started knocking on doors.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE CANVASSERS NOW THAN WE HAD IN JULY AND IN JULY I WAS DOING IT ALL BY MYSELF. I WOULD GO FROM DIFFERENT PLACES ALONE.

In Virginia, there are more than 14-thousand volunteer working in each presidential campaign.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

In the District, police have expanded patrols in the Adams Morgan neighborhood in response to a rash of violent incidents.

Jessica Forres talked with residents and patrons about the recent uptick in crime.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

Mariah Morales is hanging out at Madam's Organ…a popular bar where the latest shooting left a bullet hole in the outside wall.

She shrugs off any notion of danger in the neighborhood.

I HAVEN'T FELT UNSAFE HERE. I RUN HERE ALL THE TIME EVEN AT NIGHT. I REALLY HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM.

But for Shiekh Asif...an employee at Jumbo Slice...the violence is worrisome.

YES WE ARE SCARED BECAUSE SOMETIME LIKE THAT HAPPEN AFTER 12:00 OR MIDNIGHT SO SOMEBODY COME AND TELL US THAT IS HAPPENING SO WE JUST BE VERY CAREFUL.

In the last month, there have been nearly a dozen street robberies and another dozen shootings in the area. Harrison Hillier is a bouncer at True Story.

YOU SEE LOTS OF DRUNK FIGHTS, LOTS OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY JUST RECENTLY HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE THOUGH.

Metropolitan police say they made five arrests in the Adams Morgan and U Street neighborhoods over the weekend. And they say they'll be back.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Washington area motorists were in for a pleasant surprise over the weekend with the arrival of gas prices below the three dollar mark.

As Jessica Forres reports the falling prices put smiles on the faces of customers at one gas station in Frederick, Maryland.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[NAT: MAAM OVER HERE BEHIND THE VAN.]

Wearing a fluorescent, orange safety vest, Kathy Potthof directs traffic at the Costco gas station in Frederick...where the price of regular gasoline is two dollars and ninety two cents.

SINCE FRIDAY IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS UH IT WAS WORSE FRIDAY.

More than thirty cars waited in six lines to fill up Sunday afternoon. Erik Moore…a senior in high school…finally made it to the pump.

[NAT: GAS SOUND]

IT'S USUALLY LOWER THAN EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD BE THIS LOW.

John Townsend is a spokesperson for Triple A Mid-Atlantic. He says the price of crude oil has plummeted in the last week…causing gas prices to follow suit.

AND IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT IF CRUDE KEEPS DROPPING, WE MAY SEE GASOLINE PRICES AT 2.20, 2.30 A GALLON AND MAY BE VERY CLOSE TO TWO DOLLARS A GALLON.

The average price of gasoline in the Washington region is three dollars and thirty nine cents a gallon…down 19 cents since last month.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Some students at The George Washington University are using the National Mall as a classroom to teach local high school students about the past.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

About twenty students from Duke Ellington High School climb the steps of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

[NAT: STEPS]

BASICALLY IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON TODAY, YOU WOULDN'T COME HERE.

That's the voice of Ryan Hayes, a sophomore at GW. He and his classmates are using the monuments to teach the next generation of students about the basic principals America was founded on.

BASICALLY THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL REPRESENTS THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

Learning and knowing about such principals is important for Ceara Crump, a student on the tour.

YOU HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING IF NOT YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING

Crump and her classmates will then teach younger students about what they learned.... Marta Stewart is a teacher at the High School.

OUR STUDENTS WILL ACTUALLY CONDUCT A TOUR SIMILAR TO THIS USING THE SAME STOPS AND MAYBE AUGMENTING IT AND DEVELOPING IT FOR THEIR AUDIENCE WHICH WILL BE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

The students at GW plan to host more tours in the future to hopefully include elementary and middle school students.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

______________________________________________________

The National Mall is being used as a classroom to teach some local students about the past.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

A geography class at the George Washington University is using the monuments to teach nearly forty students at Duke Ellington High School the basic principals America was founded on.

Lisa Benton-Shorts is the professor.

THEY AREN'T TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT THE MEMORIAL IN AND OF ITSELF BUT WHAT IT REPRESENTS TO THESE THEMES OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM.

Marta Stewart is a teacher at Duke Ellington. She says her students will then create their own tours which they will give to middle school students.

I THINK THE STUDENT TEACHERS AS WELL AS THE STUDENT LEARNERS ARE CREATING SOME KIND OF SYNERGY HERE THAT IS REALLY A GREAT FERTILE GROUND FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

Benton-Shorts, the GW professor, says she hopes her class will expand the tours to include elementary and middle school students.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

The Military Health System is encouraging sick, wounded or injured service members and their families to fill out questionnaires about their health care experience.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

David Mayer...an Iraq war veteran...sits in a wheel chair outside of the Malogne House at Walter Reed. He talks about his injuries.

I GOT HIT BY AN EFP. I'M A DOUBLE AMPUTEE, ONE BELOW THE KNEE, ONE ABOVE THE KNEE.

Brad Sifford sits in a chair next Mayer. He lost his left arm. He says the health care he's received so far has been adequate.

THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ESPECIALLY HERE. AS SOON AS I LEFT HERE THEY WERE ON THE TV FROM LIKE THEY EVEN MESSED UP MY PAPERWORK. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THEY COULD IMPROVE ON.

It's that type of information the Military Health System is asking service members and their families to disclose in questionnaires. Cynthia Smith a spokesperson says they can be found online.

THESE TWO QUESTIONAIRES ARE PART OF DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING WOUNDED, ILL AND INJURED SERVICE MEMBERS ENSURING THERE CARE IS DOD'S TOP PRIORITY.

David Mayer says he hasn't filled out the form yet.

I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE I CAN FILL IT OUT.

Smith says the deadline for participating in the survey is November 28th.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

The Maryland State Department of Education is encouraging schools to develop character education programs.

The programs are meant to teach young people ethics and qualities like responsibility good citizenship, kindness and respect.

Jessica Forres toured Newport Mill Middle School in Kensington where character education is part of the curriculum...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

Every morning, students hear Tim Rossini's voice over the PA system. He is a resource counselor at the school.

I DO WHAT'S CALLED THE WORDS OF WISDOM IT'S AN INSPIRATIONAL PROGRAM LOOKING AT DIFFERENT CONCEPTS LIKE MAYBE SELF-RESPECT.

His inspirational speaches always end in these words...

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY OR NOT, THE CHOICE IS YOURS AND REMEMBER EVERY DAY COUNTS AT NEWPORT MILL.

Maria Ortiz, a seventh grader, is inspired by his announcements.

MAKES US FEEL HAPPY AND HELP US MORE DURING THE SCHOOL DAYS AND YA WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES MORE.

In 2007, the middle school won the National School of Character. The award prompted Rossini along with other educators to write a book on character education for other schools to use as a guide.

ALMOST A HOW TO BOOK ON SETTING UP AND RUNNING A CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRM FOR AN ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT STARTS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO GET A CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM STARTED.

Nearly 2-thousand books have been published and have been sent out to school districts across the state of Maryland.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

__________________________________________________________

The Maryland State Department of Education has unveiled a new book that will guide schools on how to implement character education programs.

Jessica Forres explains...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

In Kensington, Christopher Anderson is the president of the PTA at Newport Mill Middle School...named a National School of Character in 2007 for its character education program.

He says his daughter...who is a student...learns about values such as treating others with respect.

ONE TIME THEY HAD A WORKSHOP ON BULLYING AND SHE ACTUALLY CAME HOME AND SAID I KNOW I WAS BULLIED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The program's success at Newport Mill prompted the state's Department of Education to introduce a book about successful district and school programs in Maryland.

Paula McCoach is the character education specialist at MSDE.

IT'S ABOUT BEING INTELLIGENT ALSO ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WHAT DECISIONS YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE. AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.

She says every school district in Maryland will receive a copy of the book.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News.

In Virginia, Fairfax County's Elections Office is urging residents...who haven't received their voter registration card... to call and verify they are in the system.

Jessica Forres reports...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

Vickie Hull is with the Office of Elections. She is registering residents to vote.

GO AHEAD AND FILL IT OUT WITH SOCIAL SECURITY, ADDRESS

Once the application is completed, she stuffs it into an envelope.

AS THE ENVELOPES GET FULL WE TAKE THEM UP TO THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AND AS THEY'RE RECEIVED THEY GET PROCESSED.

The Registrar's office is two stories up from where Hull is registering voters. That's where the General Regisrar..Rokey Suleman's office is.

He says about 70,000 voters registered in the County this year...more than half of those are new voters.

IT'S THE MOST WE'VE BASICALLY SEEN IN FAIRFAX COUNTY.

With thousands of applications to process, it can be poblematic.

WE HAVE HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THEY'VE REGISTERED TO VOTE AT CERTAIN PLACES AND WE DON'T HAVE THEIR REGISTRATION IN THE SYSTEM YET. THAT'S NOT TO SAY IT'S NOT HERE.

He urges people who haven't received their voter registration card in the mail to call the elections office.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE AND YOU'RE NOT IN THE SYSTEM, BETTER TO REGISTER TWICE THAN HOPE THAT YOU'RE IN THE STACK AND FIND OUT THAT YOU'RE NOT.

Today is the voter registration deadline for residents in Virginia and the District.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

__________________________________________________

In Virginia, Fairfax County's Office of Elections has been scrambling to register voters before the deadline.

Jessica Forres talked to residents as they registered to vote on Saturday.

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? YES]

In Fairfax County, procrastination is not the only reason why more than a hundred residents waited just two days before the deadline to register to vote.

Marvin Cabrera says he didn't have a choice.

I JUST BECAME A CITIZEN TWO DAYS AGO.

And Karen Griner

WE ACTUALLY MOVED FAIRLY RECENTLY AND JUST CHANGED OUR DMV.

On Satruday, Fairfax County's Elections Office extended its hours to give residents like Cabrera and Griner more time to register. Rokey Suleman is the General Registrar.

PEOPLE HAVE BUSY LIVES AND FAIRFAX COUNTY IS A VERY POPULOUS PLACE AND SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH TO GET AROUND SO WE WANTED TO EXTEND OUR HOURS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

The deadline for voter registration in Virginia and the District is today. In Maryland, the dealine is October 14th.

Jessica Forres WAMU

Education leaders say the meltdown of the sub-prime mortgage market has made it more difficult for students to get private loans.

Jessica Forres reports...

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO.

Lee Quinn is visiting her son...a freshman at The George Washington University. She's paid for his first semester.

WE HAVE HOME EQUITY LOANS AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL USE FOR SOME OF THIS AND I WILL WORK FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND NEVER RETIRE.

Some students aren't as fortunate.

Peter Warren with the Education Finance Council says federally guaranteed or private loans are some other options. He explains federally guaranteed loans have limits of just a few thousand dollars a year. That's chump change for a school like GW where it costs more than 20-thousand dollars a semester.

IF YOUR NEED IS BEYOND THOSE LIMITS THAN YOU NEED TAKE OUT ALTERNATE PRIVATE LOANS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IN THE PAST HOME EQUITY LOANS WERE A COMMON SOURCE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL BORROWING

But the mortgage crisis has caused many lenders to exit the student loan market. To get a loan now Warren says, the bar has been raised.

LET'S SAY LAST YEAR, YOU NEEDED 650 FICO SCORE TO QUALIFY FOR A PRIVATE STUDENT LOAN, NOW IT'S GOING TO BE MORE LIKE 750. AND SO THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS WHO QUALIFIED FOR A PRIVATE LOAN LAST YEAR, I THINK, ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND PRIVATE LOANS THIS YEAR. AND ALSO OF COURSE RATES HAVE GONE UP.

Warren says about 80 percent of students hold federally guaranteed loans and about 20 percent have private loans.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News.

_____________________________________________________

The credit crisis brought on by the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage industry has some students worried about their student loans.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

Jared Hall is a Master's student at The George Washington University. Private and government loans help finance his education.

He says he didn't have a problem getting a private student loan this year.

I GOT IT THROUGH CITIGROUP THEY'RE ONE OF THE BANKS THAT'S STILL AROUND. THAT WAS AN ADDITION TO THE GOVERNMENT LOANS.

He is worried though...about next year.

I HOPE THAT THE CREDIT DOESN'T DRY UP BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME. I STILL NEED MORE MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY AT GW BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

Peter Warren with the Education Finance Council says the mortgage crisis has caused many lenders to exit the student loan market...He says the requirements for getting a loan are getting tougher and interest rates are increasing.

I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGING AS LONG AS THIS CREDIT MARKET SITUATION EXISTS.

Even if the 700-billion dollar bail out plan is passed by the house, Bill Sheibler with the United States Student Association, says it won't help student debt.

WE'RE ALL ASKING THE QUESTION, WHERE IS OUR GOLDEN PARACHUTE. WHY ARE WE ALLOWING TO BAIL OUT WALL STREET ON THE BACKS OF STUDENTS. WHERE IS THE BAIL OUT FOR THE STUDENT DEBT AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS STUDENTS ARE FACING.

He says the average student loan debt among graduating seniors is about 20-thousand dollars.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News