Another battle is brewing in Ohio over voting rights and alleged voter suppression.

The issue surfaced in the senate version of the state transportation budget and a provision that would require new residents to obtain an Ohio driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency. The law currently asks new residents to obtain a driver’s license as soon as possible.

One way to establish residency is to register to vote. Critics of the proposed change say it will create a new and unnecessary hurdle for out-of-state college students who want to vote in Ohio.

Voter registration of college students has long been a key piece in the ground game strategies of presidential campaigns. In Ohio, even out-of-state students register to vote by declaring Ohio residency.  But under the senate approved provision those out-of-state students, once registered to vote, would have 30 days to surrender their out-of-state drivers license and get an Ohio driver’s license. If they have a car, they’d also be required to register the vehicle in Ohio.

Rep. Kathleen Clyde, a democrat from Kent says the provision would be illegal. “I believe this is a measure aimed at making voter registration and voting more difficult,” Clyde said.

Ohio State University student Leah Lacure, a senior from Rochester New York, says the change will also cause an undue financial burden. “It could cost up to $160,” Lacure said. “That is the cost of two textbooks that I’m now having to pay just to vote.”

But John Fortney, a spokesman for Senate Republicans said the provision is not about voting, it’s about residency. “Any attempt to say it’s a poll tax … or voter intimidation – that is strictly week political spin and they’re not being honest with Ohioans,” Fortney said.

Both sides are spinning. “Clearly they can spin it all they want but it’s to intimidate students from voting,” said Peg Rosenfield of The League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted said it’s irresponsible to suggest the measure has anything to do with intimidation or voter suppression. he says it’s about establishing requirements for residency. ” If you’re going to have the privilege of being an Ohio resident you have the responsibility of being an Ohio resident and our read of this is that there’s no difference – all it does is set a time frame for that of 30 days.”