I wanted to register to vote in the primaries, but I’m unsure what I should put as my home address. I’m a going to college in my home state, but in a different county from my hometown. Should I register to vote with my dorm address or my home address? Does it really matter?
Generally, you want to register to vote where you will be on election day (or during early voting if applicable). If you register with an address where you are not present, you need to get an absentee ballot.
If your state has voting rules like photo ID requirements, you may have to make sure all of that is in order (e.g. is your college photo ID accepted? if not, does your driver’s license or state ID have to have your voting address? etc.) to avoid being disenfranchised on election day.
But what if I want to change my address in the middle of the election cycle? I want to register with my dorm address because that is where I will be for the coming election, and I want to register before this school year ends in order to vote in the primaries. But I’ll have my current dorm address for the upcoming primaries and a different one for the general election in November, when a new school year will have started. Can I re-register to change my address in that case?
Can you vote absentee in your home county?
This will all depend on the voting and registration requirements in your particular state.
My D will register over the summer with her home address, and will vote absentee.
When you change address, you can register again.
Why not just look up the voter registration and voting information for your state on the web? Or name the state if you want others to help you.
I’m in California, if that helps.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
More information on actual voting (at polling place or absentee):
Glad to hear you’re planning to vote! Make sure to read the rules carefully - some college students in my state had their registrations invalidated due to bureaucratic technicalities. If your address is likely to change between the primary and the general election, it might be simpler to register with your home address and vote via absentee ballot.
Thank you everyone for the responses! I think it might just be easier for me to register with my home address and get an absentee ballot.