<p>I assume a kid at college will vote in his/her home state (by mail) rather than in the state where the college locates, especially when the home state is a battleground. If the student is to register to vote in the new state, will that change his/her dependency for tax purpose, college finance and the like?</p>
<p>My son is registered where he goes to college. Doesn’t effect our taxes, his being a dependent or his FA. His vote will count more in the state where he goes to college than our home state. </p>
<p>My niece was in college in Ohio (not her home state) during the 2004 election. Almost all the kids at her school voted there, not in their home state. </p>
<p>They even made national news because there wasn’t enough voting machines and the kids had to stand on line - some for as much as 8 hours or so - to vote. A lot of them wanted to bag it but their parents where calling them on their cells telling them not to dare get out of line. </p>
<p>[Onslaught</a> of Kenyon students voting makes national headlines - News Room - Kenyon College](<a href=“http://www.kenyon.edu/x22499.xml]Onslaught”>http://www.kenyon.edu/x22499.xml)</p>
<p>Yeah, where you register doesn’t affect dependency/residency or anything like that. Just where you can vote.</p>
<p>It might also affect where you can be called for jury duty.</p>
<p>Pennsylvania is potentially battleground, even though it hasn’t voted for a Republican president for 24 years, so our son will do an absentee ballot from his OOS college. Our daughter, OTOH, realized that she should also be doing an absentee ballot for PA but right after moving to Washington DC she registered to vote there. For our son, we only talked about where his vote would count the most, nothing else.</p>
<p>In some state jury pools are drawn from the lists created by voter registrations. It is easier for students to get out of jury duty if they are studying far enough away to make serving on that jury a hardship.</p>
<p>Responses so far made me feel easier as I don’t want us get into any trouble. As to whom the kid is to vote for, I have no idea and I won’t ask because participation is what is important, battleground or not.</p>
<p>Make sure to carefully read the rules for voting in that state. I registered by mail in my home city but even though I’ve voted in person in non-presidential elections, I still need to drive home in November to vote in person. The laws are too complicated.</p>
<p>I just now got back from the board of elections where I filled out the paperwork to get my sons’ absentee ballots mailed to them at their schools. We are in NC, a big battleground state! Both kids are in NC schools. My youngest told me there is a big push on his campus to get everyone registered.</p>
<p>My son will register in his college state (soon). It does mean he won’t get to vote in any June elections that happen here when he’s on break which is unfortunate. But it will be exciting to physically go to a poll for his first election. Our state summons very frequently for jury duty and doesn’t accept living in another state as a reason not to serve unless you can prove residency. Voter registration is the only way he can prove residency since he won’t have a drivers license from that state or a utility bill. Neither state is a battleground.</p>
<p>Romani - particularly in a federal election, they are required to let you vote absentee. That can either be done by mail or can be done early in person. There should be someone on campus who can walk you through the process - if you go to a local campaign office, they should be able to assist you as well. If you are in Michigan, you should not have to appear in person to vote - as long as you have voted your first time at any level in person, you can vote by mail. Per the state website [SOS</a> - Voter Information Center](<a href=“http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_11619-123989--,00.html]SOS”>http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_11619-123989--,00.html)
I know some localities (in any state) will do what they can to make it difficult, but you shouldn’t have to return home, particularly if it gets in the way of school. It sounds like someone wants you to not bother - don’t give them the satisfaction!</p>
<p>I’m happy to read that so many college kids are intending to vote. We place a high priority on getting our kids registered as soon as they turn 18, and really encourage them to vote in every election they can - and to know what the issues are.</p>
<p>DD1 will be voting absentee in WI (goes to school in IA). Her vote will be more important there.</p>
<p>DS is still in-state, but wants to change his voting to his new county. There is a Congressional race that he cares about, but it is possible he will be told that he needs to keep his permanent residency in our current county. His ID doesn’t match his new address, so he doesn’t want to be sent away on the day of the election, so he will probably just vote absentee.</p>
<p>MizzBee, for PA I think college IDs are on the list of approved ID, so that might help if he wants to vote at college. I am an elections judge and hoping to get more clarification before the November election on all this ID stuff. Both my kids will be voting absentee here in their home district. D has not yet changed her drivers license to DC, so she still votes here (and we need her to this time!)</p>
<p>CT, then the person at the SOS was misinformed. Absolutely not surprised in the least. If the drive was longer than it is, I’d fight for absentee. After many screw ups this year in my state, I’m more comfortable voting in person.</p>
<p>I should add that “home” is only an hour or so away. Won’t interfere and I will make darn sure I’m there to be counted :)</p>
<p>S1 never voted in our home state. He registered in his college state ¶ since he could & his vote was more important there in 2006 and 2008. He’s now registered where he goes to grad school.</p>
<p>S2 has voted absentee since he’s been in college. He went to college in DC where college dorms do not count as legal residences. He’s now graduated, but hasn’t changed his driver’s license (like mamabear’s D) and will still vote here by absentee ballot. He was called for jury duty here 2 years ago, so he’s safe for awhile longer.</p>
<p>Good - would hate to see your vote not counted, whoever it will be for! I can’t say whether it’s intentional or not, but some do whatever they can to keep students (and others) from exercising their right to vote, instead of instilling the idea that it is a responsibility as well as a right. Pass word along to your friends - some may be in the same situation, but farther from home (and I hope none of you have to stand in line 8 hours).</p>
<p>I recommend you check the residency rules for both states and then decide. States vary widely on these rules.</p>
<p>I’m not sure where the jury pool gets names from, but it is not necessarily from voters registries. I am not a registered voter (not a citizen) but have received a jury summons in the past. Wherever they got my name from, it was not from a voter registry. (couldn’t actually serve on the jury due to not being a citizen)</p>