As has been mentioned elsewhere, my daughter this year began attending university in NYC. She did register to vote in California in May (and voted in the primary in June, I proudly add), and this week received in our mailbox a sample ballot/application to vote absentee.
I discussed with her whether she wanted me to forward it to her, and her response was somewhat equivocal. Basically, she doesn’t see that she has a vested interest in the outcome of the California election, either in terms of which candidates are elected or which ballot initiatives are passed (she’s essentially majoring in “Becoming a New Yorker”), and she said she’s comfortable taking November 4 off, as it were.
Me, I’m not so comfortable with that. While I certainly don’t want her to exercise a franchise in two states, I do want her in the habit of voting whenever she is eligible to do so. With that in mind, I asked her to look into the legality/practicality of registering as a voter in the state of New York.
She has not yet reported her findings (or whether she has any to report), so I’m going to ask knowledgeable Dopers: Does New York state make provision for college students from out of state to become registered voters in NY, and exercise their franchise as residents of that state? If so, how cumbersome is the process?
TIA.
New York Student voting guide http://fairelectionsnetwork.com/webfm_send/133
This guide might be useful. Note, the need to register by 10/10.
All states are required to do this. It is her constitutional right to vote in New York if she wants to.
Thanks. I’ve emailed that link to her.
If she doesn’t want to vote in California because she regards herself as a New Yorker, or wants to become more of a New Yorker, then she should, if possible, register in New York. Not voting at all doesn’t establish her as a New Yorker; it just, at most, establishes her as a non-Californian.
Her residency is what establishes her as a New Yorker or a Californian. If she doesn’t want to vote, she doesn’t want to vote.
As a new voter in New York (If she chooses to be one) she will be required to show a photo ID the first time she votes. This is not required of people who have voted once or more previously.
FTR, I’m in Massachusetts right now but received a California ballot in the mail and intend to send it in. Considering both are blue states I prefer to vote in California as I am more in tune with the issues there and wish to vote for Jerry Brown in his last election. Now if it was a swing state-such as Iowa-the situation would be different.
BTW, to the OP: congratulations on your daughter going to college.
Thanks, guy. Hope your experience is proving challenging and rewarding.
It’s certainly keeping you off the Dope, for the most part! :D.
I have no idea if this information is good or not, but this document is not a product of the state of New York, and to me that makes its information questionable.
Here is the official state voting site. You can browse through that if you like to find relevant information.