# Where will I be eligible to vote?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-i-be-eligible-to-vote/458688>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 3, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-i-be-eligible-to-vote/458688 "2008-08-03T07:21:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-i-be-eligible-to-vote/458688/1 "2008-08-03T07:21:32Z")

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I’m moving to a different state soon, and I’m not sure where I’ll be able to vote this coming November. I’ve never even voted before, actually, as I just didn’t care between Kerry or Bush.

I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life. I think I’m registered here, but I’m not positive, and I wouldn’t be able to tell you in which district/county. I’ve moved alot within the state. The first of September, or thereabouts, I’m moving to Texas.  
Will I be able to register to vote in Texas for the upcoming presidential election? I’ve heard rumors that you have to reside in a state for six months before you can register to vote there. Will I have to get an absentee ballot from Michigan? How do I even do that?

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-i-be-eligible-to-vote/458688/2 "2008-08-03T12:03:37Z")

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[QUOTE=Captain\_C]  
Will I be able to register to vote in Texas for the upcoming presidential election? I’ve heard rumors that you have to reside in a state for six months before you can register to vote there. Will I have to get an absentee ballot from Michigan? How do I even do that?  
[/QUOTE]  
There is no period of residency required in Texas.

[Texas Voting](http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/largepamp.shtml)

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-i-be-eligible-to-vote/458688/3 "2008-08-03T12:32:32Z")

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You can register to vote when you get your driver’s license here. You don’t declare a party. You’ll get the card in the mail about two weeks later.

So, if you register by October, you’ll be fine for November.

There is a period of early voting, which I strongly recommend.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-i-be-eligible-to-vote/458688/4 "2008-08-03T16:40:44Z")

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[QUOTE=Fear Itself]  
There is no period of residency required in Texas.

[Texas Voting](http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/largepamp.shtml)  
[/QUOTE]

There’s no residency requirement, but you do need to register at least 30 days prior to the election.