So You Moved During the Pandemic. Now Where and How Do You Vote?

But what, exactly, is a resident?

Even if you won’t be living at the address where you’re registered to vote — an apartment back in the city, for example, while you’re staying with your parents elsewhere — in the days leading up to the election, you can still vote at your permanent address.

Much of the decision comes down to whether you have an “intent to remain” at the address you’ve moved to, said Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser at Democracy Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports free and fair elections.

“It’s absolutely legal for someone to vote in a state or city they have moved from if they intend to go back there,” she said, adding that if you move shortly before the election — especially within the window of residency requirements in your new home state — you can vote at your previous address.

You may also want to consider if the state you moved to has same-day registration, which allows you to register on or before Election Day at the polls. (You will most likely need to provide proof of residency, such as a utility bill.)

One thing to keep in mind if you’re thinking about voting at your temporary residence: In some states, registering to vote can be a declaration of residency, which could complicate things if you plan to be there only temporarily.