How does this work?
Why do votes count more in some states?
Do I need a driver's license from the state where I want to vote?
Wow, the registration deadlines are really close—is there still time?
Are there any issues with registering to vote in my school state?
What if I'm on a scholarship?
What if I'm already to registered to vote in a different state?
How do we decide which states count more?
Is it wrong for students to be able to choose where they vote?
But is it wrong to choose based on where their vote counts more?
Can I vote in more than one state?
Who made this website?
How does this work? In 1979, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that students have the right to vote in their school state or home state.1 We help students register to vote where they will have the most impact.
Why do votes count more in some states? Votes count more in swing states because of the electoral college. For example, if you live in Alabama, a state which usually votes Republican, your vote is unlikely to swing the election. However, the 2000 election was decided by about 500 votes in Florida—and these votes counted more.
Do I need a driver's license from the state where I want to vote? No, in most states, any driver's license, passport, or government ID is accepted. You will need a proof of address in the state where you want to vote (e.g. utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, etc.). Note: Please check state-by-state details at Rock the Vote.
Wow, the registration deadlines are really close—is there still time? Yes, as long as you register before the deadline. Please tell your friends about CountMore.org now so they don't miss the deadlines.
Are there any issues with registering to vote in my school state? The vast majority of students will not have trouble registering where they go to school—after all, on-campus voter registration is a common practice. However, some counties and election officials have confusing and sometimes restrictive rules about the requirements for registering to vote at school. If you're unsure, The Brennan Center for Justice has a detailed description of state-by-state requirements.
What if I'm on a scholarship? Students with scholarships or tuition that require residency should check with their financial aid office before registering to vote in their home state. For example, if you have a scholarship that requires California residency, you should ensure that registering to vote in a different state will not affect your status. Note: this does not apply to recipients of federal financial aid and does not affect the vast majority of students. The Brennan Center for Justice has a detailed description of the cases where registering to vote in a new state can affect your financial aid or tuition.
What if I'm already registered to vote in a different state? It's not a problem as long as you meet the registration deadline in the new state.
How do we decide which states count more? First, we categorize states into the following tiers:
- Tipping Point State: States that the non-partisan polling website FiveThirtyEight.com identifies as "Tipping Point States" that are more than 10% likely to tip the election. These states are currently: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, Colorado, and Florida.
- Margin < 5%: States where pollster.com is reporting less than 5% polling difference or the 2004 election margin was less than than 5%. These states are currently: Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
- Margin < 10%: States where pollster.com is reporting less than 10% polling difference or the 2004 election margin was less than than 10%. These states are currently: Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, and Washington.
- All other states.
Then, our algorithm compares the two states and recommends the state in the highest tier. In the case of a tie, we declare a toss up.
Note: Algorithm data was last sampled on 9/26/2008 and may change over time.
Is it wrong for students to be able to choose where they vote? Students live in two places: they spend more time at school but they have strong connections at home. We think it's natural for students to choose where to vote—and the U.S. Supreme Court agrees. After all, snowbirds who live in Florida during the winter get to choose where they vote. In most states it only takes 30 days for a non-student to establish voting residency. We believe it is discriminatory to not provide the same privilege to students.
But is it wrong to choose based on where their vote counts more? Each student will chose where they vote for different reasons. Some people may only vote where they go to school if they don't plan on returning home. Others may know they are returning home and choose to vote there. For students who aren't sure, knowing where your vote counts more is useful information.
Wasn't there some controversy in Virginia about this recently? Yes, Virginia issued two incorrect releases warning students of financial consequences if they registered at school. The official Virginia voting information for students website states that students must "have a physical location [in Virginia] where they intend to stay for an unlimited time" and can change their intention at any time. Read the full New York Times article.
Can I vote in more than one state? Are you kidding? Uh... NO!
Who made this website? A small team of folks in Seattle at a civic software company called Front Seat. We believe every college student should vote—and know where their vote counts more!