Can I vote in the US election in the state where I study or work if I’m registered in another?

According to government data there are around 161.42 million registered voters in the United States - almost half of that figure are aged between 18 and 24 and a large percentage of them are students. And while historically, the turnout for students at the polling station tends to be low (15-20 percent), the number is growing - in the 2020 elections, 66 percent of college students voted.

Follow live the US elections 2024

That said, recent analysis shows that in most states, there are fewer young people registered to vote than there were for Election Day 2020. Michigan (up 25.52%) and Nevada (18.59%) have registered more new voters since the last time around.

The majority of US colleges and universities are halfway through the Fall Semester which means that most students won’t be in their hometown when the nation heads to polling stations on Tuesday for the 2024 US presidential election. So where can students vote? And what happens if their campus address is different to their home address?

Voter registration is tied to where you live, which means that college students must register to vote in either their hometown or where they attend college - bearing in mid that residency requirements are not the same in every state. You are only allowed to vote in one state, regardless of where you live.

So for students who are at college or university far from their hometown, they must decide which is more convenient - voting at a polling place that is close to their college, or going home to vote. Generally, students usually vote wherever it is easiest. Either way you will need proof of residence.

Students who want to vote using their college address

If it’s your first time registering to vote, check the residency requirements for voting in your state. You may have to live in your college town for a certain amount of time before you can register there.

Some states will allow you to use your college ID as proof of residence, but some won’t. In those states you will need to have another form of ID to vote using your college address.

Some states allow you to ask for an absentee or mail ballot if you’re unable to vote in person or would simply prefer to vote by mail. Some states hold elections entirely by mail. Each state has its own guidelines.

To find about Voter ID requirements in each state, as well as early voting, mail-in voting, and in-person voting options, you can consult the online State Voter Information tool.

After you have confirmed your eligibility, you can register to vote in your college state. You can register to vote using the street address of the building where you live, either on or off campus. You cannot use a campus mailbox address to register, but you can use a campus mailbox as your mailing address. If you’re not sure what address to use, contact your school’s civic engagement office or the local election office.

If you are already registered to vote in your hometown, but want to update your voter registration with your college address, you can do so here.

Students who want to vote using their home address

As a student, you also have the choice to register to vote from your home address. You can then either vote from your home polling place or request to vote by absentee ballot. Remember that it is against the law to vote in more than one location.

In either case, in order to register go to Register to Vote. Complete the registration process by filling out the information in each step. At the end, print and send your registration form to your local election official.

Students who are studying outside of the US

If you are a US citizen studying at a college or university abroad, you can register to vote and request an absentee (mail) ballot by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FCPA). Then simply fill out and send in your ballot when it arrives.

Again, bear in mind that this is a much longer process than if you were in the US so allow plenty of time to request, receive, and return your ballot.

Election Day is Tuesday 5 November. Most states’ polling places open their doors around 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. but opening times vary from state to state. Most polling places will close at around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. - voters in New York have until 9 p.m. while Indiana and Kentucky will be closing the doors at 6 p.m.

So far more than 73 million ballots have already been cast, with 37.4 million ballots cast through early voting and another 32.5 votes by mail according to the University of Florida’s Electoral Lab.