Under Virginia law, an out-of-state college student can move into a dorm in August and vote in our elections by November. They don’t pay taxes here, they’re not invested long-term, and most leave the day they graduate — yet they get to shape policies the rest of us live with for years.
Same-day registration has supercharged this. A student from New York or California can show up, register, and vote on the spot. In tight college-town races, that can completely flip local outcomes.
This isn’t about stopping anyone from voting. It’s about fairness. People who are here for eight months and gone the next shouldn’t get more influence over Virginia’s future than the folks who actually call this place home. Virginia needs to take a hard look at how same-day registration and student residency are impacting our elections.
Notes: Virginia allows in-person “same-day” registration + voting, but with a proviso: the ballot is provisional.
This option is available after the regular registration deadline (which is ~11 days before the election) and up to and including Election Day.
When you register same-day, you must vote a provisional ballot — that means your registration will be reviewed later to confirm eligibility.
If you attend college in Virginia but are from another state, you can use your Virginia campus address (like a dorm) as your residential address when registering.
Virginia Department of Elections
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, a dorm or college address is acceptable.
Legally, you must pick one place to register — you can’t vote in both your home state and in Virginia.
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