A question has arisen during this summer’s water district campaigns.
A part-time resident in one of the districts asked about where voters may register. “Voters must register at their residence address,” said Rebecca Spencer, Riverside County Registrar of Voters.
The person asking the question has homes in San Diego and here. During a discussion with one of the candidates, this individual was encouraged to register to vote in Riverside County during this election.
When the person responded that they lived in San Diego and wanted to continue to vote in those local elections, the candidate replied that the voter could re-register in San Diego after the Aug. 25 election.
While individuals may have homes in more than one area, they have to choose which location is their primary residence and register to vote only there, according to Elections Coordinator Leticia Flores, Riverside County Registrar of Voters.
The California Elections Code, section 349 defines residence and domicile for registration:
349. (a) “Residence” for voting purposes means a person’s domicile.
(b) The domicile of a person is that place in which his or her habitation is fixed, wherein the person has the intention of remaining, and to which, whenever he or she is absent, the person has the intention of returning. At a given time, a person may have only one domicile.
(c) The residence of a person is that place in which the person’s habitation is fixed for some period of time, but wherein he or she does not have the intention of remaining. At a given time, a person may have more than one residence.
Monday, Aug. 10, is the last date to register or to change registration for the Aug. 25 vote-by-election.
