IN.gov - Skip Navigation

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.

Election Division > Voter Information Portal > College Students College Students

Under Indiana law, each person who applies to register to vote must state the address of their "permanent residence." Permanent residence means where the person has their ‘permanent home and principal establishment" and where, when the person is away, the person has the "intention of returning."

A person can only have one permanent residence under Indiana law. However, where a person's permanent residence is located will depend on the facts of their situation and their intentions.

For some, but not all, college students, their permanent residence will be the address that they traveled from to attend school.

For other college students, who have no intention of returning to that address, their permanent residence will be in the community where they are attending school.

In short, there is no rule on legal residence that applies to all college students. Each case and each individual is different.

It is a violation of election law to challenge a voter solely on the basis that: (1) the voter is enrolled in an educational institution or; (2) the voter’s address on the registration record is at an address which is housing provided for students by an educational institution. (IC 3-5-4.5-2)

As a first-time voter in Indiana, you will be required to present documents at the polls that confirm your residence address if you registered by mail. Acceptable documents include:

  1. Indiana Driver’s License or Indiana State Identification Card, with the voter’s current name and address
  2. Any current and valid photo ID that contains the voter’s current name and address
  3. A current utility bill, with the voter’s current name and address
  4. A bank statement, with the voter’s current name and address
  5. Government check with the voter’s current name and address
  6. Paycheck with the voter’s current name and address
  7. Other government document that shows voter’s current name and address

NOTE: This is in addition to the photo ID requirement.  For more information please visit, http://www.photoid.in.gov/.