You have to register to vote at one address.
- When you get your ballot, you will not just vote for president of the United States. You will also vote for statewide offices like governor or senator, legislative offices like representative to the U.S. House, and local offices like school board representative and mayor. These people are elected in particular geographic jurisdictions, and only the people who live there can vote for them. That's why you have to choose just one address as your residence for voting--that choice determines which candidates will be on your ballot.
If you have both a permanent address and a school-year address, you get to choose which residence you want to use for voting. There is no right or wrong answer, and you can change your registration before any applicable deadlines. Just make sure you only actually vote in one place. (Voting twice in the same election is a felony.)
I will be living in San Diego and I know I want to register and vote with my San Diego address.
I know I want to register at my parents/home address elsewhere in California.
I know I want to register at my parents/home address in another state.
I think I'm registered but I want to check.