Military Spouses Residency Relief Act

**guest002** · 11-12-2009, 06:19 PM

Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...president-s475

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 11, 2009
Statement by the President on S.475

Today I have signed into law S. 475, the "Military Spouses Residency Relief Act". This Act, among other things, would provide that when a service member leaves his or her home State in accord with military or naval orders, the service member's spouse may retain residency in his or her home State for voting and tax purposes, after relocating from that State to accompany the service member.

When the military orders service members to move, spouses who move with them often have to pay taxes in a new State or locality and lose the right to vote in the place considered to be home. This legislation will alleviate these and other burdens on our military families. As the Congress has recognized, and as the legislative history reflects, this legislation is an important means of maintaining the morale and readiness of our Armed Forces and significantly enhances the ability of our military to effectively recruit and retain these highly valued service personnel.

BARACK OBAMA

**Sassyclass** · 11-12-2009, 07:48 PM

I'll give him a thumbs up on this. I had no idea the spouse couldn't vote when they moved. How unpatriotic is that?

Cat

**jamie79** · 11-15-2009, 12:19 PM

I have moved lots of times and just register whereever I live. Doesnt phase me at all

**nancycg56** · 11-15-2009, 12:58 PM

I always kept my original address in NY as my addy all the while we moved around ~ never had a problem. Once we settled down here in VA, I changed it all.

I'm all for making it easier on the spouse

**Nishu** · 11-21-2009, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Sassyclass

I'll give him a thumbs up on this. I had no idea the spouse couldn't vote when they moved. How unpatriotic is that?

Cat

We can vote, we just have to register where we are or fill out absentee ballots. This bill can be helpful but imo it's of limited use. I've never changed my residency and I don't intend to.

It doesn't say it here, but in the version I read, you had to have the same state of residency as your spouse. In that case, if you meet your spouse at a duty station that is not in his/her home state, you can't use this law to keep your residency in that state unless he changes his residency to match.

My husband is from Texas. I'm from Ohio. I'm not changing my residency and neither is he so it's useless to us.