During this whole van life experience I've been constantly in a state of worry. I try not to, but it's just my normal state of mind. One directly-related van life worry is lack of a residential address. This is a topic common with nomads. Many use the adddresses of friends or relatives, but I never wanted to impose mail management on anyone. The fear is without a residential address the government could take away one's driver's license. As someone who lives in their vehicle, that would be really bad! How do you register to vote if you don't actually live anywhere? How do you become a resident in any state if you don't have a permanent, residential address?
Domicile. One can have various residences in different states, but only one domicile. Snowbirds do this. My first step was to research my chosen state to find out their criteria and definition. In Arizona you must be able to verify one of these: 1) you work in the state, 2) you live at least seven months a year in the state, 3) you pay state taxes, 4) you are registered to vote in the state. As added evidence, it helps to switch all your business relationships to the state: doctor, dentist, lawyer, bank, insurance, mailing address, etc. I've done all of this, however, my bank pulled out of Arizona recently so I am bankless. Other than that I am a legal resident with my domicile in Arizona and I can use these facts to my advantage as proof.
Voter registration. I attempted four times in the last six months to register to vote using my new virtual mailbox. The first three times were online and ignored. It felt like voter suppression and I make sure on my applications I do not claim a political party! I called the recorder's office and asked. Their only offer was to send me another application. I told her I already filled out applications both paper and online. She informed me there will be a representative at a library in March who will be assisting with registration and early voting. OK!
I arrived, waited in line and filled out another application. I asked, "If I live in a van, am I not allowed to vote?" They had me get in a different line. I think it was the "troublemaker" line. I really had no hope.
My turn came and I once again stressfully asked, "Can I vote if I don't have a residential address?"
She asked, "When you are staying in the city, what are the nearest cross streets?" I told her and she wrote it down on my application. She looked up the address for the nearest post office to those cross streets. OK! It seems I am officially living on the streets! I know I'm houseless, but I think now I am considered homeless! (Later I checked my voter registration online and they changed that address to the post office nearest my virtual mailbox address!??? I have no idea....)
Driver's License. This one was the scariest. I've heard all kinds of bad stories about the government demanding your driver's license back. I attempted to change from my UPS address to my new virtual address. It accepted it but the little clause at the bottom threatening me with jail time if any of my information was a lie gave me pause. I avoided ordering a new driver's license with my new virtual address, but then voter registration people said if I don't have my voter registration card with me, the address on my driver's license needs to match the address in the voter registration records. Really? Cross streets? What do I do? I tried ordering a new license anyway and I got the message, "Please contact the MVD directly." OH JEEZ! I'm flagged. I'm so in trouble!
I decided I needed to figure this out. I went to one of the third-party MVD offices, but their computers were down. I stressed all night and the next morning I went to the main MVD office and their computers were down! Third time is a charm and I went back, no line which I saw as a good omen. The woman looked at me like I was stupid when I told her I don't have a residential address and I live in a van. Finally she said, go through that door. I was placed at a computer and one of their staff members came on after a very short wait. I explained (for the fifth time) my predicament and babbled all kinds of worry about voter's registration assigning me cross streets and post office addresses.
He looked at my record and said, "Do you want to use your mailing address as your residential address?"
I replied, "That would make my life a lot easier as long as I don't go to jail for lying about the mailing address being my residential address."
He said, "Your mailing address is now your residential address and that's the address that will be on your license." They didn't care!
I asked, "Why did the website make me come in when I tried to order another license."
He said, "To update your photo. They like having recent photos."
Jeez! My new photo makes me look like a troll.
Why was I in such a panic thinking not only they would take my current driver's license away and then throw me in jail for driving without a license? Heck, why did I worry about this for over a year? I really need to stop worrying so much!!
So bottom line...nomads are homeless. American citizens who are homeless can get driver's licenses and they can vote even without a residential address!
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