Should I wait until after the election to officially change my name?
October 21, 2016 8:06 AM Subscribe
Mr Millipede and I got married in September. I am taking his last name (and moving my last name to my middle name), but I haven't gone to the social security office to do so yet because work has been very busy and I never got the chance. I now have time to go, but I thought of something: voting.
Obviously I'm registered to vote under my birth name. If I show up with a changed name that does include my birth name (Laura VeryRareOldLastName NewLastName), is that going to cause problems?
I imagine this has to be something that happens regularly. What do people do? I very much want to vote for Hillary Clinton and will be upset if I show up and can't vote because my name has changed from the time I registered.
Should I wait until November 9 to go to the social security office?
Obviously I'm registered to vote under my birth name. If I show up with a changed name that does include my birth name (Laura VeryRareOldLastName NewLastName), is that going to cause problems?
I imagine this has to be something that happens regularly. What do people do? I very much want to vote for Hillary Clinton and will be upset if I show up and can't vote because my name has changed from the time I registered.
Should I wait until November 9 to go to the social security office?
To elaborate further, if you change your name at social security, they're not going to call the elections office and change your name for you. Use your maiden name for this election, and change it for next election.
There will be a transition period where you don't know which name people know you by. It's not odd to say, 'I might still be Millipede Maidenname in your system.' Show your marriage license at that time if needed.
posted by hydra77 at 8:16 AM on October 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
There will be a transition period where you don't know which name people know you by. It's not odd to say, 'I might still be Millipede Maidenname in your system.' Show your marriage license at that time if needed.
posted by hydra77 at 8:16 AM on October 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
What state are you in and what kind of ID do you need to show? Also does your community have early voting or voting by mail?
posted by mskyle at 8:22 AM on October 21, 2016
posted by mskyle at 8:22 AM on October 21, 2016
Your profile says New York - if you're still in New York and have voted in New York before you probably won't be asked for ID at all. If your ID (driver's license or state ID) still has your birth name on it, you can show that.
Just keep using your maiden name for this election. I wouldn't even mention it at the polls. They are just interested in whether you are the Millipede who is registered to vote and who lives at Millipede's Address.
posted by mskyle at 8:30 AM on October 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Just keep using your maiden name for this election. I wouldn't even mention it at the polls. They are just interested in whether you are the Millipede who is registered to vote and who lives at Millipede's Address.
posted by mskyle at 8:30 AM on October 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Agreeing with the above - change it with Social Security now, and change it at the DMV after the election. That should change your voter registration as well, though I always send a separate registration form because I'm a teensy bit obsessive.
Do not mention any name changes at the polls until you know that your voter registration is under the new name. It will add needless complications. Personally, I'd make sure I had photo ID that also matches the voter registration, but see above re: obsessiveness.
posted by SMPA at 8:42 AM on October 21, 2016
Do not mention any name changes at the polls until you know that your voter registration is under the new name. It will add needless complications. Personally, I'd make sure I had photo ID that also matches the voter registration, but see above re: obsessiveness.
posted by SMPA at 8:42 AM on October 21, 2016
You've already gone a month without changing your name. What's another couple of weeks? There's no rush.
posted by ejs at 9:43 AM on October 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by ejs at 9:43 AM on October 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
If they do have you under OldName and your id (which they shouldn't ask for) says NewName, you can still cast a provisional ballot until they sort you out.
I personally would just wait to change your name until after because lots of times provisional ballots (like absentee ballots) are not looked at or gotten to until they need to be if the election is close. No matter what happens, you will most likely be able to vote, but if you want to make sure there are no shenanigans or proving marriage, then just wait.
posted by rmless at 10:40 AM on October 21, 2016
I personally would just wait to change your name until after because lots of times provisional ballots (like absentee ballots) are not looked at or gotten to until they need to be if the election is close. No matter what happens, you will most likely be able to vote, but if you want to make sure there are no shenanigans or proving marriage, then just wait.
posted by rmless at 10:40 AM on October 21, 2016
A friend of mine just recently changed her name and needed to re-register, despite the fact that we don't live in a voter ID state.
I would wait till after the elections just to keep life slightly less stressful than it would be if you had non-matching ID or a last-minute voter registration to worry about.
posted by Sara C. at 10:44 AM on October 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would wait till after the elections just to keep life slightly less stressful than it would be if you had non-matching ID or a last-minute voter registration to worry about.
posted by Sara C. at 10:44 AM on October 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would absolutely wait. It's only two weeks. I say this as someone who has worked the polls in Texas, which requires a photo ID to vote, and in which many, many people are required to file provisional ballots because their documents don't match our records. Your state may be different, but just wait. Honestly.
posted by Brittanie at 10:44 AM on October 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Brittanie at 10:44 AM on October 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't see any downside to waiting two weeks. Even if confusion at the polls is unlikely, I know that personally I would rest a lot easier if I knew I could avoid any just by waiting.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:47 PM on October 21, 2016
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:47 PM on October 21, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
Carry a copy (official copy, that is) of your marriage license showing your maiden name. You can use this when needed.
posted by hydra77 at 8:11 AM on October 21, 2016 [2 favorites]