Swinging the vote at school.

• Author: Appiah, Kwame Anthony
• Position: Ethical Dilemma - Voting - Excerpt from "The Ethicist" in the New York Times Magazine - Excerpt

Is it ethical for our 18-year-old to register to vote at her swing state college rather than her home state, where the election isn't expected to be close?--Kate H.

IN ANY ELECTION, there are rules about how people who move regularly between one place and another may vote. Many students declare the place where they go to school to be their principal residence and are legally entitled to vote there. As long as your...