Okay, but there is a plethora of problems that I don't see a simple solution for. How do you prove you're nomading primarily in California? Or at least long term enough to have say in local politics.. and what is sufficient? 180 days a year? So if you move around 3 states you have no residency..? Voting is the right you get.. but how about the obligations? Are you on the hook for state income taxes?
There are additional issues.. like say getting served a jury summons
Having a registered address is a bit of clunky solution to a host of problems.
I've lived a decade abroad and I honestly often have zero understanding of my legal status in the US. I can sort of figure out my status with the IRS - but for instance, am I still a resident of California? (the last state I lived in) Can I vote for state issues there? Can I renew my driver's license there? Do I need to pay taxes there?
Am I stateless and have no way to get a license to use when I go back for Christmas? It's all a weird vague greyzone. For instance I have a license registered with a family member's address.. but I ignore jury summons entirely
>am I still a resident of California? (the last state I lived in)
Obligatory IANAL.
My layman understanding is that that generally is the case; you are a resident of the last State you resided in prior to becoming an expat.
Most people get around this by asking a friend or family member to use their address. This probably isn't completely legal, but it's not like there are problems significant enough that arise from this that someone in government would actually care.
To use a somewhat similar situation, AFAIK at least some things tend to be defined when you have multiple homes, or live in multiple countries : there tend to be minimum durations for living somewhere that give you rights and/or duties.
Of course it's something harder to implement for true nomads, but some framework is already there. (And there's typically framework for nomads too already, though they historically do tend to be treated as very low class. As a fun fact, the concept of identity papers comes in large part from factory owners which tried to prevent otherwise nomad workers to flee bad working conditions.)
There are additional issues.. like say getting served a jury summons
Having a registered address is a bit of clunky solution to a host of problems.
I've lived a decade abroad and I honestly often have zero understanding of my legal status in the US. I can sort of figure out my status with the IRS - but for instance, am I still a resident of California? (the last state I lived in) Can I vote for state issues there? Can I renew my driver's license there? Do I need to pay taxes there?
Am I stateless and have no way to get a license to use when I go back for Christmas? It's all a weird vague greyzone. For instance I have a license registered with a family member's address.. but I ignore jury summons entirely