Obama grants military spouses residency rights

Military spouses now have the right to retain residency for voting and tax purposes after President Obama signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act into public law Nov. 11.

The president signed the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act amendment to allow a service member’s spouse to keep their home-state residency when accompanying their military husband or wife under orders.

“This act, among other things, would provide that when a service member leaves his or her home state in accord with military orders, the service member’s spouse may retain residency in his or her home state for voti...