Residency Question

I was under the impression that a person had to live in a state for a period of time before they could change their residency to that state. However, it seems that a number of politicans have changed their residency very rapidly. If anyone is looking for an example of this, I have two. First, I have recently heard that Elizabeth Dole ran for Senate and won the seat in North Carolina even though she had never lived in North Carolina. Second, their was a bit of a contraversy during the first run of George Bush and Dick Cheney in that Dick Cheney suddenly changed his residency from Texas to Wyoming. So, does a person have to live in a state for a time before they can change their residency, or is that just a requirement for colleges? I know that colleges have residency rules in which students have to live in a state for a period of time before they can claim residency. So, what is the rule regarding residency?

For in-state tuition, you usually how to show a sincere and good-faith effort to be a resident. Bank account, voter registration, driver's license, etc., etc. Because you want a perk of some kind, and you'd easily lie to get it (they think). It makes the sheer number of insincere efforts lacking good faith increase greatly; but since they have to implement the rule as a process, as a check list, "sincerity" and "good faith" can be imitated.

For other things, "resident" depends on whether you live there. Or have other connections there. It varies a lot. For example, I can't get a TX drivers license, I don't think, unless I'm a resident. At least not legally. How do I show residence? Easy. I provide an addess. I reside, therefore I'm resident, therefore I'm a resident.

So you look at the rules. Are there requirements and restrictions on residency before running for office in a given state? It makes generalizations and broad claims very dicey; it takes actual research.