According to Teresa S. Neighbor, executive director of the Cambridge Election Commission, registering to vote establishes a Massachusetts residence.

"It says on the [voter registration] affidavit that by registering to vote here, you are claiming Massachusetts residence," Neighbor said.

And another woman who works at the Election Commission but asked to remain anonymous said she has dealt with many students who have run into problems with aid packages from their home states as a result of registering to vote in Massachusetts.

"The thing is, they can't vote in one city and be a resident in another city. If they get money from their state, that will get affected," she said.

"I know because a lot of students come here to try to vote and they find out they're having a lot of trouble with financial aid in their state and they have to go back and change their residence again when they get home," she said.

For students who are concerned about their state-funded aid packages, Case said the council will provide forms for registration and the students can make individual inquiries.

The council will turn in other students' registration forms to City Hall in Central Square before the Wednesday afternoon deadline.