Letter to the Editor: Overseas Americans Can Cast Their Votes from Abroad

Overseas Americans – estimated at 6.5 million eligible voters – won the right to cast their ballots from abroad in 1975, when the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) was signed into law. UOCAVA voters include US military and civilian citizens aged 18 or older by election day. In many states, this also includes US passport holders who were born overseas. Although the right to vote is guaranteed, US citizens living temporarily or permanently overseas must submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every election year in order to ensure receipt of their overseas absentee ballot. Unlike in-country absentee ballots, overseas citizens will receive their ballot by email at least 45 days before election day. 

With the presidency, entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, 11 governorships and many state and local offices in play, 2024 is an important election year, and one in which we aim to increase our participation. In the general election of 2020 – a year in which 66.8% of eligible voters went to the polls nationwide – just 17% of Americans overseas requested and returned a ballot. While this was a significant increase over 2016 participation rate of <7%, it remains far too low.

If you know someone living temporarily or permanently overseas, please share with them the information that they are eligible to vote, and that it is in their interests to do so (for one reason, all Americans, regardless of where they live, must file a federal income tax return each year). Their voting rights are best protected by registering via the FPCA.

The nonpartisan website votefromabroad.org is a helpful, user-friendly tool that will make this process quick and painless. Consult the FAQs or use the chat box to get help. Be sure to check the box requesting your ballot be sent to you by email, as Wisconsin voters must return their ballots by postal mail. College students on a study-abroad program should also register via the FPCA. 

Ann Graul

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and Barcelona, Spain