Democrats to spend large amount of money to encourage Americans living abroad to vote.
The Democratic Party is taking a novel approach this election cycle by investing in registering and mobilizing voters living outside of the United States. With an estimated 1.6 million Americans abroad hailing from crucial battleground states, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is allocating $300,000 for this initiative, marking their first such investment in a presidential cycle.
These voters include military personnel, military spouses and dependents, students studying abroad, business professionals, and even “digital nomads” who work remotely from various locations. While tracking the transient nature of these expats can be challenging, recent data indicates that there are around 2 million military voters and 2.9 million non-military voting-age U.S. citizens living abroad. Despite the sizable expat population, only 1.25 million registered to vote in the 2020 election.
Democrats Abroad, the primary Democratic group responsible for engaging non-military voters residing outside the U.S., has noted a significant uptick in interest since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the political arena. This surge in enthusiasm has led to a notable increase in Americans abroad registering to vote and requesting their ballots for the upcoming election.
With over 1.62 million potential voters from battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the DNC is leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to mobilize this demographic. Vice President Harris’ candidacy has resonated strongly with many Democratic voters living abroad, inspiring them to participate more actively in the electoral process.
Despite the logistical challenges of returning ballots from overseas, absentee votes from expats have played a decisive role in past elections. Notably, the abroad ballots counted in key battleground states like Arizona and Georgia in 2020 exceeded President Biden’s margin of victory. This underscores the importance of engaging with and mobilizing American voters living abroad.
Most adult U.S. citizens residing outside the country are concentrated in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel. Returning ballots from overseas varies depending on the state, with many expats opting to use email for submissions. However, the technical aspect of mailing back ballots poses challenges in countries without a robust postal system.
Efforts by Democrats Abroad to educate and mobilize voters globally have been instrumental in increasing engagement among expat communities. The DNC’s investment in digital outreach aims to reach American citizens residing in countries with significant expat populations, ensuring that they are informed and equipped to exercise their voting rights.
Recognizing the importance of this demographic, Democrats are leveraging digital platforms and on-the-ground organizations in 190 countries to reach out to potential voters. As the deadline for mailing back ballots approaches, there is a concerted effort to inform expats about the voting process and encourage them to participate in the democratic process.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) safeguards the right of overseas ballots to be counted by every state, reinforcing the significance of engaging with and mobilizing American voters living abroad. By investing in voter registration and turnout initiatives for expat communities, the Democratic Party is committed to ensuring that every U.S. citizen has a voice in shaping the future of the nation.
