ICYMI: A Guide for Americans on Voting From Abroad

Original Drew Pittock theBeijinger

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As renowned political analyst and author Larry J. Sabato wrote in his book Pendulum Swing, "Every election is determined by the people who show up." Unfortunately, for the nearly nine million civilian Americans currently living abroad – roughly 80,000 of which reside in China – the thought of overseas voting either seems too burdensome, too insignificant, or they’re simply unaware that they can, in Sabato’s words, "show up." As a result, voter turnout amongst expat communities is dismal, with roughly seven percent of eligible voters participating in the 2016 election.

On the same token, overseas voters are largely credited with tipping the scales in George W. Bush’s favor during the infamous election of 2000. Essentially, Al Gore won the presidency by 202 votes based on the ballots accumulated by the Nov 26 deadline. Yet as we all know, Al Gore did not become president, and that’s down to a 537 vote margin resulting from delayed overseas ballots. Which is to say, despite representing a fraction of the US electorate, overseas expat voters have, on occasion, played an outsized role in deciding races up and down the ticket.

I don't think this poor man's eyes could take another election season riddled with hanging chads

So with the 2020 presidential election now just three months away – and ballots due out in a mere 19 days – we figured we'd take a quick look at the various ways that you can vote from abroad, and which states allow for which methods of ballot submission. And remember, the election might be in November, but you can start the voting process as soon as you receive your ballot!

First and foremost, if you vote in Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or Wisconsin, your ballot must be returned by postal mail or courier, meaning you'll have to use a service like China Post, DHL, SF Express, etc., or the mail system at the US Embassy. If you're voting in Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, or Oklahoma, you can submit your ballot by fax. And if your state hasn't been listed, then you're in luck! Cause you can submit your ballot via email (with Iowa, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Wyoming being the most recent states to amend their rules in light of COVID-19).

TL;DR above? Here it is in flyer form

Secondly, Vote From Abroad (VFA) is a non-partisan group – albeit organized by Democrats Abroad (DA) – dedicated to helping members of both parties, as well as Independents and those who throw their weight behind third party candidates, get out their vote. VFA shares none of the data it collects with DA, but merely serves as a tool through which expats can navigate the murky waters of overseas voting.

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Through VFA, you can submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which acts as both your voter registration – should you be unregistered – and your ballot request form. Likewise, although you have to submit an FPCA each calendar year, it covers you for every election in that year: i.e., primary, general, and special elections. It’s important to note that every state has different rules regarding what can be mailed, faxed, or emailed, however, VFA has a comprehensive list of state requirements.

A short primer on how VFA works

To be sure, an FPCA isn’t required to vote overseas, and many people will simply opt for their standard absentee ballot, however, filing an FPCA ensures a number of extra protections such as challenges in close elections (ballots that don’t have a corresponding FPCA are easier to challenge in contested races), and a mandatory 45-day window between when you receive your blank ballot and the deadline to return it (states, on their own, vary with regards to when they have to mail you a ballot).

Using the post or a courier? Here's what you can expect to pay, and how long it'll take

If you’re a Republican or Independent and the idea of using a service tangentially connected to Democrats Abroad has you worried, fear not, the government’s non-partisan Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provides many of the same services as VFA without any of the party affiliations. However what the FVAP lacks due to bureaucratic sluggishness, VFA more than makes up for with its dedicated team of volunteers. Likewise, VFA offers additional services such as free faxing and paid-postage envelopes.

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or holding out hope that Joe Exotic will be released from prison and launch another long-shot bid for the presidency, it is your right to participate in the game of electoral politics, no matter where you live. So get out there and vote!

To find out more, click 'Read more' below