How To Vote As an American Abroad (and why)

Are you leaving the country depending on who wins the U.S. election? 🇺🇸 More than a third of all Americans want to LEAVE the United States, and many already have. There are more than 9 million US citizens living abroad and at least 6 million of them can vote in US elections. The problem is, they don't.

As few as 3% of Americans abroad turn out to vote each year compared to 66% of people stateside. But if they did, it would swing elections.

The number of US citizens living overseas make up the 11th largest state in the country - and that doesn’t include 2 million military members and government employees or the millions of people who slow travel, retired abroad, or live like digital nomads.

So why don’t Americans abroad vote? Well the main reason is because people don’t know they can (although now you do, since you’re watching this video). 🙂

How to vote from abroad in the U.S. elections:

Join Your Political Party Abroad:

Living Abroad: 🌍

Watch next: 👀
The World’s First Internet Country is Coming
Top 10 Countries To Live Abroad
Top 8 English Speaking Countries for Expats
Why Are Countries CANCELLING Their Golden Visa Programs?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:24 US Voters Abroad
1:07 Why don't American Expats Vote?
1:38 US Expat Impact on Bush-Gore Election
2:28 Losing Your Freedoms Abroad
2:50 Taxes, Social Security, and Medicare
4:04 How To Vote From Abroad
5:00 Democrats and Republicans Abroad
5:50 Digital Country and Internet Passport

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👱🏻‍♀️ About: Kristin Wilson is the author of Digital Nomads For Dummies, the host of Badass Digital Nomads Podcast, and known as Traveling with Kristin on YouTube. She's traveled to more than 60 countries and has been helping people move overseas since 2005.

PS: This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not consulting or advice. Video descriptions may contain affiliate or refer-a-friend links for products I use and recommend. Thanks for supporting the channel!

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#uselections #livingabroad #votingoverseas

[goldvideo]

I voted last week from abroad and the State of Washington (where I still have residence), made it super easy to do it via email.

[timmaloney]

Valuable unbiased information, Thank you Kristin .

[GHK-jyhv]

Great unbiased information. Thank you.

[joannehaas]

Thank you for this very fair and nonpartisan look as to why US citizens living abroad should vote. As a person who is federally trained and helps citizens abroad exercise their right to vote, I appreciate you bringing awareness to this issue. No matter what side of the aisle, there are problems that we have as citizens abroad that affect us all, as you well detailed in your video. Unless we state voting in greater numbers, the government has no reason to pay attention to our needs. There is help out there for those who want to vote from abroad. It is easier than you think and in many states the entire process can be done via electronic (email, online upload/download, fax) means. And yes fax - there are apps for that!

[Maestra_D]

Timely and informative. Thanks for using your platform for this extremely relevant and critical public service. Your research and even handed approach are always greatly appreciated. I hope you get lots of eyes and ears in this!

[kirstenveneziano]

Thank you for educating us on such an important topic!

[chrishamlin]

I left America 5 years ago. Best move I ever made. I'm done pretending that elections matter in America.

[stevecochrane]

Thanks, Kristin! I am Canadian (so no horse in this race), but my wife is American, and she volunteers with Vote From Abroad. They are funded by the Democrat Party, but they assist voters in all States and territories regardless of their political leanings (or lack thereof). Recently, many Americans (and others) have been moving to Valencia, Spain (where we are), and they are excited about voting this year.

[AdamGordon]

I know people considering moving no matter the winner. I voted when I was teaching in South Korea.

By the way, thank you for being neutral while sharing this.

[SeekingSoftAuDventure]

Thank you for raising the FATCA issue. US tax filing is complicated enough as it is! I left in 1999. Colorado makes is really easy to vote abroad. My ballot is ready to download now!

[yetithruhiker]

6:07 I served as the squadron voting officer. It was a tough sell to get young people interested in voting...even though the procedures have been simplified over the years and we did a lot of outreach...

Thank you Kristin.

[terryashley]

I'm leaving the US in February 2025 regardless of who wins the presidency. I can't afford to live a good life here without continuing to work.

[TheWanderingHartz]

Thank you Kristin, this is really good know! We'll be sharing your video with our newsletter subscribers.

[awcabot]

Excellent work, Kristen! And greatly appreciated that you keep to the FACTS, without any political party bias.

[janhertzberg]

Thanks Kristin...great video. As Americans, seems that we sure love to complain!

[Earthshakes]

We got our mail-in ballots last week! Who you vote for is your choice, but please exercise that right. Because even if you think it no longer matters to you, it does. The US is a global powerhouse, and how Americans vote does impact political movements beyond its borders. We’re all better when we work together. And although I won’t be returning to the States, I still have an interest in its future for the sake of my children and the people who live there (immigrant or not). Sometimes the state of things can feel hopeless, but we ought to never stop trying.

[yestohappiness]

We used VoteFromAbroad - it was very easy - they created a form to request our ballot by email and sent to our county and also included the email for the county’s voting dept. We didnt get it so we emailed the county directly and got it immediately. We voted and send by DHL yesterday, it was much cheaper than we expected!
You still have time if you want to vote - another 2-3 weeks, but send it in asap - the sooner the better!!!

[twiz]

Great information, Kristin. Thank you.

[lucchese]

Great informative video. Thank you Kristin. 🙏🏻

[cindyk]

Very good information, Kristen, thank you for sharing it!