Democrats Spend $300,000 to Reach Voters Abroad

In a significant move, the Democratic Party is investing for the first time in efforts to register and mobilize American voters living abroad, particularly those from key battleground states. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) estimates that approximately 1.6 million Americans overseas are eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election. This initiative aims to support "Democrats Abroad," the primary organization dedicated to assisting non-military voters outside the U.S. with mail-in ballots. Martha McDevitt-Pugh, chair of Democrats Abroad, reported a remarkable 100% increase in voter registrations and ballot requests from Americans abroad since President Biden's withdrawal from the race on July 21. The DNC's focus on this demographic is underscored by the fact that many of these voters hail from critical states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, where absentee ballots have historically played a pivotal role in election outcomes. According to data, nearly half of the ballots requested by non-military voters abroad in 2020 were returned to battleground states, with the number of overseas ballots in Arizona and Georgia exceeding Biden's victory margins. Most U.S. citizens living abroad are located in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel, and they primarily utilize email for ballot submissions, contrasting with military voters who typically mail their ballots. McDevitt-Pugh emphasized the importance of educating overseas voters about their rights and the voting process, noting that many are unaware they can vote while living abroad. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ensures that overseas ballots are counted in every state, reinforcing the significance of this outreach effort.