Get ready for 2025: "As soon as you get up, or sober up, on New Year's Day, register to vote!"
Though no national elections are scheduled for 2025, several special federal elections are on the horizon, and some states and localities will hold elections in the new year. All overseas voters should register to vote/request a ballot as early as possible in 2025; even if you don't cast a ballot, it keeps your voting records live and correct in your state. "As soon as you get up, or sober up, on New Year's Day, visit the websites of the US Vote Foundation or the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) and fill out the form.
Throughout the year, FAWCO offers information and updates here, and regular articles on voting issues. The latest describes the recent attacks on overseas voting in three swing states. See also the article on Why You Need to Make a Plan to Ensure That Your Vote Is Counted in 2024, as part of many Americans' effort to preserve US democracy. Our message is that, for the foreseeable future, every US election will be the most important of our lives. Other articles describe the danger to US democracy, give instructions for the individual voter and explain the need for all Americans to act to protect their Constitutional right to vote. The latest article urges voters to defend US democracy in 2024 by speaking up about the threats that it faces.
To join the US Voting Committee or to ask questions, contact the Chair at .
New video workshop on voting from overseas in 2024
A video workshop on US voting from overseas, recorded in September 2024 with the Chair of FAWCO's US Voting Committee and guests from the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the US Embassy London, is now available. Check it out!
Sharing your views with your representatives
FAWCO always encourages American members to express their views on their native country by voting. Especially in view of the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol and numerous voter-suppression laws passed by states, you may also wish to express your views on the way forward to your Senators and Representative. Here's how to do so.
To find and contact your US Senator:
- Visit the Senate website.
- Conduct a search using the Find Your Senators pull-down menu in the upper right corner (select your state and click Go).
- On the results page is a link to the Senators’ website, contact information, and links to an online contact form (forms vary by Senator).
To find and contact your US Representative:
- Visit the House of Representatives website.
- Conduct a search using the Find Your Representative zip code search box in the upper right corner (enter your zip code and click Go).
- On the results page is a photo of your Representative(s), links to the Representative’s personal website and online contact form, and a local map.
- If your zip code overlaps with multiple congressional districts, the results page will include boxes for you to enter your zip code+4 or mailing address to find the correct Representative.
Source: Contact Your US Senators and Representatives, American Library Association, April 21, 2014 (accessed January 13, 2021).
What FAWCO does
FAWCO’s US Voting Committee operates under the US Liaison, and encourages and assists US overseas citizens to participate in every federal election for which they are eligible by providing a dedicated website and information and training to volunteers in FAWCO member clubs, and helping with publicity. The Committee also works to reduce the barriers to voting from overseas imposed by federal and state legislation, through such means as Overseas Americans Week and work with partners such as the US Vote Foundation and FVAP. It publishes monthly articles on the FAWCO website, and summarizes and links to them in News in Brief and the US Liaison Bulletin.
FAWCO provides information and advice here, but also promotes overseas voting:
- through messages on social media;
- in online meetings with FAWCO Reps and online voter registration workshops;
- in a virtual workshop for all FAWCO Clubs, and workshops for individual clubs, on helping overseas voters to register an vote; and
- through Regional Meetings and Club events.
To help FAWCO in this work, get better information for your club or community, and to arrange a virtual workshop for your club, contact the Chair of the US Voting Committee ().
Why vote from overseas?
Overseas Americans often complain that US law ignores or unintentionally harms us. While voter turnout in the US is much worse than that in many developed countries (around 65% seems to be cause for celebration), however, turnout for overseas Americans voters is only 7.8% – if we do not bother to speak, why should lawmakers listen to our concerns? See FVAP's analysis of overseas voter turnout.
Our country needs to hear our voices – not just in the choice of President and Vice-President, and senators and representatives in Congress, but in state and local offices (in states that permit us to vote on them). Living as we do, in daily contact with the world outside the US and functioning as informal ambassadors for our country, we have unique insights to offer. And now that many political races are decided by small margins, we have a better chance to be heard than ever before. Seize this chance: vote in every year in which elections are held, and help other overseas Americans to do so.
FAWCO's US Voting Committee encourages and assists US overseas citizens to participate in every federal election for which they are eligible by providing a dedicated website and information and training to volunteers in FAWCO Member Clubs, and helping with publicity. The Committee also works to reduce the barriers to voting from overseas imposed by federal and state legislation.
To get involved or to ask questions, contact the US Voting Committee Chair at .
Register to vote
To register to vote, visit the US Vote Foundation.
