American FAWCO members are used to largely sitting out the last month before Election Day in the USA. We register as early as possible in the relevant year and vote and return our ballots as soon as they arrive, starting in late September. Some of us have to find and return a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) if our proper state ballot doesn’t arrive, and advise and assist voters with various problems.
But 2024 is different. In late October, FAWCO had to spring into action to help defend overseas voting rights against several lawsuits, which seemed part of a strategy to sow doubt about and potentially contest the results of the 2024 US elections. As this strategy continues to work itself out, overseas voters can fight back by:
- sharing messages about the safety and security of US elections in general and overseas voting in particular; and
- celebrating casting our votes from overseas in 2024.
Taking these actions has become more important because attacks on overseas voting are continuing. FAWCO is working with the same partners as before – with the Brennan Center for Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in the lead – to protect the rights of overseas voters. An ACLU letter to county solicitors in Pennsylvania of November 3 states that “at least nine counties in Pennsylvania received mass-produced challenges to the eligibility of qualified overseas voters …” and concludes that:
Any action by the boards of elections with respect to these election-eve mass-generated challenges to UOCAVA federal voters other than the swift rejection or dismissal of these challenges will violate federal and state law.
FAWCO US Liaison Johanna Dishongh says: “FAWCO will continue to work with our partners to fight any attempt to restrict voting rights of American citizens living abroad.”
Share information about the safety and security of overseas voting
The Chamberlain Network – a US veterans’ organization named for Civil War hero Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain – offers a number of short videos about the the safety and security of US elections in general and overseas voting in particular. Please share these within your club and your social media. The continuing attacks on overseas voting increase the importance of sharing such messages. In keeping with the nature of the source, the videos focus more on the military, though they still give information useful to other overseas Americans.
Videos are also available from our long-term partners, the Federal Voter Assistance Program (FVAP) and the US Vote Foundation, but the Chamberlain Network’s videos are more recent.
Celebrate with an “I Voted from Abroad” sticker
Many Americans have already left or will leave polling stations, proudly wearing stickers that say “I Voted.” Overseas voters can do this, too, thanks to our friends at FVAP. Click here to create a graphic that says “I voted from Abroad,” or select your country of residence and generate one specific to you. Then please share your sticker with your club and friends and family on social media.
American FAWCO members have good reason to be proud of our work to do our duty as US citizens. Show one of the reasons why!
Information source
RE: Improper Challenges to Federal Mail Ballot Voters. Letter. ACLU Pennsylvania and the ACLU Foundation, November 3, 2024.