Democrats invest in American voters abroad hoping to make the difference
The votes of overseas Americans could make the difference in tight U.S. elections, and are being courted by Democrats and Republicans alike.
HONG KONG — With the U.S. presidential race a dead heat in the last days before the election, Democrats and Republicans are seeking votes not just in every corner of the United States but also around the world.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) estimates there are almost 3 million eligible American voters living outside the U.S., including tens of thousands of U.S. service members and their families.
Voter turnout among this group is low — less than 8% in the 2020 presidential election, according to FVAP, compared with almost 67% overall. That is largely due to confusion and difficulties regarding how to request and return ballots, with each state having different rules and deadlines that can include allowing ballots to be returned by email or fax.
Still, the votes of overseas Americans are important enough that both parties are courting them, and some Republican lawsuits have sought to block them.
Overseas voters “can sway an election, especially in the swing states,” said James Lockett, chair of Democrats Abroad Hong Kong.
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