In the lead-up to the US elections, the Democratic Party has been trying to increase voter turnout by courting citizens living abroad.
Running from October 15 until election day on November 5, Brussels Signal has found that the Democrats and their party’s official organisation, Democrats Abroad, have organised at least 75 voting-related events in Europe, Britain, Latin America, Asia and Australia.
These include events relating to remote voter assistance, ballot help desks, phone banking and active door-knocking by representatives.
Trip Dubard, chair of Democrats Abroad in Belgium, said the campaign’s objective was to steer voters away from the “danger” of another Donald Trump administration.
“Because they do not live in the US, Democrats Abroad have a different perspective of America’s place in the world. In this election, I think we can perhaps see through the daily media clutter and see more clearly the danger of a Trump administration,” he told Brussels Signal on October 17.
In contrast, Republicans Overseas, which promotes the Republicans’ platform abroad, currently has no upcoming events listed on its websites.
The Republicans have said they are opposed to what they regard as a highly intensive campaign. They have launched a legal campaign in US courts to try to stop what they see as illegal overseas voting.
They claim their legal campaign aims to restore faith in US elections by ensuring people do not vote illegally.
???? Super busy helping voters request their ballot on Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna’s 7th district. Registered 2 first time voters, and helped dozens others, including from Indiana, Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Wisconcin! You still have time to request your ballot at… pic.twitter.com/fuUKeXXNUW
— Democrats Abroad (@DemsAbroad) October 16, 2024
In lawsuits filed in Michigan on October 15 and North Carolina on October 2, the Republican National Committee (RNC) argued that State election laws improperly allowed US citizens living abroad, who had never lived in those States but whose relatives had, to vote there.
“North Carolinians and Michiganders should not have their votes cancelled by those who’ve never lived in the state,” RNC chairman Michael Whatley said on October 8.
The Democrats Abroad group have been organising networking and meet-up events for US citizens living oversees to discuss elections, while also selling merchandise to fund their chapters worldwide.
Its members have also made appearances on state-funded media outlets across the globe such as Málaga TV in Spain.
Also on October 17, the Democrats Abroad team was scheduled to appear on the Spanish channel’s morning show.
During the summer, former US House Speaker and Democrats’ leader Nancy Pelosi headlined the Democrats Abroad online campaign, promoting voting among overseas US citizens.
According to the Democrats, 6,800 US citizens registered to vote as a result of the event featuring Pelosi, which they said drew an audience of 33,00 people.
Democrats living abroad — YOU can make the difference in this election! Follow @DemsAbroad for voting info and JOIN me on a GLOBAL ZOOM of Americans Abroad for #HarrisWalz this Thursday September 5 12n ET. Let’s Win This! -NP https://t.co/NK1grX4JpF pic.twitter.com/P77A7GxjYv
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) August 31, 2024
In some States, US citizens who are 18 years or older and were born abroad but who have never resided in the country are eligible to vote “absentee”.
According to the US Federal Voting Assistance Programme (FVAP), 33 per cent of eligible voters living abroad in the 2020 US elections were not born in the US.
Ahead of the US elections, many believe citizens living outside the country could tip the balance for one camp or the other.
“US elections are decided by fewer and fewer votes recently, so each of us living abroad has an obligation to participate,” Dubard told Brussels Signal.
“We could easily be the deciding factor and were in Georgia and Arizona during the 2020 presidential election. In these close races we’re seeing around the country, Democrats Abroad will decide many elections,” he added.
As of writing, polls showed Vice-President and Democrat presidential hopeful Kamala Harris had a two-point lead on Trump.
According to the FVAP, in the 2020 US elections, 2.9 million US citizens living abroad could have voted.
In the face of the Democrats’ intense campaign overseas, Republican leader Trump has moved to try to regain control of the overseas vote.
On October 9, the former US president vowed to end the double taxation for citizens living abroad.
It would likely be a measure that would appeal to many US citizens in such circumstances who are required to pay taxes to both the US Government and foreign authorities where they reside.
