via - Democracy Docket — The Nebraska Supreme Court Friday upheld the right of eligible U.S. citizens living abroad to vote in the state, in yet another loss for Republicans seeking to restrict overseas voting. The post Nebraska Supreme Court upholds voting for citizens abroad in yet another GOP loss appeared first on Democracy Docket .

A significant mobilization effort is underway among overseas American voters, a demographic that has historically been disengaged from U.S. elections. According to Democrats Abroad, a political organization dedicated to engaging U.S. citizens living abroad, millions of Americans residing in foreign countries are becoming politically active for the first time in decades. This surge in engagement is driven by frustration with President Donald Trump's policies and actions, which have been widely reported in international media. The organization reports that voter registration and participation from overseas are expected to increase substantially compared to previous midterm elections. In the 2024 presidential election, 806,173 Americans registered to vote from overseas, excluding military personnel. This year, the number is projected to be much higher. Democrats Abroad has committees in nearly 50 countries and works with Americans in almost 190 nations, providing guidance on voter registration and ballot submission. The group's efforts have been intensified due to concerns about Trump's attempts to restrict mail-in voting, including his push to disqualify ballots postmarked on election day but received later, which was blocked by the Supreme Court. Additionally, the SAVE Act, which would require in-person registration for overseas voters, has stalled in the Senate. These developments have caused confusion and anxiety among overseas voters, prompting Democrats Abroad to intensify their outreach. The impact of overseas voting has been significant in past elections; for example, in 2020, overseas ballots contributed to narrow margins in key states like Arizona and Georgia. The organization emphasizes that overseas voters represent a 'bluest voting constituency,' with a strong Democratic lean. Volunteers worldwide are working to reach Americans in various settings, including universities, bookshops, and farmers markets, to encourage voter participation. The mobilization reflects a broader trend of Americans abroad becoming more politically engaged as they observe the state of U.S. governance from a distance, often comparing it unfavorably to conditions in their host countries. This heightened awareness has led to a surge in interest among those who previously did not consider voting a priority. The organization's leaders report that even those who have lived abroad for decades are now motivated to participate in U.S. elections for the first time in many years. This movement is seen as a critical factor in the upcoming midterms, with the potential to significantly influence the outcome in key swing states.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a recent change to the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which is used by overseas U.S. citizens to request absentee ballots. The lawsuit alleges that the Pentagon, under the Trump administration, quietly removed an option on the form that allowed U.S. citizens born abroad but who have never lived in the United States to indicate their voting eligibility. This change, implemented just before the deadline for sending out overseas ballots, was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) without public input. The DNC argues that the move is part of a desperate effort by Trump and Republicans to restrict voting access for overseas citizens, particularly those who have never resided in the U.S. DNC Chair Ken Martin stated, 'Trump and Republicans are so desperate to hang on to power that they are trying to eliminate the way some American citizens abroad register to vote and request mail ballots.' The U.S. Vote Foundation's Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat warned that the change could confuse eligible voters, potentially leading them to abandon their ballot requests entirely, even though federal law still guarantees their right to vote. Pentagon official Sean O'Keefe defended the rushed timeline, claiming the old form might confuse voters about required information, but DNC lawyers countered that the government has over 15 years of experience handling this process. The lawsuit highlights that an estimated 2.2 million Americans abroad are eligible to vote, with about 11% casting ballots in 2024. The number of citizens born abroad who have never lived in the U.S. is unclear, though a 2016 government estimate placed it near 11,590. The DNC believes this number has grown since. This lawsuit comes amid broader Republican efforts to restrict voting access, including a recent Supreme Court case upholding state laws on mail-in ballot deadlines and a Trump order to block mail-in ballots for non-compliant states, which was blocked by federal courts. The lawsuit underscores the ongoing political battle over voting rights, particularly for overseas voters, and the administration's alleged attempts to undermine their ability to participate in elections.

via US news | The Guardian — DNC accuses Pentagon of pushing through changes to how voters abroad request absentee ballots ahead of midterms The Trump administration broke the law when it pushed through a last-minute change to the form overseas citizens use to register and request absentee ballots, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said in a lawsuit filed on Thursday. Until recently, the form, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) , gave overseas voters four options to choose from when describing their geographic l

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Ensuring Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens can vote -- from anywhere in the world.

Ensuring Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens can vote -- from anywhere in the world.

via - Democracy Docket — The Republican National Committee filed a new lawsuit seeking to block certain U.S. citizens living abroad from voting in New Jersey, marking the latest attack in the GOP’s nationwide blitz against overseas voters. The post RNC sues New Jersey in eighth lawsuit targeting overseas voters appeared first on Democracy Docket .