2020 election ends with Senate runoffs in Georgia in January 2021
Election officials in the United States deserve applause for running a fair and legitimate national election, with the largest turnout in more than 100 years, during a pandemic. Voting advocates should take note of many excellent innovations or practices that should be used more widely, including: no-excuse absentee voting, multiple dropboxes for voted ballots, drive-through and curbside voting, the use of sports facilities as polling places and electronic ballot return.
There are also early indications that overseas voters deserve applause - for voting in greater numbers than usual.
Promote overseas participation in the Georgia runoffs
The 2020 election will not end, however, until the runoff elections for both of Georgia's seats in the US Senate are completed in January 2021. See this article for information on registration and deadlines for registration and ballot return. FAWCO members and clubs should work hard to promote overseas Georgians' voting in the runoffs.
Combatting misinformation about the election
Unfortunately, misinformation about the election, including charges of election fraud presented without evidence, are still circulating among Americans.
- The Twitter feed of Ellen L. Weintraub, chair of the Federal Election Commission, remains a good source of infomation, in addition to those discussed here.
- In addition, top officials have called the 2020 election the most secure in US history.
- Click here to see the 60 Minutes interview with Chris Krebs, former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the US Department of Homeland Security.
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.
In 2020, FAWCO has provided information and advice here, but also promoted overseas voting:
- through messages from the Social Media team (which started in 2019);
- in an online hangout with FAWCO Reps in January 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 4% – if we do not bother to speak, why should lawmakers listen to our concerns?
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.
