Attacks on overseas citizens’ right to vote in US elections have escalated. FAWCO has done its best to inform members about these and suggest ways to fight back, and member clubs have taken action. While a couple of immediate dangers seem to have been overcome, another remains and more are under way. More FAWCO clubs and members should join in this work, at least through the federal elections in November 2026.
Taxation without representation remains tyranny, and every citizen should fight it. To join the US Voting Committee or to ask questions/make suggestions, contact the Chair at .
The problem
Articles from the US Voting Committee in 2024 detailed the role of FAWCO and partners in successful efforts to repel attacks on ballots cast by overseas Americans, military and civilian. Thanks in part to these efforts, the courts rejected all those attacks and the challenged ballots were counted.
Unfortunately, such attacks are escalating. We have faced three particular dangers. One (contesting overseas votes in a 2024 race for a seat on the North Carolina state supreme court) has been eliminated and another (the so-called “SAVE” Act) seems to be stalled in the US Senate. Nevertheless, the struggle continues against the third: an executive order with many of the same provisions as “SAVE,” which is being challenged in the courts).
Meanwhile, attacks on voting rights continue at the state level, where 24 states – including Indiana, New Hampshire, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Utah – are considering 52 bills to impose or expand proof-of-citizenship requirements. Overseas voters must do everything possible to preserve and exercise their right to vote.
All Hands on Deck: step up club action
AAWE (Paris) and AWC Berlin leaped into action in April, holding Dial-A-Thons and virtual events to organize members to phone their US Senators and urge them to vote against the so-called SAVE Act. The energy and sisterhood were amazing! Preparations included providing a list of senators and their phone numbers, highlighting the most crucial senators to target, as well as sample scripts of what to say.
These clubs and their members, as well as members of other clubs, deserve loud applause for their efforts, which are a potent addition to those of FAWCO’s US Liaison and US Voting Committee. But we need to do more and do it for the foreseeable future – at least through the federal elections scheduled for November 2026.
“Use it or lose it”
We must exercise our constitutional rights, or we will lose them. These rights include not only voting but also expressing our views to our elected representatives in Congress. Here’s how.
To find and contact your US Senators:
- Visit the Senate website.
- Search for your Senators using the Contact link (scroll down to find it and select your state).
- On the results page is a link to the Senators’ websites, contact information, and links to an online contact form (forms vary by Senator).
To find and contact your US Representative:
Visit the House of Representatives website.
- Search using the Find Your Representative tab (click on it, enter your zip code and click Go).
- On the results page is a photo of your Representative(s), links to the Representative’s personal website and online contact form, and a local map.
- If your zip code overlaps with multiple congressional districts, the results page will include boxes for you to enter your zip code+4 or mailing address to find the correct Representative.
Want to do more? Why not join the US Voting Committee, to receive and share information and ideas? Why not organize dial-a-thons in your own club? How about FAWCO organizing a voter-registration-and-support drive for 2026 (starting in October 2025)?
To join the US Voting Committee or to ask questions/make suggestions, contact the Chair at .