American democracy hangs in the balance
The 2022 Quebec general election was on October 3, but for U.S. citizens living in Quebec, there’s a big one down south a month after. While midterm elections in the States are traditionally much lower-profile events than elections with presidential candidates on the ballot, life down there is anything but normal these days. And that’s maybe the yugest reason it’s an important election to take part in. Your Vote from Canada Counts.*
According to the latest Monmouth University Poll, 61% of Republicans still believe, two years after the election, that Joe Biden only won due to fraud. This simple statistic betrays a deep sickness capable of killing the nation. What can be done when tens of millions of citizens refuse to accept facts — to accept reality? It’s hard to imagine what, but the least we can do is make our voice heard from afar. After all, there may come a day when an actual conspiracy to steal an election is successful (the sloppy Trump fake electors plot demonstrated that foul men are not afraid to commit fraud at the highest levels).
* The letter in the photo was sent by The Center for U.S. Voters Abroad, “a non-profit, non-partisan organization that helps eligible U.S. citizens register to vote an absentee ballot regardless of where they’re located in the world.”
U.S. citizens have the right to vote against demagoguery in the States. All hands on deck!
Not a trick question: What state are you a resident of?
Americans who move to Canada are probably more politically awake than many of their compatriots back in the States. But even a verified policy wonk may not have encountered the details about how voting from Canada works. The definitive source appears to be The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which “works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from anywhere in the world.”
The first logical question is, “What is my voting residence”? The answer to this is generally quite simple: the state in the address where you lived immediately prior to leaving the States. It doesn’t matter if you no longer have ties to that state in some other way, or whether you intend to return. If for some reason you claim a new legal residence or domicile, FVAP recommends that you consult legal counsel “as there may be other factors to consider, such as tax implications”. Perhaps voting isn’t a universally painless process for every American expat, but your vote matters, and your vote from Canada counts!