American Citizens Abroad has published an excellent history of the taxtaion of Americans living overseas. If you’d like to read it, click here.
It’s an off election year, and the excitement of the 2008 presidential race is behind us, but the important work of ensuring and strengthening our right to vote goes on. Please support the Overseas Vote Foundation in its work on behalf of all Americans abroad.
Absentee voting fix not enough, advocates say – Army News, news from Iraq, – Army Times
A bill to improve overseas voting passed the House Administration Committee, but voting rights advocates say a more comprehensive fix is required.
According to the Army Times, the Military Voting Protection Act, HR 2393 introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) would establish an express mail collection system for sending cast ballots back to state election officials. The bill also:
- establishes a tracking system that would allow service members to find out whether their ballot had been delivered
- requires the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) to set a deadline for receiving absentee ballots of noon on the fourth day before federal elections, beginning with the November 2010 elections — if necessary, the deadline could be set earlier
- makes FVAP officials responsible for collecting ballots and delivering them to the states via express mail
- requires FVAP to submit a report to Congress after each general election on the effectiveness of the system
Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president of the Overseas Vote Foundation notes that sending the ballot back to the US is the last step in the absentee voting process and that:
The irresistible urge to focus on the last step of the process, the step that is held hostage by all others that precede it, is an unfortunate distraction if it is the only measure taken in the face of other very real remaining challenges. Speeding the return of the voted ballot won’t help much if the voter’s request for the ballot is late and if is/her ballot does not show up in time to be cast.
A comprehensive approach is necessary. Please contact your state’s Congressional delegation and make your voice heard on thios critical issue.
A call to action (a reminder for those who read Saturday’s post).
FAWCO has posted an excellent summary of two key bills impacting American voters abroad that the House will mark-up on Wednesday. FAWCO’s call to action includes a sample letter to members of Congress in support of these measures. What is more, FAWCO provides a concise overview of the legislation.
The bills will be marked-up on Wednesday so please send your letters of support as soon as possible — Wednesday morning at the latest.
FAWCO has posted an excellent summary of two key bills impacting American voters abroad and a call to action.
The call to action includes a sample letter to members of Congress in support of these measures. The bills will be marked up on Wednesday so please send your letters of support as soon as possible — Wednesday morning at the latest.
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AMOVR, formed in the fall of 2008 following the Pew Summit on “Democracy at a Distance”, groups overseas citizens’ advocacy organizations; state, local and federal election officials; and all branches of the military including active and retired service members and their families. The Alliance aims to effect real change in voting procedures for Americans abroad before the 2012 elections and to ensure that absent military and overseas civilian voters enjoy the equal right and ability to vote. You can read more in this press release here on the Overseas Vote Foundation’s website.
For Immediate Release
June 2, 2009
Democrats Abroad to Participate in President Obama’s Visit to Normandy
Paris – Democrats Abroad will be participating in a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of D-Day at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer on June 6, 2009. Members of Democrats Abroad will be traveling across France and Europe to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives, joining U.S. President Barack Obama.
On June 5th at 4 pm, the day before the official ceremony, Democrats Abroad members including John Morris and Beresford Hayword will be placing a wreath in remembrance of the fallen. John Morris was just recently awarded the French Legion d’Honneur Medal. Morris was the photo editor in the London office of Life magazine and was responsible for getting Robert Capa’s pictures of the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach to print. Beresford Hayward trained radio operators in the Army Air Corps.
“President Obama’s visit to Normandy on this historic anniversary is symbolic of his intention to honor the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, both in the past and today,” said Christine Schon Marques, International Chair of Democrats Abroad.
“The President has already come a long way in restoring the United State’s image abroad and sending the message that Americans are once again ready to work with the international community on heroic efforts required by our time and bring about lasting change,” said Meredith Gowan Le Goff, Chair of Democrats Abroad France.
After the official ceremony, Democrats Abroad will regroup in Bayeux and participate in the public picnic organized by the town at the Place Charles de Gaulle. Weather permitting, the group will gather for photos on some of the picturesque bridges found in the old city of Bayeux.
www.democratsabroad.org
Democrats Abroad is the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party. With members in more than 160
countries around the globe, Democrats Abroad holds eight positions on the Democratic National Committee
According to the Telegraph, British banks are threatening to cut all banking relationships with Americans. Many Swiss banks are already closing the doors. What is more, many American banks refuse overseas Americans because they have a foreign address. As a result the +6 million American taxpayers living abroad have become something of a “toxic asset” for banks and investment firms around the world. A genuine catch-22 — can’t open accounts abroad and can’t open them back home.
Strange given that we serve as ambassadors for the US at every level of the trade and foreign relations spectrums.
Do you have story about being refused a bank account or other financial account back home in the States while living abroad? What about instances of being denied access to your accounts and/or being prohibited from managing your investments by companies that accept your money and then deny access to their websites to American customers and taxpayers abroad — including those serving in the military? Please share you story with us here and we’ll make sure it gets to our representatives in Washington.
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