Millions of Americans, including military personnel and civilians, live overseas. Not only do these citizens have the right to vote, they deserve the opportunity to obtain a ballot in a timely manner and to know that they can have a chance to vote. Unfortunately, these voters often experience difficulties ranging from learning and meeting the requirements imposed by fifty-five states and territories, to obtaining the mailing addresses and phone numbers to request a ballot, to receiving that ballot before the deadlines have passed.
In the 110th Congress Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) and I founded the Americans Abroad Caucus. The purpose of this bi-partisan caucus is to provide a forum for discussion of the issues that are important to overseas Americans including citizenship, census, voting, and taxation.
These overseas Americans also have the right to be counted in the decennial census. I am working with my colleagues to ensure that each American’s vote will be counted and that all Americans will be counted in the decennial census as well.
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