Americans living in Britain should vote – control of Congress is at stake | Letter

Americans in the UK should definitely ask for their US ballots and vote. As Kathryn Sikkink writes (Many Americans live in the UK – but few vote back home. This year, that must change, 22 September), it’s easier than they may think and there are several compelling reasons to vote.

One helpful website that wasn’t mentioned is votefromabroad.org. This nonpartisan website was launched 20 years ago, never keeps your data and provides 24/7 voter help that’s provided in person in 50 countries or via Zoom or email. Depending on the state in which they last lived, voters may be able to receive and return their ballot electronically.

Control of Congress is at stake. Today, Republicans have a razor-thin majority in the House: 218 to 214. Many of these seats were determined by just a few hundred votes. Think of that in the context of the 298,268 voting-age US citizens in the UK that Sikkink references. Congress writes the laws and decides spending. It also investigates corruption, abuse and mismanagement in government. Even if the Democrats regain only the House of Representatives, they’ll have the power to stop some of the self-dealing and destruction of basic services.

Decisions made in Washington affect Americans abroad, their families and their communities, and their votes help determine who makes those decisions.
John Scardino
Former vice-chair, Democrats Abroad UK