Americans in Europe: Bill that could restrict voting from abroad passes House

[Celerity]

The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation known as the SAVE Act, which could have a major impact on the voting rights of Americans living in Europe.

https://www.thelocal.se/20250304/new-us-bill-could-restrict-voting-rights-of-americans-abroad/

https://archive.ph/ZaGYs

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility), which tightens the rules on voting in US elections, with 220 votes in favour and 208 opposed. The passage of the bill follows a similar executive order by US President Donald Trump, which seeks to update the federal form voters use to register to vote so that it would require "documentary proof of United States citizenship".

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The Texas Republican's bill could have sweeping impacts on access to voting for Americans abroad, as it aims to require anyone wishing to register to vote (or update their voter registration) to first show proof of their US citizenship - via a passport or birth certificate - in person to a US election official.

At present Americans living in Europe can register to vote by mail or online, depending on the rules of their state, but this legislation would require a trip to the US in order to register or make changes. While the bill does not explicitly mention Americans abroad, it states that proof of citizenship documentation must be shown "in person to the office of the appropriate election official" before the deadline for completed voter registration applications.

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Democrats Abroad previously noted that people who are already registered to vote may have cause for concern too, as some states update their voter rolls periodically and "if an abroad voter was accidentally purged, they would still need to appear in person with the required documentation to re-register."

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https://www.democratsabroad.org/stop_the_save_act

https://www.democratsabroad.org/chair_of_statement_re_house_passage_of_save_act

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/americansabroad/pages/2992/attachments/original/1743528043/Latest_News_Letter_from_Overseas_and_Military_Voters_Opposing_the_SAVE_Act_250328.pdf?1743528043

Problem Solvers Henry Cuellar, Jared Golden; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and Ed Case all voted for The Save Act

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220226432

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Chipping away at voters they don't like, obviously.

[SheltieLover]

2. I have to wonder if this wlll apply to military stationed overseas as well?

[mercuryblues]

3. Does this bill exempt military personal?

[Celerity]

4. my OP discusses that

[sakabatou]

5. Repukes; fucking things up like always.

[GreenWave]

6. translation: too many blue votes. therefore they block them.

[progressoid]

7. Well that's a big Fuck You to the Military.

[Tickle]

8. If you live in another country

you can still vote in the USA? I assume they were born here, but chose to live or retire in another country. I didn't realize you could still vote

[Celerity]

9. Of course expats can vote, we are US citizens. I do every election (I live in Sweden).

[Trueblue1968]

10. Unconstutional !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!