Hundreds of thousands of US citizens living in the UK have little influence over federal elections because turnout is extremely low. The US government’s Federal Voting Assistance Program estimated 298,268 voting‑age Americans were in the UK in 2022, the second largest expatriate community after Canada, yet only 3.8% of them voted in that year’s midterms. That gap leaves a large, untapped electorate with limited representation in Washington.
The gap is not a legal barrier. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act requires states to let eligible overseas citizens register and vote absentee and to send ballots on time. Voters abroad can use the Federal Post Card Application, which combines registration and a request for an absentee ballot. Non‑partisan resources such as the US Vote Foundation and the Overseas Vote site offer step‑by‑step guidance and interactive tools to plan the process, but overseas voting does take time and advance preparation.
Confusion about taxes appears to deter some would‑be voters. Casting a ballot in federal races, for president and Congress, does not create new federal tax obligations. State and local contests can, in some states, carry tax implications, so some expatriates choose to skip ballots below the federal level. Citizenship itself, not voting, is what subjects Americans abroad to US tax rules on worldwide income and the need in many cases to file federal returns.
The broader political context shows both expansion and contestation of overseas voting rights. In January 2024 the UK removed its 15‑year limit on overseas voting, potentially restoring votes for about 2.3 million British and eligible Irish citizens abroad. In the United States, efforts to restrict absentee voting faced legal and legislative setbacks: the supreme court rejected an attempt to curtail mail‑in voting before the midterms, and the Save America Act, which would have added proof‑of‑citizenship and voter‑ID requirements, did not pass the Senate before it recessed in August; a narrower voter‑ID effort also failed.
Given the size of the eligible population and persistently low participation, Americans in the UK represent a largely untapped constituency. Research shows personal contact raises turnout, so community groups, workplaces and social networks in Britain can make a practical difference by reminding friends and neighbours to register and submit an FPCA in time. With federal absentee voting protections in place and clear, free guidance available, eligible voters abroad can take concrete steps now to ensure they have a say in the next federal elections.
