I’ve lived abroad for many years now. In all that time, it never once occurred to me that leaving the U.S. meant I got to check out of its politics too. But I keep running into fellow Americans overseas who see it differently — people who’ve decided that because they’re not planning to move back, what happens in Washington isn’t really their problem anymore.
I get the appeal of that position. It’s tempting. It’s also wrong.
The World Doesn’t Get to Opt Out of American Politics — So Neither Do You
What happens in the United States doesn’t stay in the United States. Wars, tariffs, and the parade of reckless policies coming out of the Trump administration are landing on real people’s lives everywhere — including yours, wherever you’ve built your new one.
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Do you still hold a U.S. passport?
- Do you have family or friends back in America?
- Do you own property there?
- Do you pay U.S. taxes?
- Do you ever visit?
- Do you own a car that needs gasoline?
I do. All of the above, actually.
A couple of weeks ago I filled up my tank here in Germany and paid 118 euros — that’s nearly 9 euros a gallon. Tariffs, trade wars, and Republican energy policy don’t stop at the U.S. border. They follow the price of everything, everywhere, including the pump I pull up to.
Distance doesn’t insulate you. It just makes it easier to forget you’re still connected.
Where This Is Heading
Where America is going under Republican rule is a genuinely dark place. And it’s not slowing down on its own.
There are a thousand different reasons to care about what’s happening in America right now — you just have to find the one that’s yours. Find your reason. Find your courage. Find your empathy. And then vote.
November is coming fast, and we need to be louder than we’ve ever been. It doesn’t matter what state you’re registered in — your ballot is needed. Change is coming to the U.S., and it’s going to take all of us, near and far, to make it happen. Talk to your friends, your colleagues, your family. Make sure they vote too.
Your Vote From Abroad Counts — Here’s How to Make It Count on Time
Every American citizen living overseas is eligible to vote in the midterms. The process is simple — but timing is everything. Vote, especially because you’re living abroad. You already know firsthand that life doesn’t have to be as hard as it currently is in America.
1. Request your ballot now. Go to VoteFromAbroad.org and submit your request today. Don’t wait until you’re staring down a deadline.
2. Choose email delivery, not postal mail. This is the single most important tip I can give you. U.S. postal mail is slow, and a ballot sent the traditional way may not arrive in time for you to fill it out and return it. Request email delivery so you get it fast and have real time to act.
3. Send it back electronically if your state allows it. Many states let you return your ballot electronically instead of relying on the mail. No fax machine? No problem — you can fax it without one.
4. Get help if you need it. Voting from abroad can feel confusing the first time — or even the fifth. Vote From Abroad’s Voter Support team offers in-person help, email support, and more. Use it.
5. Not sure who to vote for down-ballot? Local and state races rarely make national headlines, but they matter enormously. Blue Voter Guide is a great resource to help you make informed choices all the way down your ballot.
The article first appeared on Substack.com and is reprinted here with the author’s permission.