Donald Trump has made baseless claims this week suggesting that anyone living overseas, regardless of eligibility, can receive a ballot via mail. These claims also accuse Democrats of exploiting a 1986 law to secure a victory in the upcoming elections. This law in question is the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which safeguards the voting rights of U.S. citizens residing abroad, including military personnel and their families, allowing them to vote in federal elections through absentee ballots. In 2009, UOCAVA was amended by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) to provide additional protections.
Trump’s unverified assertions imply that Democrats could exploit UOCAVA to send ballots overseas without verifying citizenship or identity, insinuating potential foreign interference in the 2024 election. These claims are an extension of the misinformation surrounding the 2020 election, perpetuated by Trump and other Republicans, alleging mass noncitizen voting and voter fraud through ballot drop boxes.
Experts highlight that such false claims aim to cast doubt on the integrity of the U.S. election system, particularly if Trump does not secure a win. Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, the executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating election-related information and seeking reliable sources like election officials.
Local election authorities oversee the registration and verification process for overseas voters just like they do for domestic voters. Upon registering for absentee ballots through a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), individuals must affirm their U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury. Any noncitizen voting in federal elections violates a 1996 U.S. law and is subject to penalties such as fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
Overseas voters are required to re-submit the FPCA annually to receive absentee ballots for all elections during that period, maintaining the integrity of the process. State and local election offices diligently verify voter identities using official documents like driver’s licenses, state IDs, or social security numbers as mandated by federal law, regularly updating voter rolls to exclude ineligible individuals.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program, overseen by Scott Wiedmann, administers UOCAVA, ensuring that election officials ultimately determine voter eligibility within their jurisdiction. Eligible overseas voters receive blank absentee ballots for federal elections, with some states allowing participation in state and local contests as well.
Data from the Federal Voting Assistance Program reveals that out of approximately 4.4 million U.S. citizens living abroad in 2022, around 94,927 votes were cast in the recent general election. This number was higher in the 2020 presidential election, emphasizing the importance of overseas voter participation in U.S. elections.
Experts and election officials express concerns over Trump’s unfounded allegations, emphasizing that UOCAVA is a crucial program utilized by both parties without controversy until now. The false claims propagated by Trump capitalize on existing fears about voter fraud and immigration, exploiting public distrust in media and unfamiliarity with election laws.
Concerns about voter fraud and election integrity persist, fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories. Kathleen Carley, a misinformation expert at Carnegie Mellon University, highlights the role of false narratives like Trump’s claims in perpetuating doubt around the electoral process and potentially laying the groundwork for unfounded conspiracy theories.
