Overseas/Abroad
U.S. citizens carry their right to vote with them wherever they are in the world. In this 'Overseas Voters' category of stories, we highlight selected voting experiences of overseas voters. What emerges is a remarkable sense of connection to country, regardless of where these voters find themselves, and despite any length of time away.
Here you will find answers to core questions, such as the eligibility of U.S. citizens born overseas, voting from military conflict zones, participating as a permanent overseas resident, and the ability to vote from abroad without maintaining a U.S. address.
We invite you to read these various stories of situations where overseas voters ensured that their voices were heard through their votes - despite geographical distance. Through these experiences you will gain a deeper understanding of how American citizens—no matter where they live—can continue to participate in the franchise.
Can I Vote if I’m an American Citizen Born Overseas and Never Resided in the US?
Noelle Ziersch
You don’t have to have ever lived in the U.S. to be an American citizen. Noelle Ziersch shows overseas Americans how they may be able to exercise their right to vote from abroad.
Voting From Abroad Without a U.S. Address
Millions of American citizens live outside of the United States. Many reside overseas temporarily for work assignments, study abroad, familial obligations, extended travel, or military duty. Some have permanently relocated overseas, while others may have been born abroad without ever having lived in the U.S.
Are you eligible to vote in U.S. elections from another country if you are a U.S. citizen born overseas who has never established residency in the U.S.? Yes, you may be eligible to vote in some circumstances.
Meet Noelle Ziersch - A U.S. citizen who votes from overseas without having lived in the U.S.
Noelle Ziersch is a dual German-American citizen studying in Leipzig, Germany, who has never resided in the United States. In her conversation with U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote), Noelle Ziersch describes how she stays civically engaged and votes in U.S. elections.
US.VOTE
Noelle, you are a dual citizen?
Noelle Ziersch
Yes, I am a citizen of America and Germany. I was born in Germany and I’ve never lived in the United States. My mother is from the U.S.
My mom votes in Oregon, where her last U.S. residence is, with my grandmother. I inherited my voting residence – where I vote – from my mom.
US.VOTE
Have you voted in Germany as well?
Noelle Ziersch
Yes, I have.
US.VOTE
What influenced you to become an overseas voter?
Noelle Ziersch
I think it’s really important to vote. My mother is only an American citizen and she does not want to give up her US citizenship in order to become a naturalized German citizen. I grew up seeing her not being able to vote locally in Germany. At the same time, she is very passionate about voting and believes it’s vital that everyone who has the right to vote actually votes. So I’ve absorbed all that from her.
US.VOTE
How did you go about figuring out that you were eligible to vote?
Noelle Ziersch
Honestly, I always knew I would be able to vote in America because my mom told me that when I was growing up. In the 2020 presidential elections, I actually was with her when she cast her ballot in the primaries. When it was time for me to register as an overseas voter, my mom helped me with that as well.
US.VOTE
Many US citizens abroad know they can vote in presidential elections, but don’t realize they can vote in all federal elections, primaries, special and general elections. Some can also vote in local and state level elections, depending on whether their state extends that right to them. Oregon is one of those states that does. Can you tell us which elections you participate in?
Noelle Ziersch
I participate in all elections that I can. I have a ballot on my desk right now for the Oregon municipal elections, county level. So I vote in every election that I can. And with Oregon it’s also easy, because they always send me a ballot and then I know that I should vote.
Oregon does all mail elections anyway, so I never have to request an absentee ballot and neither do any Oregon residents.* I’ve only been registered to vote for about three years now, and they continue to send me a ballot automatically for every election. The county clerk knows us; she knows my grandmother personally. I don’t know for sure, but I assume we are some of the very few overseas voters in that county. We have an election official who really cares.
US.VOTE
Have you ever encountered a problem getting a ballot?
Noelle Ziersch
I have not, but I do know of other overseas Americans who have. I feel like Oregon does a really good job. It seems like people who vote from abroad in other states tend to encounter more problems.
US.VOTE
How do you research the candidates and figure out how you want to vote?
Noelle Ziersch
I tend to talk to my grandmother about that since she lives there and she knows. My grandmother and I tend to agree on things. I’m informed on the issues and have strong feelings about them. I spent a lot of time there, even though I never technically lived there.
US.VOTE
As an overseas voter who never lived in the U.S., what address would you put on your ballot request?
Noelle Ziersch
I use the last address that my mother had in the U.S. and that is my grandmother’s current address.
US.VOTE
How does your ballot usually arrive - in what form?
Noelle Ziersch
It arrives by mail. We’ve also never had an issue with the ballot being too late; it’s always been on time. I can actually return my ballot by email or fax. And I get an email back from the election official who sends me a brief note to say the ballot has been received.
US.VOTE
Do you ever check if your ballot has been counted?
Noelle Ziersch
I’ve actually never checked on that. I’m assuming that my ballot has always been counted. I get a full ballot. It’s a bit interesting also because when I send it back via email, I’m supposed to scan the ballot front and back, but it is a U.S. paper size, so it doesn’t quite fit on the printer. So I just try to align it so the important parts are still in the scan.
US.VOTE
As a student on another continent far from the U.S., do you feel connected with the U.S.?
Noelle Ziersch
Well, my major is American Studies so, I mostly speak English here actually, and most of the media I consume, like movies, series and books, all tend to be English. So it’s interesting because it also goes back and forth. I was in the U.S. two weeks ago for two and a half weeks with my family, and then also to visit relatives in the U.S.
It was a weird experience because I hadn’t been in the U.S. since COVID. I definitely care about the U.S. and I care about participating in the political process in the U.S. It’s just a bit strange now because I feel like a lot of things have changed.
US.VOTE
Do you have anything else to add about your experience as a voter, or advice for other overseas voters?
Noelle Ziersch
Well, this is not supposed to be an ad for US Vote, but in the current election, regarding my ballot, I was really confused about when I would have to send it back, so I did actually use US Vote to look up the deadline. So I would absolutely use the U.S. Vote Foundation website. And if I met another overseas voter, I would tell them to look to you.
International voters like Noelle benefit from US Vote’s Voter Accounts. Noelle can keep all her voting materials in one place and generate the forms she needs for each election. Noelle’s Voter Account keeps her informed about how to vote from abroad so that she doesn’t miss any deadlines or lose track of any new rules. With US Vote, Americans can be overseas without being overlooked.
Note: The path to the ballot box is not the same in every state! Check out how US Vote’s Voter Help Desk answers the question: How often do I need to register to vote and request my overseas absentee ballot?
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