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 Living and Working Between Two Continents?
Franz Safford
Franz Safford is innovating his way around the world. He’s an American citizen who is expanding his business across multiple continents. Franz shows U.S. professionals who work overseas that YES, you can be an active voter from anywhere in the world.
Voting When You Bounce Between Continents
Americans like to move around, and many of us don’t see borders as limitations. As a U.S. citizen, when your work or life takes you overseas, can you still vote in U.S. elections? Yes, you can continue to cast your ballot as an absentee voter from abroad.
Meet Franz Safford - An ocean will not stop him from voting
Franz Safford is a working professional who is expanding his business across multiple continents. Though he has decided to live abroad in this phase of his professional and personal life, Franz shows us that it’s possible to do so without sacrificing his right to have a say in his local government back home in New York.
Franz shares his voting experience with U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote) and explains how, even for a busy executive living overseas, voting in U.S. elections remains a priority.
US.VOTE
Franz, tell us about yourself, your life abroad, and what brought you to Europe.
Franz Safford
I moved abroad about three years ago as an independent business owner. I’m in the glass façade construction business. My business is headquartered in New York. I came here to be with my life partner and at the same time to reinforce my European subsidiary operation, which is based in Austria. Being here also gets me halfway to India, which helps me keep in touch with our Asian operation.
I still have a very strong connection to the United States, with a house there. I go back and forth between the two continents often.
US.VOTE
Were you already a voter when you were in the U.S.?
Franz Safford
Yes, I was an active voter, usually voting by absentee ballot in New York.
US.VOTE
How did you find out that you could vote from abroad?
Franz Safford
I knew I could vote from abroad but I did not know the mechanics of doing so. Having watched the spectacle of counting overseas ballots in the election year of 2000, I knew it was possible. But I didn’t know exactly how.
Fortunately, I have a go-to civic website and have a Voter Account. I’m on a list for election alerts and that’s how I was reminded to start the process to find out how to acquire my ballot.
US.VOTE
How did you find the process of voting from overseas differed from your experience voting domestically as an absentee voter?
Franz Safford
I found it pretty easy once I got my absentee ballot. I filled it out and I sent it in. It was super easy. The only quirky thing was the envelope for New York State. They have some kind of interesting folding technique, but I learned that you don’t need to use that envelope as long as you sign the outside of a regular envelope, and it’s sealed and postmarked. Other than that, it was super easy.
US.VOTE
Did you ever have trouble receiving your ballot on time? And if so, what did you do about it? Have you been able to track your ballot and find out what happens to it?
Franz Safford
Yes, I did have an issue in one voting cycle. I found the link to ballot tracking for New York on the US Vote site. I could see that my ballot had been sent, but I had not yet received it. It was getting late, so I felt compelled to also follow up with a phone call.
I called my election office directly. It was a little bit of an effort because some of the people in the election administrator’s office were working part time. But I got through and they sent me a secure email with the ballot, and I was able to download it and vote and send it back in time. So cool, it was instant to get my ballot online. Fortunately, I’m equipped to print it and send it back.
US.VOTE
Did you ever check to see if your ballot was counted or you just assumed it was?
Franz Safford
I, in fact, just assumed that it was counted.
US.VOTE
Have you come across anything that dissuades people from voting from abroad or that you think prevents the community overall from participating in the franchise?
Franz Safford
I would say that if you’re not voting when you’re overseas it’s essentially your own limitation, because if you just go online the information is there for you to vote.
But you have to want to vote. I am a good case of that. When I came here, I had never voted from overseas. I got online and I was guided through the process in a very straightforward way and I was able to vote.
Just one point of practical advice – don’t wait till the last minute. My state of New York requires a form to come to them by post, printed and signed every year I want to vote. You have to give that some real time, I’d say 6 weeks at least before the election.
US.VOTE
You’re going back and forth from one continent to another. When you’re spending time abroad, do you feel still connected to the U.S., and if so, what keeps you connected?
Franz Safford
I have two sons who live in the U.S., and I talk to them frequently. I also have a business which engages me with the U.S. every single day, and I also have the opportunity to talk to different people in different parts of the country almost on a daily basis. Even though we’re talking business, there’s always some chit-chat about what’s going on in their local world and I have the benefit of that. So I feel very connected.
US.VOTE
How do you stay aware of what’s going on?
Franz Safford
I follow certain news outlets. I try to look at a number of them to manage what is the truth and what’s made up…so I stay in touch in that way.
US.VOTE
How does it feel to be an overseas voter and to cast your ballot from abroad?
Franz Safford
It feels great. I feel that I’m taking essentially the only civic action that I can take as a citizen. Unless I was in a government position of influence – it’s going to be voting. That’s it. That’s the only real action that I can take that has consequences.
Franz Safford views his US Vote Voter Account as his own personal democracy dashboard. He moves back and forth between different continents and never falls through the cracks at election time. Set up a Voter Account to store your voter information, print election forms, and get election reminders so you can focus on your travels and business with the confidence that US Vote will make voting simple.
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