Trump’s DOD quietly removed process for American citizens born and remaining abroad to register to vote and request mail ballots
Today, the DNC sued the Trump administration over the Department of Defense (DOD)’s attempt to disenfranchise eligible American citizens who were born and remain abroad by proclaiming a false “emergency” to justify changes to voter registration materials. The DNC’s complaint denounces the Trump administration for following the lead of the Republican National Committee in attempting to disenfranchise Americans abroad because they overwhelmingly favor Democratic candidates.
For decades, American citizens born and remaining abroad, including the children of veterans, have registered to vote and requested mail ballots using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). In late August, DOD proclaimed a false “emergency” to change the FPCA without notice and comment — eliminating the way thousands of American citizens born and remaining abroad register to vote and request ballots each year.
In August of a critical midterm election year, Trump’s DOD simply eliminated a box on the Federal Post Card Application that describes U.S. citizens born and remaining abroad — who are eligible to vote under the laws of 38 states and the District of Columbia — which could make it impossible for them to register to vote and request mail ballots.
In response to this brazen attack on Americans’ right to vote, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Trump and Republicans are so desperate to hang on to power that they are trying to eliminate the way some American citizens abroad register to vote and request mail ballots. They know that Americans, both at home and abroad, are going to reject their destructive agenda, and they are scrambling to disenfranchise as much of the electorate as possible by any means necessary. The DNC will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to defend every American’s First Amendment right to participate in our democracy — no matter who they are or where they live.”
