The UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) allows U.S. military members, their families, and citizens residing abroad to vote via absentee ballot in federal elections. These ballots can be returned by mail, email, or fax, depending on the state.
Five potential vulnerabilities:
- Mail delays: Overseas ballots may be delayed, leading to missed deadlines or potential tampering.
- Electronic ballot systems: These could be targeted by hackers, compromising votes.
- Identity verification: Manipulation of voter identity during absentee registration.
- Ballot harvesting: Gathering and mishandling absentee ballots.
- Lack of transparency: Difficulty verifying the chain of custody for ballots submitted electronically or by mail.
The 2022 Overseas Citizen Population Analysis (OCPA) report shows that around 2.8 million U.S. voting-age citizens resided abroad during the 2022 election, with only 3.4% participating compared to 62.5% of domestic voters. Overseas voters face unique challenges, particularly with international mail delays, leading to low turnout.
To address this, the report highlights the benefits of electronic ballot delivery, which could help overcome these challenges. Overseas voters, who tend to be younger and more educated, are a crucial demographic that could influence future elections if provided with better access. Boosting overseas voter participation could significantly impact election results.
As the 2024 election approaches, Democrats are focusing on U.S. swing-state voters living abroad to gain support for Vice President Kamala Harris. These expatriates, particularly from critical swing states like Florida and Pennsylvania, could be decisive in closely contested races. Democrats Abroad has ramped up efforts to engage these voters, who are often younger and more progressive, making them a key demographic in the 2024 election strategy.
At the same time, recent remarks from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger have raised concerns about the integrity of the upcoming election in the state, which has been at the center of election disputes in recent years. Some believe these comments hint at potential administrative strategies that could influence the election outcome in Georgia.
Further complicating matters, concerns have emerged about how certain election practices could lead to undetectable fraud, as outlined in a recent article. These claims focus on vulnerabilities in election procedures that could be exploited, making it easier to manipulate results without detection. This discussion of election integrity continues to play a significant role in the 2024 electoral landscape.
The potential for these concerns to influence public confidence in election outcomes—especially in battleground states like Georgia—highlights the importance of ensuring transparency and security. As overseas voters and swing states become more central to the strategies of both parties, ensuring fair access and voter trust remains essential leading into the 2024 election.
