snorkledoodle

Sometimes even local stuff. U.S. states, our provincial government level, have processes in place to account for Americans living abroad to vote in state and local elections. It’s guaranteed by law, I think. Our states handle all voting on behalf of the federal government anyway (registration, voting day operations, counts, all often under the misleadingly named office of a Secretary of State), so it’s a natural consequence of our structure. It is nice to live abroad as if you were still at your last physical address for voting purposes, though, and usually not notice a big difference. I think it’s implied that those of us who have done it intend to come back, in the system’s thinking, but I think everyone understands the relevance of their vote according to their situation and beliefs.

We’re of course all too familiar with this process from several consequential court cases deliberating its efficacy and merit in generational memory. Whether it’s sensible has been argued with elections on the line.