The race to the White House has officially begun as Americans across the globe enter the last lap of the 2024 presidential marathon. The Consular Chiefs in the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and US Consulate General Dubai informed Khaleej Times in a statement that American expats in the UAE have been actively involved in casting their votes for the presidential elections.
The statement revealed that the 2024 international voter turnout is likely to “surpass the turnout from 2020.” In the weeks leading up to November 5, American expatriates have utilized the US online or postal ballot system banked at the US embassy or consulate in the UAE.
“US citizens in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can vote by mail by dropping off their completed ballots at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the US Consulate in Dubai. Ballots should be enclosed in a signed and sealed envelope to their local election office. Voters should check their state’s mailing address, deadlines, and other requirements for their state by visiting the website of the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at fvap.gov. Many states require ballots to be postmarked and mailed no later than election day, November 5. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai can mail voted ballots back to the United States and can advise voters on local mailing options and estimated mail transit times,” read the statement.
A recent survey conducted by MyExpatTaxes with a sample size of 1,500 participants from 80 countries revealed that over “half of the respondents would relinquish their right to vote if that meant they could abandon their US tax responsibilities.” The US upholds a citizenship-based tax system, which means that citizens based outside the country must fulfill their tax responsibilities to maintain their fundamental right to vote in elections.
Despite these complexities, “73% of respondents have voted while living abroad, with 51% of American expats expressing their vote from abroad did not have a meaningful impact on US elections.” These statistics point toward a growing concern for the US on a global stage: its convoluted voting system. Contrary to popular belief, the US’ complex election system still garners an adequate patriotic response, as “72% of US expats still believe voting is worth the extra effort, despite 77% expressing that they would be more likely to vote if the process was more simple abroad.
American expats in the UAE present an alternative reality to global concerns about the US voting system. Many Americans in the UAE are utilizing online ballots, while others resort to the absentee voting system, which allows them to vote via the postal system. The latter often takes up to three to four weeks to process and complete, American residents informed Khaleej Times.
While there are no in-person events planned for Election Day, U.S. citizens are encouraged to reach out to VoteAbuDhabi@state.gov or VoteDubai@state.gov for further instructions on voting by mail. American residents in the UAE must note that in-person voting is not available at U.S. embassies or consulates.
