AARO - Association of Americans Resident Overseas

Our Battle to Keep the Vote Carries On!

Update of “State of Play” White Paper

The AARO Voting Committee has updated its White Paper, “State of Play,” detailing legislation, lawsuits and executive actions that could undermine the voting rights of Americans living abroad. The new White Paper provides a comprehensive overview and update of the:

Legal and legislative landscape
Status of key court cases and proposed laws
Practical impact on overseas voters
Actions AARO is taking to safeguard voting access
Steps Americans abroad can take to protect their right to vote

AARO estimates that 5.5 million Americans live abroad.

How Many Americans Live Abroad?

Estimating the numbers of Americans living overseas is challenging. In November 2023, AARO estimated that at least 5.4 million Americans live abroad, while noting that, understandably, various organizations, experts and the U.S. Government had different and widely diverging estimates.

AARO has long advocated for the voting rights of Americans abroad.

AARO Defends Overseas Voting Rights in North Carolina Case

In response to a legal challenge in North Carolina that threatens these rights, AARO again partnered with the U.S. Vote Foundation and the Brennan Center for Justice to file an amicus curiae brief, this time with the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the case Jefferson Griffin v. North Carolina State Board of Elections and Allison Riggs.

AARO was in Washington, D.C. the week of May 12, 2025 for OAW, our annual advocacy initiative on Capitol Hill.

Overseas Americans Week 2025
– with Post OAW Developments

The 2025 edition of AARO’s and FAWCO’s OAW may be fairly characterized as being highly successful in advancing the interests of Americans abroad. Please read below the full report of the Advocacy team’s work in Washington at OAW, as well as developments afterwards.

The Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), founded in 1973 and headquartered in Paris, is a global, non-partisan non-profit association with members in over 45 countries. AARO builds awareness in the U.S. of the issues affecting Americans overseas and the inequities regarding their rights, and seeks fair treatment by the U.S. government for Americans abroad. AARO also informs its members of the issues affecting them and of their rights and responsibilities as American citizens.

Learn more about AARO