Americans living in the United Kingdom have historically participated in US elections at much lower rates than eligible voters in the United States, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching on 3 November.
Data from the US Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) estimated that 298,268 voting-age US citizens were living in the UK in 2022. The same FVAP data estimated a 3.8{0931a9b6576c5d87fe846c236d3725957ace4ff7894c2ecd00b9029ccfe6a5f9} voting rate among eligible overseas citizens in the UK during that year’s general election.
US citizens living abroad can vote in federal elections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, commonly known as UOCAVA. The law provides the framework for absentee voting by eligible US citizens residing outside the country, including registration and ballot procedures.
Eligible overseas voters can use the Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA, to register and request an absentee ballot. FVAP says the form can be used by UOCAVA voters for both purposes, while a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is available as a backup in certain circumstances when a regular ballot does not arrive in time.
The process varies by state, including registration, ballot-return and other deadlines. FVAP publishes state-specific guidance for overseas voters and advises voters to allow enough time for election materials to be received and returned.
The issue has gained attention ahead of the 2026 midterms after a recent US supreme court decision blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to impose new restrictions on mail-ballot procedures for the elections. The court’s September decision allowed states to continue using established mail-ballot processes while legal disputes over the administration’s policy continued.
The Guardian opinion article by Kathryn Sikkink, a human rights policy professor at Harvard Kennedy School, argues that low participation among Americans in the UK deserves greater attention. Her article also discusses concerns about misunderstandings over the relationship between overseas voting and US tax obligations.
For federal elections, voting itself does not create a US federal tax obligation. US citizens living abroad can, however, remain subject to US tax rules because of their citizenship and other circumstances, regardless of whether they vote.
The 2026 US midterm elections will determine seats in the House of Representatives and Senate. For overseas voters, the practical issue is making sure registration and ballot requests are completed early enough to meet the requirements of the relevant state.
The Guardian article is an opinion piece and its recommendation that Americans abroad participate more actively is the author’s position. FVAP’s official guidance provides the non-partisan information on eligibility, registration and absentee voting procedures.
Source: The Guardian; Federal Voting Assistance Program.
