ABSTRACT
Of the three million US citizens of voting age living abroad in 2016, only about 208,000 voted in the last presidential election, a humble turnout of 7%. Many obstacles explain the low turnout rate. The general difficulties of absentee voting aggravate the challenge of increasing turnout. To counteract these difficulties, the author addresses two topics: the rules for registering to vote and for casting absentee ballots; and community-building among US citizens living north of the border. On November 4, 2016, McGill University students held an election-watch party, anticipating a victorious night. Instead, the atmosphere of the packed bar grew quieter and quieter as the night wore on, for obvious reasons. More importantly, after that night, the community of Americans abroad—like many compatriots as home—moved from being passive viewers to being impassioned citizens.
