Should Citizens Living Abroad Get a Vote?
Netanyahu’s political enemies pounced. Opposition leader Tzipi Livni of the Kadima Party quickly seized the opportunity to lead the charge against the idea, with Kadima filing a no-confidence motion against the government for supporting the proposal. She declared:
The right to determine Israel’s fate should be in the hands of those who live in Israel and are willing to bear the consequences of their decisions in the polling booth, for better or worse. I believe that Israelis should be encouraged to return to Israel, but the right to decide what will happen in the country should be reserved for those who decided to choose their future inside it.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak of the Labor Party, Netanyahu’s coalition partner, came out unequivocally against it as well, stating:
Only those people who are here with us and who bear the risks and burden of being here should be allowed to vote in Israel.
Emotional arguments against the idea ensued. Columnist and television anchorman Yair Lapid, who has been perceived as flirting with an entrance on the political stage in recent weeks, called the bill “immoral in the deepest sense of the word.”
Writing during a visit in snowbound Washington, D.C., he lamented:
The bill which Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to pass … says that someone can live in this cold, wake up in the morning, clear the snow around his house, get the GMC out of the garage, travel on broad streets, amidst Victorian brownstones, enter a small room, vote for Lieberman, or National Union, or Meretz, determine our fate, interfere in our future, decide what our lives will look like, and then drive back home, kiss Irene or Catherine, and then help John Junior write an essay about Lincoln and the Civil War.
The proposal has not been completely without defenders. Some contend that a small and vulnerable country such as Israel can only benefit from having supportive citizens living around the world. Preserving the sense of belonging among those who live abroad, many of whom served in the army in their youth, can only be to Israel’s advantage and increase the chances that they — or their children — might someday choose to return to live in Israel.
But the pitfalls are substantial. With Israel’s fast path to citizenship owing to the Law of Return, theoretically large numbers of Jews living abroad could strategically move to Israel short-term, take up their voting rights, and return to their homes overseas with a license to vote en masse.
The irony in the situation is that from an idealogical standpoint, the natural position for the nationalist and patriotic right — the Lieberman-Netanyahu camp — would be to oppose those living overseas voting, not to propose it. One doesn’t have to be too cynical to understand that self-interest plays a role in the right’s advocacy of overseas voting. The end result of overseas voting would be increased support for the further right and more religious parties. Even if the vast majority of Israeli citizens living abroad don’t necessarily hold right-wing views, those who would be motivated to take the time and trouble to make it to the polls would be the populations of Orthodox Jews living in large cities.
For the same reason, the more international and global centrist and left-wing parties, who enjoy their prolonged stays in Paris, Cambridge, and Silicon Valley and should more naturally be cheerleading the idea of voting from abroad, are opposing it.
A search for middle ground is underway; some politicians are proposing criteria that would allow “deserving” Israelis overseas to vote, while excluding others. Livni’s rival for the leadership of Kadima, Shaul Mofaz, parted with her unequivocal stance:
I am against saying that everyone who lives abroad can vote. On the other hand, it’s different when people fulfill their duty to Israel — pay taxes, serve in the army, have their kids serve in the army, bear the burden. People who leave for a short period of time should not lose their right to vote and shouldn’t have to pay $1,000 to fly here.
In an attempt to control the damage from Netanyahu’s initial support of Lieberman’s bill, Netanyahu’s Likud Party is also forming an alternative proposal which would grant voting rights for those who have lived abroad for less than six years, during which they spent at least 40 days in Israel.
Time will tell if any of these proposals makes it to a full Knesset vote. Most observers believe it will remain a theoretical tempest in a teapot for years to come.
In the meantime, voting will remain an expensive airline ticket away for Israelis living in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. And the next time I send in my U.S. absentee ballot for the price of a stamp, I will appreciate the bargain.
The issue here is, more than anything else, shared risk. Put simply, whatever the POV of a fellow Israeli who gets up in the morning knowing that war could break out in an eyeblink, that an Arab terrorist could murder him on his way to or from work, or going to or from the synagogue, etc., etc., shares the risks I take getting up in the morning. The yoréd in Columbus OH, doesn’t.
From my POV, that is the beginning and the end of the argument. He who shares the risk I do here can share decisions of the country’s governance with me. A big part of being an Israeli is sharing that risk. He who does not share that risk with me should have no voice.
Is that generous or is it “no taxation without representation”? The US is the only country to impose world wide taxes on her citizens. Citizens living abroad pay taxes, ergo get to vote. Simple, yes?
I am an expat. I should have the right to vote. However, I would gladly surrender that right were it required to stamp out the Left’s abuse of absentee ballots in their voting fraud.
A picture ID should be required of each and every voter.
I am also an expat. For years I did not vote because almost all the news I had access to was filtered through the foreign media. The internet has changed that. Not only do I now get American news, I can even assess some of that news without MSM filters. I feel that I am a very informed voter.
I am not a fan of dual citzenship; make a commitment when you reach adulthood. I do not think American voting rights should be influenced by Israel’s laws. That country has too many special problems to serve as a standard.
I am a retired Dept. of Defense employee living in the Philippines solely on my pension as I am legally prohibited from working here. I pay Federal income tax on every penny I receive plus medicare etc. I see no reason why I should not have a vote on who gets to reach into my pockets and how far.
Why should those with no vested interest in a country, as shown by their unwillingness to actually live there (exceptions for temporary absences, such as service, studies, research, or overseas jobs in a native company) be allowed to influence policies in which they have no vested interest? Why should they be able to consent other people to governance they do not subject themselves to?
Is it due to a simple accident of birth? If a person’s birth has such weak ties that they no longer live in their native country, then I’d say those ties are also too weak to carry the franchise.
“… not every country is so generous.”
BS! The US makes me pay taxes every stinking year though I’ve been an expat for decades. Other countries don’t do that.
Furthermore, the US NEVER has counted my vote, and rarely even its military’s votes. Even in the narrowest of races like 2000 Bush/Gore the so’n'sos found reasons not to count the offshore citizens’ votes.
Triple BS!
I agree that dual citizenship shouldn’t be allowed and if it were not there would be much less of a problem. Beyond dual citizenship, I agree that,” military personnel serving on bases abroad, diplomats serving abroad, students or businessmen who are living in another country for a few years — fine, they should vote …”, with the proviso that “students or businessmen” should have some well defined limits such as “overseas no more than four years out of the past decade” or some such.
People who vote here for the sake of some “connection” aren’t here to suffer the effects of those they help elect so whether they feel connected or not is moot. The emotional attachment someone might get by voting is a pretty sorry argument. I recall an older couple who lived in Poland so that they could live very well on their SS income, but voted in every election they could here in the states. Why should they be able to reside in Poland but help determine who represents those who reside here? The same goes for the folks I’ve heard of that have gone to Mexico and elsewhere for the same economic reasons. The fact that such folks still get their SS checks sufficient concession to their “emotional attachment”.
Regards
Then stop taxing them. If the United States wants to claim lordship over its citizens living abroad by taxing their income no matter where they are living and working, then it better not deny them one iota of the benefits of US citizenship.
I notice that none of you guys who condemn these voters actually have the decency to admit that if they are to have no representation, then by God they shouldn’t have to continue to pay federal taxes while they are living in another country…
3. Canard: “I am an expat. I should have the right to vote. However, I would gladly surrender that right were it required to stamp out the Left’s abuse of absentee ballots in their voting fraud.”
Canard indeed.
I personally know of at least half a dozen persons who are living overseas, married to a non US person, and still vote in the USA.
I really hate these people, as all of them voted for Obama, and posted about it on Facebook.
Nothing like parachuting out of the plane before it hits the mountains…
I am not a fan of dual citizenship. The U.S. law used to require that in order to become a citizen, one had to forswear all foreign allegiances. America has borders, and its citizens share common views of the world, but what really defines Americans is the unique and priceless Constitution. We are a very diverse nation, with a large dollop of Christianity but with a prohibition on any official religion, while protecting the free exercise of other religions. Race has finally been eliminated as a legal bar to interaction of the American people. But there is no American religion, and no American “race” or ethnic group.
My take on the issue is: American citizens, without dual citizenship, should have the right to vote, no matter where they live and no matter how long they have lived there. If a person lives in the United States, but has dual citizenship, the vote should be denied. Man cannot serve two masters, or more importantly, he cannot abide by more than one basic law (for us, the Constitution). I have no problem with globalism, good international relations, and international cooperation. But I still believe in American exceptionalism, and therefore believe that dual citizenship and the right to vote in two countries is simple divided loyalty, even when it’s not intended.
I am a dual U.S./Swiss. When I married my Swiss husband, citizenship was *automatically* conferred upon me, I did not choose it. If I had, at least at that time, I would have had to give up my U.S. citizenship, I choice I would not have made.
We have tried to live in the U.S. twice and circumstances (being able to earn a living) required our return to Switzerland, where, at our age, we are likely to have to remain. In addition, my husband would have to re-apply for a green card, a quite onerous procedure that had required the participation of my late parents as well (it’s not easy to be a legal immigrant, although apparently easy to be an illegal).
Not only am I subject to U.S. taxes, a point others have brought up, but circumstances preventing me from being physically present there in no way lessen my patriotism or interest in the fate that befalls my homeland. No one has brought up the point that we may care about the future of our families when we vote and that is precisely why I do – and not for Obama or any of his ilk (likewise other expats I know). Such reasoning could also apply to those so old that they personally will not be affected – no, they vote for the future of their families.
I find it strange that you rush to judgment so quickly and assume that being an expat implies anything unpatriotic. I will note that I am often treated rudely when entering the U.S. and asked unpleasantly the purpose of my visit (already stated as “pleasure” on the form) – I’d like to see my family… duh.
An anecdote, someone I know was forced to give up U.S. citizenship as, with the exchange rate as it has been and is foreseen, coupled with the much higher cost of living here, he simply COULD NOT AFFORD double taxation any more.
Note: To make clear the seriousness of our desire to remain in the U.S., it may interest you to know that we invested $30,000 in a U.S. graduate degree for him, a debt we are still repaying.
I haven’t bothered to keep up anything about my citizenship in the States. I have no desire to return there, no desire to financially support a Jew-hating American government with any of MY money, so I have not bothered to renew my passport, or that of anybody in my family.
When I say boycott the enemy, I mean it. I express my opinion on certain issues of American politics, but for the most part, that is for you Americans to rant and rave about. Finally, I have not bothered to vote in American elections. I tried in 2008 – but was unable to.
I do not view myself as an American ex-pat. My sole reason for not renouncing my American citizenship is that wish to collect the Social Security pension I have earned. If the government tries to deny me that, I will dump my citizenship altogether. You and your legal system are not worth my efforts.
“Civitas Americanus est” is no longer a privilege. It’s a burden I no longer seek.
I don’t believe that dual or even triple citizens — that’s me — should be able to vote in the country where they are not resident. They are out of touch with what’s going on “at home”.
On the other hand there’s nothing wrong with multiple citizenships, except where holding them might impact defense and security.
If you are an American citizen you should be able to vote is US elections period.
I haven’t lived in the U.S. since late 1996. However, I try to keep up with what’s going on there and even to write about that sort of thing here. Overseas voting is a bit of a hassle,and so for that matter is paying federal taxes. Voting, at least, serves a useful purpose.
Triple Citizen:
I am most definitely informed and not at all out of touch with what’s going on “at home.” Certainly, it is not at all difficult to get a grip on Federal issues – esp. since the “legacy” media is not serving the people’s interest in any case, rather the new media, accessible from everywhere.
I keep up with local and state issues easily the same way, with the added advantage that my family (very well informed)discusses these issues with me as well. I feel quite confident that my qualifications on knowledge of the issues far surpasses those of many living right there.
Good grief, what is one of the major issues facing the U.S. as well as other countries – the citizens who are uninformed and are unwilling to pay attention, maybe even bother to vote, and those who do but whose time limitations only only enough for the drivel that passes as news on the MSM and a glance at the paper.
Get a grip!!
A different issue would be that of allowing one to CHOOSE 2 nationalities, that can be and historically was, perceived as an abdication of citizenship. Fine. But to deny me the influence I might have over my family’s future based on circumstances beyond my control IS completely ridiculous, especially in view of the taxation without representation issue.
And sweeping statements based on how we vote because of some Facebook page is simply beyond the pale.
Yes, you bet I’m angry.
Obama uses a dead mans social security card and he wants us to believe he is not a insane mobster. He is as evil as Stalin and Hitler and will most likely prove that to us in the near future. Read about Black Liberations Theology…he attended and was taught this Marxist ideology for 20 years. Our current Pope said in his book that this ideology is dangerous and millions have been murdered by it. One is delusion to think Obama would not be dangerous to people of these US. Yes, citizens living outside the country should get a vote.
What about the people with dual citizenship living abroad who freely admit that they vote in order to stick it to the rest of us living here? You know, the ones that boast about it on Facebook? Are we supposed to be happy about these people who cancel our votes and mock us all the while?
Richard W,
So a few loudmouth jerks are a reason to dictate policy or abrogate rights? Hey, I wasn’t a loudmouth and – presumably – I didn’t cancel your vote and certainly didn’t mock you.
So the apparently “silent majority” should get screwed because you don’t like the fringe loudmouths.
Maybe you better take a closer look at your political philosophy.
Sheesh.
Generally I am only in favor of military voting if overseas. No dual citizenship at all.
But more importantly I would say that anyone who receives more in direct payment from the government than they pay in taxes. Now those are the ones who should not be allowed to vote. This is the non-military public sector worker as well as those who get un-earned income payments and other welfare distributions.
Kendra,
I support you completely. I don’t like dual citizenship because I think a person should make a choice, but if one has no say in the matter, that’s another thing.
An additional point for Richard: Some of us expats actually have better insights into issues because we can contrast the real situations on the ground in our place of residence with the fallacious descriptions one gets from the MSM. You must remember that reporters and intellectuals live in bubbles, no matter where they are. Expats are far more likely to know lots of people of different backgrounds over a long period of time. We can get beyond the putting-your-best-foot-forward kind of knowledge that one encounters on the cocktail circuit. We can see that a policy that works reasonably well in one place might be terrible in another. We come to understand the cultural underpinnings that influence the different outcomes. Please don’t put us all in your narrow little box.
“in a country with astronomically high taxes”
Allow me to comment just this: Israel has lower taxes than most developed countries. Taxes used to be very high but not anymore. Israel is in the average of the OECD regarding taxation. And if the trend continues it will be one of the lowest taxed country within a few years.
Stop it with the dual citizenship, and other fringe cases. The avg American overseas is a factory rep, a marketeer, a US subsidiary manager or technical specialist, or otherwise engaged in bringing profits into the US with their labor and talent.
They are taxed out the ying-yang by local govts and by the USA who alone taxes its offshore citizens.
Of course they should vote. But they’re never counted anyway due to corrupt politics at home.
If you did your army service, as long as you continue to do your reserve service, you should be allowed to vote. IF you are to old to do reserve duty but did it in a responsible manner as youth, I think you earned the right to vote even from Iceland.
If the country is not good enough for you to actually live in, then why should you be able to vote?
If you don’t like paying the taxes as an expat, then either
A) dump your US citizenship.
B) get your happy ass back here, and live with the consequences of your vote.
vb,
Thanks for your support and recognition that not all cases are the same and that we do often have very good knowledge of issues and candidates (I do!).
Pelaut,
Another very good point!
AF-Vet,
You might actually read the comments and respond to some of those points – a number of points worthy of consideration have been brought up, lately pelaut brought up another good one.
To reiterate: I’d love to live in my country, even with the circumstances of its leadership right now – in fact I’d love to just so I can work directly to throw the bums out. Should I leave my husband then (or bring him with me and put him on the dole? hahaha)
A) since some of you guys are really “alien”ating me, maybe I should. I don’t know if I ought to be contributing to you, if you’re representative of the majority attitude (hmm, come to think of it, how’d “the one” get elected?).
B) my family and its future generation are the ones that will live with the biggest effects of my vote (being of a certain age)
Every group has a certain percentage of jerks, and they tend to be very vocal, hence groups like the Facebook one (which I haven’t seen – what’s it called?) Are they really all duals (someone only temporarily abroad will end up coming back and still being a jerk.)
Kendra,
I DID read all of the posts, thank you. Your situation is of your own making. There always choices, and you made yours. The taxes you pay are the price of your choice.
And I am not challenging your patriotism.
Regards
I would happily forego voting if it meant I could also forego paying taxes on the income I earn while living outside the US. No other nation taxes its citizens this way.
I don’t recall addressing my complaints “Dear Kendra”. They were general grievances.
When I need your advice I’ll ask for it. But more likely, I won’t.
My political philosophy is in line with this forum and blog.
Here’s the quick version of this article: those durn expats! They’ve actually seen what Bush’s disastrous reign did to American prestige–and the US dollar–overseas. So let’s deny them the vote before they can vote against further idiocies by our friends in the GOP!
The emotional attachment someone might get by voting is a pretty sorry argument. I recall an older couple who lived in Poland so that they could live very well on their SS income, but voted in every election they could here in the states.