GOP push seeks limits on overseas U.S. voting
Republican groups and state litigants are pursuing lawsuits and legislative proposals that would narrow or block voting by U.S. citizens who have never lived in the United States but were born abroad (including children of service members). NPR reports (Oct. 1, 2025) that these efforts—highlighted by RNC challenges in Michigan and North Carolina and recent state‑court rulings—have already changed North Carolina law, restricting overseas non‑resident voters to federal elections only, and could depress turnout among roughly 2.8 million American expatriates ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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🔍 Key Facts
- Approximately 2.8 million U.S. adult citizens lived abroad and were eligible to vote in 2022 (federal estimate).
- 37 states plus Washington, D.C., currently allow citizens born abroad who never lived in the U.S. to vote in at least some contests; recent North Carolina rulings now bar those voters from state and local races.
- Republican National Committee legal challenges in swing states (notably Michigan and North Carolina) and related bills are active as of Oct. 1, 2025, with courts and state boards (e.g., North Carolina State Board of Elections) implementing changes.