We're not in the census?

[GilliC]

I was randomly looking something up today on the US census website, and I stumbled onto this:

U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. who are not employed by the U.S. Government, including dependents living with them - Not counted in the census.
www.census.gov/2010census/about/how-we-count.php

Isn't the census data used to determine things like electoral votes and congressional districts?* I felt disenfranchised already, since my central Texas congressman really has no reason to listen to me as a constituent when I write to him about ex-pat-related legislation. Now it turns out that we don't even contribute to the population numbers used to determine what little representation we have? Sigh.


*ETA - Yes, it's even on the same page:

Where You Are Counted Is Important

For the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau is committed to counting every person. Just as important, however, is the Census Bureau's commitment to counting every person in the correct place. The fundamental reason the decennial census is conducted is to fulfill the Constitutional requirement (Article I, Section 2) to apportion the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states. Thus, for a fair and equitable apportionment, it is crucial that people are counted in the right place during the 2010 Census.

So, it's important! ...As long as you're not an ex-pat. Because screw you all! You gave up your right to representation when you seditiously chose to leave the best country in the world! 

[potatopie]

but we can still vote for federal elections, and we still have passports and have kids and partners getting passports. Seems stupid not to count us.

The Italian system does something interesting by having specific representation for Italians abroad. Like, the Italians in one country vote on a rep just for them (I think this is how it works, can't remember everything when DH explained it).

[mrsukyankee]

And we still have to do taxes...but we're not officially part of the US (at least that's what I feel the census is saying). The US is ridiculous about all of this.

[origami]

Wow. You'd think expat-heavy cities would try to change this since politicians or the parties are always looking for ways to get more power. The US is so unfriendly to expats I'm actually surprised they haven't tried to take away our vote.

[GilliC]

Shortly after I found the census info, I stumbled over this blog post linked in a local American expat group on Facebook:
thefranco-americanflophouse.blogspot.fr/2014/10/lee-and-bopp-chance-to-turn-tide.html

It's a bit sensationalist, but still very true. And depressing.

[Cicero]

Allow me to add fuel to the fire. It's entirely possible for an expat not to be able to vote since different states have different requirements for being able to register there.

NY, for example, won't extend to the children of NY registered voters abroad if they have never lived in NYS themselves. So if you are the US citizen child of a New Yorker born and raised abroad you're not going to be able to vote.

But under the same set of circumstances if your parent was an Ohioan you'd be fine to vote since OH would allow you to register there.

[GilliC]

Nov 12, 2014 16:39:32 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Allow me to add fuel to the fire. It's entirely possible for an expat not to be able to vote since different states have different requirements for being able to register there.

NY, for example, won't extend to the children of NY registered voters abroad if they have never lived in NYS themselves. So if you are the US citizen child of a New Yorker born and raised abroad you're not going to be able to vote.

But under the same set of circumstances if your parent was an Ohioan you'd be fine to vote since OH would allow you to register there.

You inspired to go digging for more information on voting rights, and it looks like NY is actually one of the 30 states that allows it. 
www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/reside
vhd.overseasvotefoundation.org/index.php?/ovf/Knowledgebase/Article/View/945/3/can-my-american-children-born-abroad-vote

Unfortunately, Texas is not. That sucks for my friend's American-Norwegian daughter! However, according to the Overseas Vote Foundation, no state specifically forbids it:
vhd.overseasvotefoundation.org/index.php?/ovf/Knowledgebase/Article/View/257/3/as-an-american-citizen-born-overseas-can-i-vote

Before today, I did not realize that voting was not a constitutional right for all citizens! 

[Cicero]

Nov 14, 2014 6:57:46 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Nov 12, 2014 16:39:32 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Allow me to add fuel to the fire. It's entirely possible for an expat not to be able to vote since different states have different requirements for being able to register there.

NY, for example, won't extend to the children of NY registered voters abroad if they have never lived in NYS themselves. So if you are the US citizen child of a New Yorker born and raised abroad you're not going to be able to vote.

But under the same set of circumstances if your parent was an Ohioan you'd be fine to vote since OH would allow you to register there.

You inspired to go digging for more information on voting rights, and it looks like NY is actually one of the 30 states that allows it. 
www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/reside
vhd.overseasvotefoundation.org/index.php?/ovf/Knowledgebase/Article/View/945/3/can-my-american-children-born-abroad-vote

Unfortunately, Texas is not. That sucks for my friend's American-Norwegian daughter! However, according to the Overseas Vote Foundation, no state specifically forbids it:
vhd.overseasvotefoundation.org/index.php?/ovf/Knowledgebase/Article/View/257/3/as-an-american-citizen-born-overseas-can-i-vote

Before today, I did not realize that voting was not a constitutional right for all citizens! 

Thanks for sharing. Apparently the law has been changed in the last several years without me paying attention.

They don't need to specifically forbid it. You're likely not going to be able to prove you're tied to an address within the state and even if they do accept your registration you'll be purged from the rolls when you can't verify the address.

[GilliC]

Nov 14, 2014 9:44:22 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Nov 14, 2014 6:57:46 GMT -5 GilliC said:

You inspired to go digging for more information on voting rights, and it looks like NY is actually one of the 30 states that allows it. 
www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/reside
vhd.overseasvotefoundation.org/index.php?/ovf/Knowledgebase/Article/View/945/3/can-my-american-children-born-abroad-vote

Unfortunately, Texas is not. That sucks for my friend's American-Norwegian daughter! However, according to the Overseas Vote Foundation, no state specifically forbids it:
vhd.overseasvotefoundation.org/index.php?/ovf/Knowledgebase/Article/View/257/3/as-an-american-citizen-born-overseas-can-i-vote

Before today, I did not realize that voting was not a constitutional right for all citizens! 

Thanks for sharing. Apparently the law has been changed in the last several years without me paying attention.

They don't need to specifically forbid it. You're likely not going to be able to prove you're tied to an address within the state and even if they do accept your registration you'll be purged from the rolls when you can't verify the address.

How/When do they verify the address? My voter registration is tied to an apartment I lived in 10 years ago. Do they actually confirm that when I register each year?

[Cicero]

Nov 14, 2014 10:18:58 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Nov 14, 2014 9:44:22 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Thanks for sharing. Apparently the law has been changed in the last several years without me paying attention.

They don't need to specifically forbid it. You're likely not going to be able to prove you're tied to an address within the state and even if they do accept your registration you'll be purged from the rolls when you can't verify the address.

How/When do they verify the address? My voter registration is tied to an apartment I lived in 10 years ago. Do they actually confirm that when I register each year?

You likely verified it when you registered in the first place.

[wise_rita]

I wouldn't expect to be counted in the census. My existence has no bearing on roads, schools, etc. in the USA. I would like to be counted as a living, breathing, tax "paying" American citizen, though.

I'm from the only state in the nation without voter registration. I don't know if that factors into me getting to vote in local, county and state elections but I do. I've never, ever changed my voting address or drivers license address from my parents house (not even in college). I always say that I'm abroad indefinitely, but I still get to vote in absolutely everything.

[GilliC]

Came across a few statistics while I was looking up something else today (emphasis mine):

Overseas Americans find themselves in a peculiar and unfortunate position with

respect to representation on Capitol Hill. Although we are large in number—as large

as the entire populations of states such as Massachusetts, Washington, Indiana,

Arizona or Tennessee—our representation is divided up across all fifty states and

435 Congressional districts in such a way that we are, on average, only 2% of any

given Senator’s or Representative's constituents. This makes it particularly difficult for

us to raise issues of importance to us. Typical issues affecting overseas Americans

are voting rights, transmission of American citizenship and taxation of foreign income,

issues on which we can use all the support we can get.

Also, did anyone know that the fee for renouncing US citizenship (the actual consular fee, not the related taxes if any) went up in September? Apparently the increase in the number of people renouncing because of FATCA made them realize that it costs a heck of a lot more than they were charging! It went from $450 to $2,350!

[mrsukyankee]

FFS!!! I should NOT have to pay to get rid of a citizenship. That is bullshit.

[potatopie]

Nov 23, 2014 17:32:24 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Also, did anyone know that the fee for renouncing US citizenship (the actual consular fee, not the related taxes if any) went up in September? Apparently the increase in the number of people renouncing because of FATCA made them realize that it costs a heck of a lot more than they were charging! It went from $450 to $2,350!

That's ridiculous. I can't believe they get away with this kind of BS.