Trump administration's quiet move makes it harder for some US citizens abroad to vote, lawsuit says

In August 2023, Trump administration officials at the Pentagon submitted emergency requests to change absentee-voting forms for overseas US citizens, bypassing the usual months-long approval process. The revisions removed a checkbox on the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) that allowed voters who had never lived in the United States to declare their eligibility to vote. This move was criticized by voting rights advocates and Democrats as potentially confusing or disenfranchising some overseas voters ahead of the midterm elections. In response, the DNC filed a lawsuit on October 1, 2023, alleging that the Trump administration's changes were unlawful and made it harder for US citizens abroad to vote. The suit argues that eliminating the option for never-lived-in-the-US voters is particularly problematic as these individuals often have strong family ties to the country and are legally allowed to vote in 38 states and DC.