Expats and Overseas Voting

Hi Everyone

Recent debate on the web regarding expats and the right to vote, and especially the latest ruling of South Africa Constitutional Court in favor of South Africans expats living abroad to vote if they were registered, has got me thinking about this subject and wonder how is it for other expats around the world.

We for example, are a family of diplomats, and therefore have the right to vote in national elections while living overseas. We got to vote twice during our overseas postings.

The procedure is quite interesting - The ballot box was shipped directly to the Embassy and was kept in a safe until the voting day. We had to vote a week before the formal date because the ballot had to be sealed, shipped back home, and arrive on time for the election vote counting.

Not many Israeli expats are allowed to vote - only those who are sent abroad by a government agency can vote. For some expats this is frustrating - A very good friend of us, who was in the middle of the process of moving to Canada could not vote in Israel national elections, but at the same time had no right to vote in Canada national elections. His political awareness is quite strong, and this situation was very hard for him.

On the other hand some Israeli expats didn't care that they can't vote, and others had a citizen status in Canada, therefore they were allowed to vote in Canada national elections but couldn't vote in Israel national elections, and they had no problem with that.

I believe that this is a complicated issue not only for expats, but also for the legislators at the home country.

Why?

Because, some expats hold a dual citizenship. This means that theoretically they can vote in the national elections of two countries, but they actually live only in one country. Some expats left their home country 20 years ago, and comes back only for visits. Is it morally O.K that they vote in the elections of their home country? Do they have the right to influence the politics of a country where they do not live anymore?

I would love to hear your opinion about this subject, and if you are an expat living abroad please share with us what is the law in your home country, and how do you feel about it

Sharon