This post was originally published on Hespress
You will shortly be re-directed to the publisher's website
On US Election Day, thousands of Americans living in Morocco, along with all US nationals residing outside the United States, are expected to engage actively in today’s elections.
“This year, record numbers of Americans abroad, including those in Morocco, are expected to vote, following a low turnout in previous elections,” stated Elisabeth R. Myers, an American lawyer and law professor who leads Democrats Abroad Morocco, in a statement to Hespress English.
Media reports indicated that historically, U.S. politicians have rarely paid any attention to the roughly 4.4 million Americans living overseas in 2022; however, with this election, expected to be incredibly tight, according to the same source, “things are a little different.”
Myers explained that the number of Americans living in Morocco, estimated to be about 10,000, are seeking information about the voting process, which can be complicated due to varying state electoral rules.
“I would say that most of the voters I speak with, particularly Americans, are excited and optimistic about Kamala Harris winning this election, as they believe that is the only way to save our country,” she revealed, emphasizing that both those residing in Morocco and across the African continent share this optimism. “The momentum is on the Democratic side.”
Myers emphasized that “while there have been no organized gatherings among Americans in Morocco to discuss the elections due to the widespread distribution of the U.S. community across cities such as Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat, communication is still maintained.”
When asked about the potential impact of Kamala Harris victory on U.S. policy towards Morocco, the speaker expressed “confidence that her leadership would foster a positive relationship.”
She noted that Harris would maintain support for Morocco’s autonomy plans in the Sahara, which have already been reinforced by the Abraham Accords, emphasizing that under a Harris administration, U.S.-Morocco dialogues and tons of investments would continue to strengthen. “You could not count on Trump to continue,” she asserted.
For context, the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) reported an estimate of 4.4 million U.S. citizens living overseas in 2022, a decrease from 4.8 million in 2018, with the largest populations in Mexico and Canada.
Of this total, approximately 303,484 U.S. citizens reside in North Africa, which is included in the broader estimate for the combined Middle East and North Africa regions.
However, reports indicate that approximately 2.8 million of these citizens are eligible to vote in U.S. elections.
The post US expats in Morocco 'optimistically' participate in historic presidential election appeared first on HESPRESS English – Morocco News.