How Americans in London can still vote in US midterms elections

The UK has the third biggest population of Americans living outside of the US, after Mexico and Canada. Five years ago, there were around 61,000 Americans living in London.

Americans living abroad can vote in the all-important elections, and there is still time to have your say in the November 2 midterm vote.

What are the midterm elections and why do they matter?

The midterm elections, which start on November 2, are held half-way through a president’s four years in office. Though the White House itself isn’t on the ballot, the outcome decides which political party will take control of Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

This will influence the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency, as well as indicating how voters feel about a president’s performance so far.

If a “blue wave” for the Democrats sweeps over America in the election, which some polls have predicted, this could significantly weaken Trump's ability to advance his agenda.

If Democrats gain seats in the Senate, it would be easier for them to block legislation introduced by the president. Losing a Senate majority also makes it far harder for a president to fill open judicial and executive posts.

Who controls Congress at the moment?

Republicans hold a majority in both the Senate (53 seats) and the House of Representatives (218 seats).

All 435 members of the House of Representatives are up for grabs on November 2. Whereas 35 out of 100 seats in the Senate will be decided through the vote.

So the midterms are crucial. And if you are a US expat living in London, there is still time to cast your vote.

How can American expats in the UK vote in the US midterm elections?

Voting is decided on the last address the voter lived at in the US before they moved abroad. To register and request your ballot, you apply for the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

If you’ve never lived in the US, you might still be able to vote, but that depends on the state. Check your state’s current details before completing the FPCA.

On the FPCA, you can choose how you want to receive your ballot (some are sent electronically), and then you must complete the ballot before the deadline and post the vote, which also depends on the state.

There is no set deadline for the whole country, so voters will need to check with their individual state. Varying deadlines are set for when voters must register using the FPCA, request a ballot and return the ballot.

You can still send off your vote in some regions. Certain states, such as Mississippi and Washington, don’t have any deadlines for when you need to request the ballot.

Bear in mind that for certain states, the ballot must arrive by a specific deadline in order to be counted. For example, for those voting for Wisconsin, the ballot must be received by 8pm on November 3. But for those voting in California, providing the ballot was mailed by November 3, it can arrive up until November 10. You can check this website for more information.