Americans voting from Mexico share a concern ahead of the midterms: the future of democracy

By Valeria León, CNN

Mexico City (CNN) — On the shores of Lake Chapala, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, lies one of the country’s most popular communities for American retirees.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 foreign residents live in the lakeside town of Ajijic, and US politics remains part of everyday conversations, especially as the November 3 midterm elections approach.

James Burns is one of those retired expats. Six years ago, he left Arizona to settle in this community, drawn by the warmth of its people. He says many Americans living here have already cast their ballots remotely, aware of what’s at stake.

On November 3, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats will be contested in elections that could change the balance of power in Washington.

Regardless of who wins, what worries Burns is what may happen afterward, in a country he sees as increasingly polarized.

“What comes next? We’ve seen how the situation in the United States has deteriorated, and frankly, we’re concerned that there could be violence, as well as about the safety of our family and friends,” he told CNN.

Supporting democracy from afar

From Mexico, thousands of Americans are closely following the issues on the ballot, including trade and tariffs, as well as the tightening of immigration measures and operations by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

These issues have divided Americans of all ages, at home and abroad.

In Mexico City, 45-year-old Samuel McCree watches the political tensions gripping his country with worry and believes that defending its democratic institutions is more important than ever.

“For a long time, we have taken our democracy for granted. That is why I believe that now, more than ever, we must support and protect it,” he told CNN.

McCree settled in the Mexican capital after leaving Salt Lake City, Utah, two years ago.

He grew up in a politically active family. His mother, Peg, is a member of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan civic organization founded in 1920, the same year the US ratified a constitutional amendment recognizing women’s right to vote.

That family influence shaped McCree, who believes it is essential to continue participating in his country’s political decisions, even from abroad.

Obstacles to voting

Back in Ajijic, Burns says that while most expats like him prioritize the importance of voting, casting a ballot from Mexico can be complicated.

Voters have to follow procedures that vary depending on the US state where they’re registered. That is why organizations such as Vote From Abroad have helped Americans in the region update their registrations, request their ballots and understand the requirements for returning them correctly.

“They helped us make sure our voter registration was up to date and explained how to obtain our ballot and what we had to do to comply with each state’s small and peculiar election rules so that our votes would be counted,” Burns said.

Another obstacle to voting remotely is the postal service.

In Mexico City, McCree says sending a package to the US can be expensive and difficult, in part because Mexico’s postal service can be “somewhat unreliable.”

To avoid possible delays, McCree gave his ballot to a friend who visited him in Mexico so they would take it to the US and mail it in.

“I really wanted to make sure my ballot arrived on time so that my vote would be counted. And for me, as an American, it is very important to continue participating in the United States political process,” he told CNN.

Despite such efforts, voter turnout among Americans living outside their country remains historically low, particularly in midterm elections.

In 2022 there were approximately 91,000 voting-age US citizens residing in Mexico, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program of the US Department of Defense, but only an estimated 3.1% of eligible voters participated in the midterms that year.

Adding to the logistical difficulties is a legal controversy that has raised new concerns about the rules for voting from abroad.

The Trump administration has changed part of the federal form that citizens use to vote from another country, removing the option that allowed them to identify as US citizens who have never resided in the United States. That category includes people born abroad to US citizens who may have the right to vote under the laws of certain states.

The Democratic National Committee has filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department and the Office of Management and Budget over the change, arguing that it could make it harder for voters to register and request ballots.

Tension and distrust

Although the controversy affects a specific group of voters, it is unfolding amid a broader debate over access to the ballot and election rules.

It is an issue that concerns Bradley Narduzzi, who has been voting from Mexico for two decades and says he has never before felt so much uncertainty about the process.

“There has never been a situation where you have to worry about your vote. This is the first time in my life — I’m in my 50s — that I’ve been worried about my vote. It’s alarming,” Narduzzi warns.

Political polarization, questions about election rules and the debate over election integrity have contributed to distrust among some segments of the US electorate.

Although Narduzzi says he still trusts his country’s electoral system, he acknowledges that not everyone shares that confidence.

As a visual artist, Narduzzi travels frequently to Texas, where he says he has noticed people becoming more cautious, even when expressing their opinions.

“But it’s alarming. And many people are watching what’s happening. They are very careful about what they do, what they say and what they write,” he says with concern.

Immigration is another issue that, according to Narduzzi, has contributed to this climate of tension. Deportation policies, border control measures and the role of immigration authorities have dominated part of the US political debate, and are also spilling over into private conversations.

“We have a major immigration problem. So that is also a cause for concern. And yes, I think we all know that we are going through a tense moment. We live in tense times,” he says.

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