# Voting in two countries **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 9, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619 "2024-10-09T21:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/1 "2024-10-09T21:59:56Z")
The thread on voting in several states made me wonder how dopers feel about voting in more than one country. AFAIK, it is not illegal. Do you think it should be? What do you think about it? I just voted in the US election, but I also intend to vote in the next Canadian election. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/2 "2024-10-09T23:21:57Z")
My mother and sister vote in both the UK and the USA. They’ve paid taxes in both countries, so why not? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/3 "2024-10-09T23:27:16Z")
If you are a dual citizen then I see no problem voting in both countries. If it is legal both places then sure…go for it! I think voting in more than one state is not only illegal, it is wrong on the face of it and should be but that is a different thing than voting in two countries which seems fine. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/4 "2024-10-09T23:31:14Z")
My Israeli aunt and cousins with dual citizenship vote in both. From my POV though it’s unfortunate that they only vote on the basis of Israeli interests, despite about half of them living in the states full time for the last 2-3 decades. NOT a crack about divided loyalties _in general_, just the specific. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/5 "2024-10-09T23:34:45Z")
Without having much basis for my opinion, I lean towards saying that there are already more than enough laws. While I have no argument with countries that disallow this (India is the big one), dual citizens are often, pace BlackState, productive taxpayers. I am currently reading Have You Eaten Yet?: Stories from Chinese Restaurants Around the World. Maybe this is just an opportunity heuristic given that the author is Canadian, but I get the impression that there are an unusually large number of multiple citizenship Canadians. Is this a known fact? If so, it there any informed speculation on how it influences Canadian politics? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/6 "2024-10-09T23:49:08Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think voting in more than one state is not only illegal, it is wrong on the face of it and should be but that is a different thing than voting in two countries which seems fine. Voting for President in two different states is definitely wrong, because it’s voting twice in what’s basically the same election. Senator or Representative, probably also, because it gives you twice the representation in Congress. But voting in the purely local races in two different states? I’m not sure I see a problem with that, if both states’ laws allow for it. And two different nations, same story. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/7 "2024-10-09T23:53:10Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > If so, it there any informed speculation on how it influences Canadian politics I’ve never heard anyone worrying about it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/8 "2024-10-10T00:11:52Z")
My oldest kid resides in British Columbia and has dual citizenship (US/Canada) and votes in the US presidential elections plus the BC and general Canadian elections. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/9 "2024-10-10T00:17:15Z")
Just out of curiosity, how are you eligible in both countries? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/10 "2024-10-10T01:01:02Z")
I don’t know. I vote my own interests in Canada, while I vote in the US elections for the general interest (although my 3 children have settled back in the US). And I file US tax returns every year even though I end up owing nothing on account of the foreign tax credit. Right now, there is an issue involving Lebanese who immigrated to Canada, became citizens, then moved back to Lebanon and now want the Canadian government to help them get out. It has gotten politicized, although I haven’t paid a great deal of attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/11 "2024-10-10T01:06:02Z")
I can vote in Zimbabwe, UK and South Africa. I have only voted in South Africa; Zimbabwean politics makes it hard to choose the “least bad” candidate, and the UK is just dull idiot after dull idiot (Boris Johnson aside - he’s an idiot, but was mildly amusing in a ‘watching a train crash’ way). So I only vote in SA, because that is where I live, and most affects me. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/12 "2024-10-10T01:22:26Z")
I see nothing wrong with voting in multiple countries. If you are a citizen in more than one, you are entitled to, and since as a citizen of multiple countries you are potentially subject to its laws and political decisions, you _should_ be eligible to vote in them. I’d say if you don’t want people voting in multiple countries, don’t allow multiple citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/13 "2024-10-10T01:38:28Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Just out of curiosity, how are you eligible in both countries? As I understand it, neither the US nor Canada care that she’s a dual citizen. They only care that she’s a citizen of their particular country and thus has the right to vote. As an American living abroad, she only gets to vote for President. As a Canadian living in Canada she has the right to vote for national and her provincial/local candidates. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/14 "2024-10-10T03:35:27Z")
If it is not illegal I feel it should be allowed since you are subject to the laws that those governments enact. Why shouldn’t you have a say in what can happen to you, or in ensuring people are elected that will keep the peace between the countries you are a citizen of. One of the interesting thing about voting in France is that they have delegates for French Citizens living overseas, which is separate from the representatives from their overseas territories (like Martinique). So not only do you vote for president, you also vote for someone to represent you in the national assembly. The US, always having been more isolationist does not give such representation. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/15 "2024-10-10T04:47:04Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > As an American living abroad, she only gets to vote for President. As a Canadian living in Canada she has the right to vote for national and her provincial/local candidates. I am an American living overseas, and I still get the full local ballot for my registered address of last residence, all the way down to city council and local levies. And when I earn my Luxembourgish passport, I will be _legally obliged_ to vote in Luxembourg’s elections, because voting is compulsory here. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/16 "2024-10-10T05:24:45Z")
The entire British Columbia election cycle, in which I will vote tomorrow, fits between the date i mailed in my US ballot and the actual US election date in November. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/17 "2024-10-10T05:35:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But voting in the purely local races in two different states? I’m not sure I see a problem with that, if both states’ laws allow for it. And two different nations, same story. Seems fine. Can that be sorted out by election officials when you go vote? Or, mail in a ballot? Or do they have to hand you the whole thing and hope you only vote for the local stuff on both ballots but only vote for the national stuff on one? (I really do not know) If there is no mechanism for them to be sure you didn’t vote twice for (say) president then it is probably best to not let you vote on two different ballots. Seems unfair but I can’t imagine this happens a lot. Anecdotally, when I have gone to vote, I have one ballot with all the stuff on that one ballot. But, I’ve never asked for anything else so…? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/18 "2024-10-10T05:48:59Z")
[Here](https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/can-i-be-registered-to-vote-in-more-than-one-state-verify-yes-but-you-can-only-vote-in-one-state/65-4dda7684-e46e-4612-a392-53443a261008) is a pretty good article about being registered in more than one state and voting in more than one state. The link goes to WUSA9, a Washington, DC CBS affiliate. The upshot is that it’s not illegal to be registered on more than one state; however, it is a felony to vote in more than one state. [Next, here is a fascinating Wikipedia article about no-citizen suffrage in the United States.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-citizen_suffrage_in_the_United_States) This bit really got my attention: > Before 1926, as many as 40 states allowed non-citizens to vote in elections, usually with a residency requirement ranging from a few months to a few years. This next bit just riles me up. > Turnout by non-citizens in many of these cities remains very low (sometimes less than 0.5% of voters), with some non-citizens expressing fear about the spotlight and backlash around how voting might hurt their application to become citizens. People who are legally allowed to vote aren’t voting because they’re afraid of being denied citizenship. Gee, I wonder what party it is who created that atmosphere. (Monty says sarcastically.) [And here is a Wikipedia article about non-citizen suffrage.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-citizen_suffrage) It has a handly list of countries which allow foreigners to vote in elections for some offices. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/19 "2024-10-10T10:47:11Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Can that be sorted out by election officials when you go vote? Or, mail in a ballot? Or do they have to hand you the whole thing and hope you only vote for the local stuff on both ballots but only vote for the national stuff on one? (I really do not know) That seems like a perfectly valid reason for states to pass laws against this, and if they do, I think it’s unethical to violate those laws. But if the laws are structured in such a way as to allow it, I don’t think it’s inherently unethical to vote in multiple local elections. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619/20 "2024-10-10T12:21:27Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > As I understand it, neither the US nor Canada care that she’s a dual citizen. Who is the ‘she’ in this sentence? > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > As an American living abroad, she only gets to vote for President. This used to be true, but now my family members can also vote for U.S. representative and U.S. senator. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-in-two-countries/1008619.md?page=2)