U.S. military members, their family members, and other overseas citizens have been allowed to vote absentee since 1986 under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). But 38 states, like Georgia, and Washington, D.C. permit non-military citizens who have “never resided in the U.S.” to vote so long as they have a parent or legal guardian that was last registered in that state. Even if the voter’s parents no longer live there, their last registered address can still be used. Citizens currently living overseas can also vote using their last U.S. address of domicile, even if they no longer currently reside there or have any affiliation with the state. //

The legislation would amend UOCAVA to require that non-military overseas voters to prove they or a spouse or parent/guardian hold current residency in a state in which they are trying to vote. If a voter cannot prove a current residence of himself or his parents, spouse, or legal guardian in the state in which he is trying to vote, he will be able to vote as a federal-only voter in Washington, D.C.