Some US citizens feel relieved to be away from the 'stressful' political environment in their home country
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With just days to go until the US election, Americans in London fear that a Trump victory might worsen America’s global image and even strain US-UK relations.
The UK is home to the second-largest community of US voters abroad, with an estimated 329,000 Americans eligible to vote in the upcoming election. London ranks as the largest ‘American’ city outside the US, with over 100,000 Americans living in and around the capital.
For Steven Overmann, a writer and filmmaker who has lived in London for over 20 years, each election carries unique weight, but this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
“The character of the USA is what’s on the ballot,” he said.
“Are we an open, caring, proud, gracious, and community-oriented society, or a self-centred, fearful one, filled with rage?”
Aviv, an American citizen in London, feels that a Trump victory might worsen America’s already faltering global image and even strain US-UK relations.
The costs, he said, are also practical. “There could also be changes affecting us directly, like tax obligations for American expats,” he said.
Voting abroad has a different meaning for Americans.
Some Americans abroad will fail to cast their ballots because of the practicalities of registering overseas. Aviv is unable to vote due to a technical registration issue. “It’s frustrating,” he said, given the weight this election holds for the nation’s future.
Dr Karim, who lives between the US, London, and the Middle East, will successfully vote from the UK. He feels that Trump can bring stability.
“A zero-war strategy is the signature of Trump,” he said, “versus a big mess during the Biden administration.” He adds that “there is more poverty under Biden-Harris which wasn’t as prevalent under Trump’.
Dr Karim says he feels uneasy being away from home during uncertain times.
“On the one hand, it’s positive being away from campaign turmoil and noise but on the other hand, being away means I don’t feel comfortable about the future.’
Steven says he has sent his ballot for vice-President Kamala Harris, since his vote “isn’t for himself”, but “for those with fewer advantages in America – the poor, the marginalised”.
“It gave me great pride to vote for a woman of colour for the most powerful role on the planet,” he said.
Pre-election tensions while the US is ‘heavily armed’
Aviv’s greatest concern is the polarisation within the US, which he fears could deepen if Trump is elected
Similarly, Overmann is deeply concerned about the pre-election tensions, which he says are amplified by the fact that American society is “at its most heavily armed”.
He pointed to a recent Trump rally in Madison, widely criticised as racially charged: “My friends in the LGBTQ community, and those who are immigrants, are extremely anxious about the future,” he said.
Overmann admitted he’s relieved to observe the election from afar, avoiding what he calls the “onslaught of tension” worsened by the US media.
“My friends there are very stressed,” he said.
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HeadlineFor Americans in London ‘the character of America is on the ballot’
Short HeadlineAmericans in London: 'The character of America is on the ballot'
StandfirstAmerican Londoners see the election as a turning point that could reshape how they’re perceived abroad
With just days to go until the US election, Americans in London fear that a Trump victory might worsen America’s global image and even strain US-UK relations.
The UK is home to the second-largest community of US voters abroad, with an estimated 329,000 Americans eligible to vote in the upcoming election. London ranks as the largest ‘American’ city outside the US, with over 100,000 Americans living in and around the capital.
For Steven Overmann, a writer and filmmaker who has lived in London for over 20 years, each election carries unique weight, but this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
“The character of the USA is what’s on the ballot,” he said.
“Are we an open, caring, proud, gracious, and community-oriented society, or a self-centred, fearful one, filled with rage?”
Aviv, an American citizen in London, feels that a Trump victory might worsen America’s already faltering global image and even strain US-UK relations.
The costs, he said, are also practical. “There could also be changes affecting us directly, like tax obligations for American expats,” he said.
Voting abroad has a different meaning for Americans.
Some Americans abroad will fail to cast their ballots because of the practicalities of registering overseas. Aviv is unable to vote due to a technical registration issue. “It’s frustrating,” he said, given the weight this election holds for the nation’s future.
Dr Karim, who lives between the US, London, and the Middle East, will successfully vote from the UK. He feels that Trump can bring stability.
“A zero-war strategy is the signature of Trump,” he said, “versus a big mess during the Biden administration.” He adds that “there is more poverty under Biden-Harris which wasn’t as prevalent under Trump’.
Dr Karim says he feels uneasy being away from home during uncertain times.
“On the one hand, it’s positive being away from campaign turmoil and noise but on the other hand, being away means I don’t feel comfortable about the future.’
Steven says he has sent his ballot for vice-President Kamala Harris, since his vote “isn’t for himself”, but “for those with fewer advantages in America – the poor, the marginalised”.
“It gave me great pride to vote for a woman of colour for the most powerful role on the planet,” he said.
Pre-election tensions while the US is ‘heavily armed’
Aviv’s greatest concern is the polarisation within the US, which he fears could deepen if Trump is elected
Similarly, Overmann is deeply concerned about the pre-election tensions, which he says are amplified by the fact that American society is “at its most heavily armed”.
He pointed to a recent Trump rally in Madison, widely criticised as racially charged: “My friends in the LGBTQ community, and those who are immigrants, are extremely anxious about the future,” he said.
Overmann admitted he’s relieved to observe the election from afar, avoiding what he calls the “onslaught of tension” worsened by the US media.
In the first Labour budget in over 14 years, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced several changes expected to directly impact the lives of young people in the capital.
