Research Program

US Vote not only supports research on overseas and military voters, it also engages in original research. The most important element of US Vote's original research is it's Post-Election Survey Research report, which is released after every federal election. US Vote also produces case studies and research reports on a variety of subjects.

Post-Elections Surveys:

Additional articles on overseas and military voting are: 

2013 Publication

State of the States' Website UOCAVA Support - Dec. 2013 [Download]
Examination of Actual Online Support for UOCAVA Voters.

2012 Publications

2012 Post-Election Survey Report [Download]

2012 Survey Results Presentation/Summary - as delivered at Summit 2013 
[Download Presentation]

2011 Publications

2010 Post-Election Voter and Local Election Offical Survey Report [Download]

Overseas Voter Satisfaction in 2010 - Published March 2011 [Download]
This research paper explores public policies which influence and increase voter satisfaction. Findings indicate that public policy matters more for registration than it does for balloting, but age and voting experience are important intervening variables.

Time to MOVE: Overseas and Military Voter State Policy Innovation
 - Published March 2011
 [Download]
In this research paper presented at the 2011 Midwest Political Science Conference, OVF investigates why some states were able to pass more extensive MOVE Act legislation in 2010.

2010 Publications

These are our Numbers: Civlian Americans Overseas and Voter Turnout - 
Published August 2010
 [Download]
In this research note, OVF examines population data from foreign governments in order to provide a more accurate account of the number of civilian Americans living abroad. 

2009 Publications

It's in the Mail: Surveying UOCAVA Voters and Barries to Overseas Voting - 
Published September 2009 
[Download]
This study presents a UOCAVA State Policy Index (SPI) to examine variance in state policy.  Eight registration laws and eight balloting regulations comprise the core of UOCAVA legislation. States with higher scores feature more laws that facilitate overseas and military voting.

Case Study: Minnesota Takes the Lead in 2008
 - Published June 2009 
[Download]

Defining the Universe: The Problem of Counting UOCAVA Voters
 - Published May 2009 [Download]
Just how many UOCAVA voters live overseas? In this research note, OVF examines the different data sources regarding UOCAVA numbers and finds that although the number of military voters is a reliable data source, defining and counting the number of civilian voters is difficult. Various estimates put the number of voters overseas between 4.9 and 6.2 million.

UOCAVA Voting Graphics - 2009 
[Download]

UOCAVA Voting Population Data - 2009
 [Download]
The following table compares various estimates of UOCAVA voters, specifically U.S. voters living abroad. The information is provided by state.  Data sources include: Dr. Michael McDonald, the FVAP, OVF and the US Census Bureau.


OVF Post-Election Survey Research

For the past three General Election cycles, Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) has consistently conducted detailed post election surveys of overseas and military voters, and local election officials. OVF's body of reliable, nonpartisan data is increasingly referenced by academic and congressional bodies working to support overseas and military voter reform and election process improvements.

These surveys provide a unique look into the voting experiences of overseas citizens, and are an unequalled resource in OVF’s ongoing mission to help overseas and military Americans register and vote in federal elections.

The 2012 report features responses from over 13,600 overseas and military absentee voters and 2,000 election officials.