US election: what are the big issues for Americans in France?

As the US presidential election approaches, Americans in France are already voting, sending off postal ballots and wondering how their lives could be impacted by the result of the November 5 vote. 

There are nearly 153,000 Americans in France, according to an analysis by federal US body Fvap and the number moving has increased in recent years. 

How do they view the election? Do they have different priorities, as Americans living abroad? The Connexion spoke to a range of Americans in France to find out. 

‘We’re out of sight, out of mind’ 

“It’s complex to vote from overseas but we work hard on getting out the vote,” said Doris Speer, president of the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), which was set up in the 1970s to champion the rights of Americans living abroad. 

She said Americans abroad are rarely considered by US lawmakers, whose focus is very much on US residents. 

“What happens is that laws are enacted in the United States that negatively affect us because many of our elected representatives don’t think about us. We’re out of sight, out of mind,” she says. 

Ms Speer first moved to Paris in her 20s to pursue a career as a musician. She later trained as a lawyer back in the US and moved back to Paris to work for a French company 20 years ago. 

She has already voted by postal vote in Michigan, where she last had residency before leaving the US. 

Some of the biggest issues for Americans overseas AARO advocates on are taxation and banking. 

“American citizens are taxed on their worldwide income in a way unlike any other country in the world,” Ms Speer said.  

“There is a system of credits where, if you pay tax in your home country, you get a credit in the United States, but that does not work 100% of the time. And some items are not taxed where we live but are nevertheless taxed by the US. Also, the tax returns are so complicated – there is no help for us overseas at the embassies – that many of us have to hire accountants to help us do it, and the average price every year is about €2,000,” she said. 

“So people pay a lot of money to file all this paperwork and even those who earn below the threshold and who don’t pay US tax still pay an accountant.”

She says other common issues for Americans abroad include banking, overseas access to Medicare and reductions to their social security.  

“US banks don’t want us because we live overseas and the overseas banks don’t want us because we’re US citizens,” she said, citing a common issue for Americans abroad. 

Is one party more helpful than the other when it comes to the rights of Americans overseas?

“It depends. Each party has its own priorities. AARO is non-partisan so we can easily talk to everybody in Congress. Social security and Medicare tend to be more on the Democratic agenda and taxes and banking are considered more Republican, but that’s a generalisation.

There are exceptions to this and bipartisan agreement on some of our issues. Also, there are some Congresspersons who understand our problems and try to help, regardless of political party,” she said.

Ms Speer says even though they live abroad, Americans in France are just as invested in the US election. 

“We do care about what happens in the United States. Americans overseas tend to have a broader perspective and a broader view of American politics. Not only do we follow news in the US, we follow news outside the US about the US, which might be more objective and show a different perspective. And we see first hand how the world and our lives outside the US would be impacted by who is elected in the United States,” she said.

‘Why is this election so close?!’ 

Translator John Di Rico, who moved to France after graduating from the University of Minnesota almost 20 years ago. He started his own translation business in 2005 and lives in Nice. 

“As an American in France, my biggest issue is that America increases their support for the Ukrainian people in their struggle against an authoritarian regime,” he said. 

“The biggest issues for Americans in France seem to be navigating the French bureaucracy and having to do your taxes twice!”

He will vote for Kamala Harris because “Trump is a sociopath who is chipping away at the foundations of our great country with his lies and self-serving agenda.” 

“I think many of us are shocked and embarrassed that someone who led a failed coup against our government, has undermined the faith in our electoral process, and is so self-serving still has so many followers. Why is this election so close?! I am also concerned about right-wing efforts to pack the federal courts with conservative judges and the implications this will have for decades to come.” 

Gun control is another important issue for Mr Di Rico, and one aspect of why he feels safer in France. 

“Despite the war in Eastern Europe and the threat of terrorism, I feel much safer for my family than I would in the USA because of the incessant gun violence. I can’t understand why countries like Switzerland can have so many guns without violence, but we can’t figure out how to enact common-sense gun safety legislation that will protect our freedoms and lives.” 

‘The US needs a ‘strong person’... I think that person is Trump’

Sandra, 63, who declined to give her surname, was born in New York City and grew up in Europe, before moving to the US, where she worked for over 30 years. She came back to Europe 11 years ago and now lives in the south of France. 

“I must say that at times I am undecided which is odd for me when it is so close to the election,” she said. 

She said while she is not a fan of Trump’s personality, he could be the president the US needs right now. 

“I have a hard time with Trump’s character and complete disregard for the rule of law. The Capitol riots were awful – eight people died, no one talks about them anymore. That said, I worry that with the current foreign geopolitical climate, the US needs a ‘strong' person – perhaps even someone who is a little cuckoo and unpredictable – and who would keep foreign leaders (Russia, China, Middle East) guessing and so perhaps less emboldened. I think Trump is that person more than Harris.”

A major issue for Sandra, as an American in Europe, would be the United States’ possible withdrawal from NATO. “But I do think all countries should pay their fair share,” she said. 

‘I think there would be a bit of an exodus’

“Ultimately Biden did the right thing and made way,” said Denis Toner, who has worked in the wine trade for over 30 years. He and his wife bought a house in Beaune in 2003 and moved there full-time from Nantucket, Massachusetts in 2012. 

Mr Toner grew up in Boston, where his family had a long history of campaigning for Democratic candidates including the Kennedys. 

Mr Toner will vote for Kamala Harris against Trump, who he calls “a third grade bully”. 

“People are beginning to see that Kamala Harris, who was just a name and an image, is now a real person who has prosecutorial skills, and who has that experience in the Oval Office. Whereas Trump only has a host of people who worked in the Oval Office with him, I think over 80 now, who would not endorse him,” he said. 

But he warns “it’s not over till it’s over”, and notes there are often so-called “October surprises” in any presidential campaign that affect the end result. 

He predicts more Americans will choose to leave the US for France if Trump is elected. 

“We’ve had enquiries here from a variety of American friends saying if Trump wins, what’s it like living in France? Is it hard to get established here? I think there would be a bit of an exodus, and a lot of wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth if Trump came in because he has no brakes,” he said. 

‘It should be an obvious vote’

Denise Silber grew up in Long Island and moved to Paris in 1979. She founded her own company in France and has dual US-French nationality. 

One priority for her is that Americans who live abroad should not be disadvantaged.

“Americans abroad serve an important role as ordinary ambassadors. We play an important role in explaining why the United States might have done this or that and being friendly and positive towards the host country,” she said. 

Like many Americans in France, taxation is a big issue for Ms Silber.

“It’s really very difficult to do your taxes yourself if you are an American overseas. I could (do it) years ago and I cannot any longer, it’s just too complicated,” she said. 

Abortion rights could be a key issue in the election. It is something that concerns Ms Silber. 

“There are issues that go beyond the parties – abortion rights is the biggest one,” she said. “I certainly feel that the abortion question - what happened with overturning Roe vs Wade – was one huge step backward.” 

She would “love for anybody to do something” about gun control. 

But like many Democrats we spoke to, Ms Silber is worried about how close the race is. 

“What worries me is it should be so obvious, a no-contest vote between a competent woman and a man with all those flaws, and yet it isn’t. It’s really still a gamble.” 

In 2016, Ms Silber booked a flight from France to New York City arriving the day after the election so she and her daughter could celebrate what she thought would be the victory of America’s first female president, Hillary Clinton. 

Could she finally be about to see history made?

“I most sincerely hope that Harris will win. I think she has a good shot at it. I like the campaigns that they are doing on social media, presenting themselves as very much human,” she said. 

‘Voting for the lesser of two evils is problematic’ 

Rachel Ruano-Le Ruen, 42, from Los Angeles, moved to France for love after meeting her French husband during a year of travelling solo around Australia. They live close to Versailles, near Paris. 

“I’ve given much thought to this and I find myself not convinced enough to vote in this election. I think voting for the lesser of two evils is problematic because of just voting to block the other. I will never vote Republican, but my consideration was if I should vote for Kamala Harris or not,” she said. 

She said the current geopolitical situation is the main reason she will note vote. 

“I based my decision on the current government's contempt towards people asking for change given the current geopolitical conflict. In addition, I am from California and have always felt as if our vote doesn't count. Maybe If I was from a swing state it probably would be a different story.”

Her decision not to vote in the US is also based on where her priorities and life are now. 

“My life is in France and honestly even though I can't vote here my worries are more towards policies changing in France.”

Will you vote in the US presidential election? Who do you want to win and what are the biggest issues for you as an American in France? We would love to hear your feedback. Email us at feedback@connexionfrance.com