At a time when the voting rights of Americans living abroad are facing renewed legal, policy, and practical challenges, strong leadership and collaboration across the overseas voting community are more important than ever.
U.S. Vote Foundation and its Overseas Vote initiative are pleased to welcome Doris L. Speer, President of the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), to our Advisory Board. Her appointment reflects both a deep alignment of mission and a shared commitment to ensuring that U.S. citizens abroad, and military voters worldwide, can fully participate in U.S. elections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
Doris Speer brings decades of experience advocating for the rights of Americans overseas. Under her leadership, AARO has continued its longstanding, nonpartisan work to protect and expand access to voting for U.S. citizens living outside the country. Founded in 1973, AARO has played a pivotal role in advancing overseas voting rights, including early efforts that helped secure federal recognition of absentee voting rights for Americans abroad. That legacy continues today through ongoing advocacy to address gaps in current law and practice.
One of the most pressing issues in recent years has been the exclusion of certain U.S. citizens born and raised abroad who, in some states, are unable to vote because they have not established residency. These individuals are not fully covered under UOCAVA protections. In 2024, Speer authored a white paper examining this issue, helping to elevate awareness and inform ongoing efforts to pursue legislative solutions. AARO has also worked in collaboration with partners, including the American Bar Association, to support the development of policy approaches aimed at closing this gap.
This appointment also builds on an active and growing collaboration between AARO and U.S. Vote Foundation. In recent years, both organizations have worked alongside the Brennan Center for Justice to defend the voting rights of Americans abroad through litigation and advocacy. These efforts have included filing amicus curiae briefs in state and federal courts and participating in legal challenges related to overseas voting access, including issues arising from the March 31, 2026 Executive Order on election law. Across these efforts, a shared commitment to nonpartisan, voter-focused advocacy has remained central.
“Doris Speer’s leadership and dedication to overseas voters make her an exceptional addition to our Advisory Board,” said Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, President and CEO of U.S. Vote Foundation. “Our founding mission has always centered on supporting UOCAVA voters, and her perspective will deepen our ability to serve this vital community.”
Speer shared her perspective on joining the Advisory Board:
“I am extremely honored to join the U.S. Vote Foundation Advisory Board. Ensuring that Americans abroad can fully participate in U.S. elections has been a central goal of AARO since our founding in 1973, and it is also a personal commitment of mine. We believe that the votes of Americans abroad are essential to a healthy democracy, and I am deeply committed to defending this fundamental right. I look forward to advancing this shared mission in collaboration with U.S. Vote Foundation and its Overseas Vote initiative.”
Speer’s appointment was announced on April 16, 2026, at AARO’s Annual General Meeting in Paris.
As the 2026 midterm election cycle approaches, U.S. Vote Foundation and AARO will continue working together to expand outreach, improve access to voting resources, and support the participation of U.S. citizen voters worldwide. Strengthening these efforts and the partnerships behind them remains essential to ensuring that every eligible American, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to be heard.