I’ve mailed off my vote in the US midterms. It will be a nail-biting watch, but easier from outside Trump’s America | Eleanor Limprecht

I’m hopeful these elections will be a win for democracy rather than dictatorship, for peace rather than war, and humanity rather than hubris

Recently I made my own envelope out of a sheet of paper and sticky tape, signed it and affixed a sticker. Then I took it to my nearest Australia Post shop in Sydney and mailed it.

In other words, I voted from abroad in the US midterm elections. Because my last place of residence in the US was the state of Virginia, I can register to vote and request a ballot online, but the ballot still needs to be printed, signed, sealed in an envelope made of folded paper, signed again, placed inside another (store-bought) envelope and mailed in. There was no sausage sizzle or cake stall to reward me for my civic duty, and no spectre of a fine if I didn’t complete it.

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