About the New York 1st Congressional District
The New York 1st District House election is on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, but overseas absentee ballots go out September 21. Be sure to request an emailed overseas absentee ballot now and mail back your ballot ASAP! More info here.
The New York 1st district boundaries are eastern Long Island including the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County, the northern portion of Brookhaven, as well as the entirety of the towns of Huntington, Smithtown, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton, and Shelter Island. Click here to see a detailed map to see if you're a New York 1st district voter. Every vote from abroad matters! The more of us that vote, the more Congress will prioritize Americans abroad issues. This is why it's so important for everyone living abroad to vote. To read more about this race click here.
John Avlon
1. Once elected, will you join the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus?
Yes
2. How do you think access to voting from abroad can be improved?
Over 2.8 million Americans live overseas and are eligible to vote in US elections but only 3.4% of those Americas choose to cast a ballot. When turnout is so far below the national average clearly there is something wrong systemically. Our consulates and embassies should be reminding Americans at every appointment of the availability of the Federal Post Card Application which provides a standardized way for Americans abroad to vote. Having not lived abroad or needed to vote abroad I am eager to hear from Americans abroad on the roadblocks they run into and learn how the State Department can work with state governments to make it easier and more accessible to vote for those who are eligible.
3. Several bills have been making their way through the House that are aimed at drawing attention to and/or addressing some of the most critical issues facing US citizens who live outside the country. Would you be willing to co-sign versions of the following bills?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
4. How do you think US citizen services at consulates and embassies could be improved?
I would need to hear from my future constituents and organizations like Democrats Abroad to better understand what specific issues Americans abroad are experiencing before prescribing fixes. Accessibility to government benefits and constituent services will be a top priority for when I establish my office and I will be eager to assist my constituents who are abroad with each and any of these sort of issues.
5. What reforms would you support to relieve the undue burden faced by low- and middle-class Americans abroad?
I am happy to support expanding Direct File to Americans abroad. Many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs and Act, which created GILTI, and the Inflation Reduction Act will expire at the end of 2025 and will force a new conversation on tax policy and tax fairness. I am happy to consider updates to GILTI that fairly account for small businesses special place in our global economy. I am also happy to consider an updated reporting threshold for Americans abroad for their Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, I would hope that most of our laws would be updated sooner than every 50 years.
6. Would you support adjustments to the tax code that align tax residency with physical residency, provided that they are resilient against abuse and are beneficial to the Internal Revenue Service?
Many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs and Act and the Inflation Reduction Act will expire at the end of 2025 and will force a new conversation on tax policy and tax fairness. I can promise to have an open mind and an open-door policy to hear from my constituents who live abroad and organizations like Democrats Abroad to help determine what is fair for the taxpayer.
7. What more do you believe could be done to keep U.S. citizens abroad in mind when passing legislation in order to avoid unintended consequences for those living outside the United States?
It is always harder to amend moving legislation once it has momentum. I believe it is critical that relationships with organizations like Democrats Abroad start early and conversations continue even when issues like tax policy aren’t at the top of the agenda. You can count on me to work with and amplify the concerns the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus brings to Leadership and Committee Chairs.