Frankfurt, Germany—The following opinion piece is authored by U.S. Army veteran Carl Landon Taylor. With the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania holding a General Election on November 5, 2025, the author opines on why it is extremely important to fully participate in this year’s democratic elections in the Keystone State by casting a ballot. Carl is a Pennsylvania UOCAVA voter, a resident of Germany, and a Member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families Caucus.
As veterans, we took an oath to defend the Constitution—not a party, not a person, but the ideals that make America worth fighting for: democracy, equality, and justice.
Today, even from abroad, we still have a role to play in protecting those ideals. Our ballots are an extension of our service. They ensure that the freedoms we defended are not taken for granted—nor taken away.
This year, the stakes are high. From voting rights and reproductive freedom to the rule of law and national security, the values we swore to uphold are at stake.
When we vote from abroad, we don’t just honor our own service—we honor everyone who ever wore the uniform and believed in a better country.
As a veteran, I understand the meaning of serving. All of us who wore the uniform of our nation stood up for the Constitution and the values it represents—freedom, justice, and democracy. And even after I hung up my uniform, I have continued to serve our nation by registering voters abroad and have conducted get-out-the-vote efforts.
Now, even from abroad, you have another opportunity to serve—by voting.
2025 is no ordinary election year. The very rights we defended are being challenged—voting access, reproductive freedom, national unity, and constitutional checks and balances. The stakes are real, and our voices are needed.
Living abroad does not mean giving up your voice. In fact, it makes your vote even more powerful. In past elections, ballots from overseas helped decide key races by razor-thin margins.
Voting is how we protect the country we served.
I’ll close with a simple reminder. Critical races are happening in a few short months away for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – the commonwealth’s highest court and the nation’s oldest appellate court, dating back to 1684. There are races for the state’s Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court, and in Philadelphia, there are vital local races, including those for Controller and District Attorney.
I remind every Pennsylvanian abroad, whether civilian or military, and to the strongest extent, that the deadline for military or overseas absentee ballots to be received by county election offices is Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Vote for the rule of law. Vote to be a civic role model for all American kids. Vote to voice your support and respect for veterans. Vote to reject M.A.G.A. extremism and instead support a pro-democracy Pennsylvania.
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The VMF Caucus, proudly consisting of veterans, military family members, DoD civilians, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes, has a membership of approximately 1,400 members located in dozens of countries.
For questions pertaining to this statement, please reach out to