Μake us preferred on Google As Americans head to the polls on Tuesday to determine control of Congress for the next two years, US political organizations in Greece have been helping voters navigate the process of casting ballots from abroad.
Jonathan Constantinou, president of Republicans Overseas in Greece, and Alkman Granitsas, president of Democrats Abroad in Greece, told To BHMA about their organizations’ efforts to encourage participation and their expectations for the midterm election results.
The elections are particularly consequential for the United States and its international role. Among the millions of Americans eligible to vote are several thousand living in Greece, where both parties have maintained local organizations to provide information and assistance.
How Americans in Greece can vote
The exact number of US citizens living in Greece is unknown. A 2018 report by the US State Department estimated the figure at approximately 100,000, most of whom were of Greek descent, had acquired Greek citizenship and returned to Greece.
Under US election law, Americans living abroad have been able to vote in almost all elections, including presidential and midterm contests, for the past 40 years. In some states, they can also vote in local elections, including for the mayor of the area where they previously lived.
Overseas voters can request and submit ballots by mail through a federal platform that provides a unified application for voter registration and ballot requests, or directly through the election authority in the state where they maintain their voting residence. The procedures and available methods for returning ballots vary by state.
The Republican and Democratic organizations in Greece help voters understand these requirements and encourage them to participate, regardless of their political affiliation.
Granitsas said Democrats Abroad provides information through its website, newsletters and social media channels, explaining the voting process and how to cast an absentee ballot.
Both organizations also assist voters from the opposing party. Granitsas said Republicans sometimes approach Democrats Abroad for help, while Constantinou estimated that as many as 20% of those seeking assistance from Republicans Overseas may be Democrats.
“We don’t ask for a certificate of political beliefs,” Constantinou said.
Both parties report increased voter engagement
The two organization leaders said they had seen greater interest in this year’s elections, although midterms traditionally attract less attention than presidential contests.
Neither group has precise figures on how many Americans in Greece have already voted. However, Constantinou said the Republicans’ voter assistance center has been receiving a steady stream of phone calls and online requests.
Granitsas reported an approximately 50% increase in requests for ballots compared with the previous midterm elections.
Republicans and Democrats offer different election forecasts
The two party representatives have sharply different expectations for the outcome.
Polling has suggested that Democrats could regain control of the House of Representatives, while the Senate race is expected to be close.
Constantinou argued that higher voter turnout could benefit Republicans and questioned the reliability of polling, claiming that 90% of polls were conducted by his party’s political opponents. He said some Republican voters were not adequately represented in surveys, pointing to the 2024 presidential election as an example.
“Everyone in Greece thought Kamala Harris would win,” he said.
Constantinou expressed confidence that Republicans could retain or even increase their strength in the Senate, arguing that most states holding Senate elections were traditionally Republican.
“We are not worried about the Senate at all. The states where Senate elections are taking place are mostly ‘red.’ We could even increase our strength,” he said.
He identified Maine and Alaska as possible competitive races, while arguing that Alaska’s unusual electoral system could affect the outcome. He was more cautious about the House, acknowledging greater uncertainty but suggesting that the balance of power would probably remain broadly similar, with only limited changes.
Granitsas, by contrast, said he was optimistic that Democrats could regain control of both chambers of Congress. Such an outcome, he argued, would allow them to exercise stronger oversight of President Donald Trump’s administration and limit policies he considers extreme.
Describing the administration as “one of the most corrupt in history,” Granitsas accused it of undermining the United States’ international alliances and damaging parts of the American economy.
“We have great hope that these midterm elections will change America’s direction and that Democrats will be able to help ordinary Americans who are suffering,” he said.
