The Center for U.S. Voters Abroad is a left-of-center advocacy group focused on encouraging and facilitating American citizens living overseas to cast absentee ballots in U.S. elections. It promotes voter registration, civic engagement, and absentee-ballot participation among expatriate Americans. As of 2025, the group is organized under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, making it eligible to intervene in elections. ¹

The group at one point was a registered trade name of the Hopewell Fund, one of several nonprofit fiscal sponsorship organizations within the Arabella Advisors network, which serves as a “dark money” fiscal sponsor for dozens of left-of-center nonprofits and campaigns. As of 2025, it is a registered trade name of Act Now. ^{1 2}

During the 2024 election cycle, the group operated the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Turnout Project, which the group’s website states was a joint project of the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad and the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Foundation. ^{3 2}

Background and Fiscal Sponsorship

The Center for U.S. Voters Abroad at one point operated as a trade name of the Hopewell Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit managed by the Arabella Advisors network. The Hopewell Fund serves as a fiscal sponsor for multiple left-of-center policy campaigns, advocacy groups, and public education initiatives in line with the Hopewell Fund’s 501(c)(3) status. ⁴

According to documentation published by right-of-center watchdog group Americans for Public Trust, the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad was listed as an inactive trade name of the Hopewell Fund as of 2025, while the center’s website indicates that its turnout project was a joint campaign of the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad and the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Foundation. ²

As of 2025, the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad was listed as an active trade name of the Act Now Project, and the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Foundation was an active trade name of the Act Now Coalition. ⁵

Mission and Activities

The Center for U.S. Voters Abroad was formed to encourage American citizens overseas to cast ballots in U.S. elections, stating that the group is “committed to ensuring that Americans abroad have the tools and resources they need to successfully cast their ballots and have their voices heard in our democracy.” The group’s activities include providing resources for overseas voter registration, offering guides to local election deadlines, and promoting absentee ballot submission to U.S. citizens living abroad. ³

The center’s 2024 turnout project directly facilitated Americans abroad in requesting absentee ballots to vote in federal elections, walking individuals through the process, stating that “Americans living abroad can request a ballot via an official government form, called the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Our website will walk you through the process of filling out this form, then show you how to send it on to the correct local election official.” ⁶

The group also encouraged U.S. citizens who have never resided in the United States to attempt to cast a ballot, stating that “American citizens who were born abroad and have never resided in the U.S. are likely also eligible to vote, depending on the U.S. state where their parents last lived.” ⁶

Political Spending and Election Activity

While the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad has a stated focus on civic education and voter engagement, it has been active in electioneering through independent expenditures. As of 2025, the group is organized under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, making it eligible to intervene in elections. ¹

According to OpenSecrets, the group made $28,610 in independent expenditures during the 2024 election cycle, with all funds used to oppose Republican candidates or support Democrats. In 2024, the group spent $17,000 in support of then-President Joe Biden and $36,000 in opposition to Donald Trump. ⁷

1. “About Us.” Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Turnout Project, July 3, 2025. https://usvotersabroad.org/about-us/.  
2. “Trade Names of the Arabella Advisors Network.” Americans for Public Trust. Accessed June 26, 2025. https://americansforpublictrust.org/document/trade-names-of-the-arabella-advisors-network/
3. About Us.” Center for U.S. Voters Abroad. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://usvotersabroad.org/about-us/
4. Markay, Lachan. “Over 100 Left-Wing Groups Sourced to DC Dark Money Outfit.” Washington Free Beacon. October 22, 2015. Accessed June 27, 2025. http://freebeacon.com/issues/over-100-left-wing-groups-sourced-to-d-c-dark-money-outfit/
5. “Center for U.S. Voters Abroad.” Business Entity Search. District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=4338511
6. “Hey Americans in Canada! Request Your Ballot.” Center for U.S. Voters Abroad. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://usvotersabroad.org/canada/
7. Center for US Voters Abroad: Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/center-for-us-voters-abroad/C90022112/independent-expenditures/2024