Jewish expats face voting rights and security challenges

Jewish expatriates and immigrants are navigating various challenges related to their connection to Israel, ranging from voting rights to security concerns in their home countries.

In the United States, some Israeli expats are facing difficulties maintaining their political rights. One dual citizen discovered she was ineligible to vote in upcoming national elections after her residency status was altered decades ago during a routine consular appointment. Such administrative changes have left long-term residents feeling disconnected from their ability to participate in Israeli democracy.

Meanwhile, some Canadian Jewish families are choosing to immigrate to Israel, citing rising security concerns in Canada. Statistics from 2025 indicate that Jews were targets of a significant majority of religion-based hate crimes in both Toronto and Canada at large. While many families report feeling safe in their local communities, the increasing presence of security around Jewish institutions has influenced decisions to relocate to Israeli cities like Modi’in.