Darryl Daugherty writes from Bangkok:
In her comments published 12 June 2013, it seems Janet Magnin may be under some misapprehensions concerning the American electoral system.
Owing to the constitutionally mandated role of the Electoral College, Americans voting for president do so at the state level with the expectation that the vote of the Electors from that state will faithfully represent the popular vote.
If an American wishes to lawfully escape taxation by certain states which collect aggressively from individuals overseas — California among them — he often must let his voter registration lapse as a part of abandoning residency in that state and exempting himself from that tax obligation. This effectively precludes participation in national as well as state elections.