Fife plays role in picking who will take on Trump

US: Americans can vote on Democratic contenders at site in St Andrews

Fife is to play its part in the decision on who will oppose Donald Trump in the US presidential election later this year.

St Andrews University hosts one of just five polling stations in the UK for US citizens who, on Tuesday, have the chance to choose the Democratic Party nominee who, ultimately, could go on to challenge Republican Trump in the presidential election on November 3.

America is preparing for Super Tuesday, 24 hours in which 14 US states, including big hitters California and Texas, hold primary elections that will give a clearer indication of who the front runners will be.

Senator Bernie Sanders, after recent wins in New Hampshire and Nevada, is the current leader in a field of eight remaining candidates from the 25 hopefuls who set out in 2019.

When Tuesday’s vote is concluded, delegates from each state will then move to Milwaukee in July for the Democratic Party’s national convention, where the final choice of candidate will be made.

Fife has a small but significant role. A decision in 2016 to give US nationals residing overseas the right to vote means sites in St Andrews, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford, and London will give Americans living abroad the chance to vote. “There is a long-held assumption that US citizens living abroad don’t have the right to vote or can’t get involved but that is simply not the case,” said Sharon Manitta, a spokesperson for Democrats Abroad UK.

“Any US national, be they students, ex-pats or those temporarily in the UK, has a chance to get involved and exercise their right to vote.

“Voters will have to register with the Democratic Party, which they can do in advance or on the day at the polling station and we will have staff on hand on the day to help them with that process.

“Then they can cast their vote and follow the proceedings as the drama of Super Tuesday unfolds.”

Americans in the UK, as well as 44 other countries around the world, will cast their votes as part of Super Tuesday.

St Andrews was chosen as a site for the voting station due to having one of the highest densities of US citizens living in the UK. Currently, St Andrews has 1,161 American students eligible to vote.

Super Tuesday St Andrews will take place at St Andrews University Students’ Association, 22 St Marys Place, from 9am to 5pm.

US President Donald Trump.