NEWS:DEMOCRATS ABROAD TO HOST OVERSEAS VOTING REFORM SYMPOSIUM
By pressofficer on April 20th, 2009
Media Contact:
Jody Couser, Press Officer
Democrats Abroad
pressofficer@democratsabroad.org
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2009
DEMOCRATS ABROAD TO HOST
OVERSEAS VOTING REFORM SYMPOSIUM
Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) to be Keynote Speaker
Washington, DC— Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) will be the keynote speaker for the first Democrats Abroad Overseas Voting Reform Symposium on April 24, 2009 from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. The symposium is hosted by Democrats Abroad, which is the official arm of the Democratic Party for Americans living outside of the United States
Democrats Abroad will present the results of a recently-completed global survey of members in more than 160 countries and territories. Major study recommendations include standardizing overseas absentee registration and voting standards and procedures across all States, and strengthening outreach and education to those new to voting—and to voting from outside the United States.
Democrats Abroad International Chair Christine Marques will chair the symposium. The voter survey results will be presented by a panel of Democrats Abroad members including Colorado voter Gary Suwannarat who lives abroad in Thailand and New Jersey voter Joe Green, who lives abroad in Canada.
A second panel will focus on issues faced by States and localities in managing overseas absentee voting. Participants include representatives of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the Department of State and State Board of Elections.
The Overseas Voting Reform Symposium precedes the Democrats Abroad Spring Meeting also held at the Washington Court Hotel, April 25-26. For more information, please contact Jody Couser at pressofficer@democratsabroad.org
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Democrats Abroad is the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party. With members in more than 160 countries around the globe, Democrats Abroad holds eight positions on the Democratic National Committee and sends a voting delegation to the Democratic National Convention to select our presidential candidate.