Democrats Abroad Spain Newsletter Special Voting FAQ Edition First of all, welcome new members! Democrats Abroad is getting new members by the dozen every day. Together, we can win on November 4. Second, please forward this newsletter to anyone who needs it. Now, the news: VOTING FAQ Question: I'm a member of Democrats Abroad and I voted in the Global Presidential Primary this spring. Am I registered for November 4? Answer: Probably not. In order to vote, you must be registered with your local election office in your home state. Your state, not Democrats Abroad, is conducting the election. You must register yourself; we aren't allowed to do it for you. Q: I voted from abroad in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Do I need to vote again this year? A: Yes. Everyone must re-register in 2008 to vote in the 2008 election. If you're not sure if you're registered, you can do it again just to be sure. Do it before the end of September -- in fact, the sooner, the better. Q: Can I vote if I never voted before or never lived in the United States? A: Yes. All American citizens born before November 4, 1990, can vote. You can register to vote at http://www.VoteFromabroad.org, and the website will guide you through all the details. You must register to vote at the last address where you or your parents lived in the United States. Q: What happens at www.VoteFromAbroad.org? A. The site will ask you a series of questions. Because every state has slightly different requirements for voting, the site will gather the information you need for your particular state. Then print, sign, date, and send in the form to the address that VoteFromAbroad gives you. The site also allows you to print an addressed envelope. The site is confidential, and it will register everyone regardless of their voting preference. Q: What if my ballot doesn't arrive in time? A: You should get your ballot from your state in mid-October. If it doesn't arrive, you can use a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. You can get one as a PDF that is based on your state's requirements, along with detailed instructions, at http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org. If your regular ballot arrives later, you can use it, and your local election officials will count it instead of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. A special FAQ about the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is at: http://www.votefromabroad.org/faq.php?adid=KDAW9990001071701 Q: When should I send in my ballot? A: Although some states have deadlines for absentee ballots after November 4, it's good to mail it early. Fill it out, sign it, and mail it as soon as it arrives to be sure you beat your state's deadline. Remember to use enough postage. Q: Will I have to pay taxes if I vote? A: No, if you only vote for federal offices: President, Senator, and Congressional Representative. Some states may require you to pay state or local taxes if you vote for state or local offices or referenda. Consult http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/howtodoit.pdf or a legal advisor if you need more information. If you have more questions: You can find state-by-state deadlines including special deadlines for military voters, state voter registration links, and more details about taxes at: https://www.democratsabroad.org/vote You (and your friends) can send your voting questions to spain@democratsabroad.org or votercentral@democratsabroad.org. Our experts will be glad to answer you. Every vote counts, especially yours! PUT UP POSTERS FOR VOTEFROMABROAD.ORG You can download a A4-size poster for VoteFromAbroad.org in black-and-white or color in PDF format to print and hang up wherever Americans might see them. The posters have tabs with the website URL that can be ripped from the bottom and taken to the nearest computer to register to vote. Download at: https://www.democratsabroad.org/node/6533 STUDY ABROAD VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE Democrats Abroad Spain is spearheading the effort to get every American student who has come to Spain to study this fall to be able to vote in November. Our plan of attack involves attending the study abroad programs' orientation sessions in Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, Alicante, Salamanca, and Valencia and helping students request an absentee ballot. Hundreds of American students newly arrived in Spain will be voting for the first time thanks to this effort. It you haven't already volunteered to help at these Student Voter Registration sessions, please do! We need a lot of volunteers to make this a success. Madrid: Nika Cleveland, nikademsabroad@gmail.com Sevilla: Aimee Enders, sevilledems@gmail.com Barcelona: Elizabeth Breedlove, dems@e-breedlove.com BARCELONA CHAPTER EVENTS Pre-Election Dinner and Auction will combine grassroots activism with fundraising in an elegant setting. Auction items include an autographed copy of Al Gore's An Assault on Reason, Obama merchandise (T-shirts, buttons, pins, etc.) or a basket of American baked goods. Tuesday, September 30, Flamant Restaurant, Enric Granados, 23. Three-course dinner and wine, 28€. RSVP bcndems@gmail.com Political Debate Screenings (to be confirmed to Catalunya Democrats by e-mail). Sit back with other Americans to watch the Presidential candidates debate. Free entry. Bring your own drinks and snacks. First Presidential Debate showing on Saturday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m. at L'Ateneu Barcelona, Calle Canuda 6, Sala Verdaguer. Second Presidential Debate showing on Wednesday, October 8, 7:30 p.m. at L'Ateneu Barcelona, Calle Canuda 6, Sala Verdaguer. Election Night Party. Tuesday, November 4, 9:30 p.m. Details forthcoming. MADRID CHAPTER EVENTS Monthly Chapter Meeting September 18 from 7:30 to10 p.m. at the James Joyce Pub, calle Alcalá 59 (metro: Banco de España). We're planning a welcome back drink and campaign organizing session, including an insider's report on the convention in Denver from our Delegate Gil Carbajal, and news about how you can help elect Barack Obama from Spain's campaign coordinator Sean Carroll. Plus lots more! The first presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain will be screened at 6 p.m. September 27 in the auditorium of the Casa de Americas, Plaza de Cibeles (metro: Banco de España). Democrats Abroad members and all their friends are welcome to attend this historic debate which will take place in Oxford, Mississippi, and focus on domestic issues such as the US economy, immigration policy and racism. The one-and-a-half hour debate will be followed with a live analysis by Democratic and Republican pundits right here in Spain; in English with simultaneous translation in Spanish courtesy of Casa de Americas. October monthly meeting. Date, place and time to be announced. The third presidential debate will be screened at 8 p.m. October 16 in the auditorium of the Casa de Americas, Plaza de Cibeles (metro: Banco de España). This debate, to be held at Hofstra University in New York, will focus on US foreign policy and will also be followed by live analysis from Democratic and Republican pundits, moderated by US Embassy political officer William Duncan. In English with simultaneous translation in Spanish courtesy of Casa de Americas. Election Night Party November 4! Celebrate the election of Barack Obama with other Democrats from 9 p.m. until late at Star Cafe, Serrano Jover 5 (metro: Arguelles). SEVILLE CHAPTER EVENTS Student Voter Registration. We have been hard at work over the last two weeks registering study abroad students as they arrive to Seville. However, there are still quite a few registrations that we need help with. So far we still have scheduled presentations on September 12. Contact Aimee Enders at sevilledems@gmail.com to volunteer. Drinking Liberally Fall Kick-Off. Welcome back! Join us at Bodega Morales, calle García De Vinuesa, on September 18 at 9 p.m. for our first meeting of the season. Democrats Abroad Seville has been collaborating with the US-based organization Drinking Liberally to bring one of the first overseas chapters to Seville. This is your chance to see what it's all about! Visit http://livingliberally.org/drinking/ for more information. Presidential Debate Viewing Party, September 27, time and place to be announced. Election Party, November 4 at 9:30 p.m. The venue is tentatively set at P. Flaherty's across from the Cathedral.