Who We Are

Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party arm for the 9 million Americans living outside the United States. We strive to provide Americans abroad a Democratic voice in our government and elect Democratic candidates by mobilizing the overseas vote.

Democrats Abroad has 48 country committees throughout Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. These country committees keep Americans abroad informed of their rights and help them participate in the U.S. political process. Our members live in more than 200 countries around the globe and vote in every state and Congressional district in the U.S.

Democrats Abroad is recognized as a "state" party by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and is represented on the DNC by eight voting members, as well as at the quadrennial Democratic National Convention.

Our online voter registration tool - votefromabroad.org - makes it easy to request a ballot and vote absentee from any place on the planet.

Get Involved

Want to make your voice heard? If you haven't yet, join Democrats Abroad. Then sign up to volunteer and phonebank to help Americans abroad exercise their right to vote this year!

Questions or ideas? We'd love to hear from you through our online chat. We're all stronger together.


  • Featured page

    Voting from Abroad 101

    Click to join us on Zoom for free, live voter help

     

    Voting in the November 8 midterms elections is the best tool you have to make your voice heard on important issues, from climate change to bodily autonomy to election administration. If you haven’t requested your ballot, or you’re unsure if you’ve requested one, follow the three easy steps below.

    Also, spread the word about voting to your family, friends, and co-workers. Let them know that you voted and that if they’re a U.S. or dual citizen, they should, too!

    Step 1: Request your ballot

    Head to www.votefromabroad.org, your one-stop-shop for registering to vote and requesting your overseas absentee ballot. There, you’ll complete and submit your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), the form overseas voters like you use to request ballots. The website will help you fill out the FPCA and tell you exactly where to send it. In most cases, you can submit it right then and there electronically!

    If you’re not registered to vote or need to change where you’re registered, don’t worry: The FPCA doubles as a voter registration form. You’ll register at the address where you most recently lived in the United States.

    Pro tip: On the FPCA form, mark that you want to receive your ballot by email. That way, you'll get your ballot quickly and avoid snail-mail delays.

    Step 2: Receive and vote your ballot

    Once you’ve got your ballot, carefully read the instructions and fill it out as soon as possible. You’ll probably want to vote for all the offices listed on the ballot, especially at the state and local levels— where tons of decisions that impact our future are being made. A Google search of the candidates or ballotopedia.org are great ways to find out where they stand on issues important to you, as is reading news coverage of the races in which you’ll be voting.

    Pro tip: Make sure you’ve signed everywhere required, used the right color pen, and put the right envelope inside of the other (if returning voted ballot by postal mail). Each state, and sometimes even county, has different requirements. Human error is a top reason overseas absentee ballots get rejected, so it’s worth taking some extra time to read the instructions and do it right. If you have questions, we're here to help!

    Step 3: Return your completed ballot

    • It is now too late to use the US Embassy pouch service!
    • Check return times for regular mail services before using.
    • If possible, please use a private courier service. See country discounts below. 

    After you’ve completed your ballot, return it right away. Some states allow overseas voters to return their voted ballots through secure electronic means — like an upload portal, email, or even fax (yes, fax!) — but many require it to be sent by postal mail. You can check your state’s rules and deadlines at www.votefromabroad.org.

    If you have to return your ballot by postal mail, you’ll want to make sure you’ve put the correct postage and recipient address on the envelope (the latter will be included with your ballot instructions). If time’s running short, you can also use a courier such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx, many countries have arranged for a discount – see the list below. 

    If you vote in one of the following states, we also have ballot return guides to help you get your ballot back: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

    Pro tip: Return your voted ballot within 48 hours of receiving it, especially if you have to return it by postal mail. Voting early will not only save you stress and money, it will give you enough time to confirm that your ballot made it and will be counted. Late arrival is another top reason absentee ballots are rejected. Don’t let it happen to you.

    And just like that, you’ll have voted from abroad in the November midterm elections!  

    Votes from abroad may have proved decisive in the 2020 election outcome — now, with your help, we’re ready to make an even bigger difference in 2022!


    Here are some resources to help

    Need one-on-one help? A live voter assistant is just a Zoom away! Click in to ZoomTheVote, hosted and staffed by experienced VoteFromAbroad voter helpers, from anywhere in the world. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon-4pm EDT, Saturdays from 4am-6am EDT, and Sundays from 11am-3pm EDT. Link to join is here: https://qrco.de/bbh0zg

    Voting questions? Check out our FAQs or write to us at [email protected] 

    What to know about voting in your state. Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for detailed information on your state's deadlines, how to send in your registration/ballot request/ballot return, contact information for local election officials, and links to state websites to confirm registration and see sample ballots. You can also find the link to track your ballot at www.votefromabroad.org/states.

    In which states can the ballot only be returned by mail? You must return your voted ballot by postal mail if you vote in the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Please don't wait to return your ballot — international mail takes time! 

     

    Haven’t received your ballot?

    If you requested to receive your ballot by postal mail, you should have likely received it by now (they started being sent to voters on Sept 24).

    If you requested to receive your ballot electronically, please double check your spam and junk folders.

    If you still can’t find your ballot, please do the following immediately:

    1. Submit a new ballot request form via www.votefromabroad.org. Please submit the request electronically, if possible, and on the form, mark that you would like to receive your ballot by email. Doing this will expedite the process.
    2. AND, if you vote in a postal mail return state (see above), vote and return a Federal Absentee Write-in Ballot, also known as a FWAB or “Backup Ballot.” Details on the Backup Ballot can be found here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/faqs/BB1.

    Please note that even if you vote and return a Backup Ballot, you should still vote and return your official ballot once you receive it. If both your official voted ballot and Backup Ballot reach your local election office in time, the official ballot will be counted and the Backup Ballot will be voided. If only the Backup Ballot arrives, that will be counted as your vote.

    Need to use a courier service? Call or email your local election office in the United States to check out the best address to use, and then check out courier solutions. Some couriers have provided discounts for some countries for mail return to the U.S. 

    Special deals for Courier services:

    Austria-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA20
    Canada-Democrats Abroad members get 50% off ballot return with UPS
    Czech Republic-All voters get 20% off mail return with DHL with code US20
    Estonia-All voters get 28% off ballot return with DHL with promo code USA22
    Germany- All voters get 10% off ballot return with DHL with code USA10
    Hungary-All voters get 30% off ballot return with DHL with code USA30 until October 31st
    Ireland-All voters get 20% off ballot return when using code USA20 at a physical DHL location
    Israel-All voters get a 17% DHL discount when following instructions in this link
    Italy-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL when using code USA20 at a physical DHL location
    Poland-All voters get 10% off ballot return with DHL with code USA10
    Lithuania-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA20
    Spain-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA2022
    Turkey-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USATURKEY20
    UK-All voters get 10% off ballot return with DHL when using code USA10

    From Argentina to Vietnam, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at information specific to your country of residence including courier service discounts and more. 

    Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Not Listed?  

    Asia Pacific: Australia , China , Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Not Listed?

    Europe, Middle East & Africa: Africa Committee, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland , Israel, Italy, Kenya , Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Not Listed?

     

    Have a technical question? Take a look at these videos and PDF’s to find out how-to scan a ballot, fold a New York ballot, use VPN to access blocked U.S. websites, photograph your signature, send your ballot by post, get the fax transmission cover sheet, and fax your ballot using your phone with fax.plusefax.com or other "email to fax solutions" option.

    Do you vote in one of the following states? We also have ballot return guides to help you get your ballot back to: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

    Thank you for voting!

    Continue reading

  • From the Calendar

    Friday, March 03, 2023 at 12:00 AM through March 31, 2023 at 1:00am Eastern Time (US & Canada)

    ERA Call to Action - Cake time

    The Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced
    in Congress in 1923 - 100 years ago!

    To commemorate that, Democrats Abroad is joining women across the U.S.
    holding birthday parties 
    in March – many on March 22
    the date in 1972 that Congress submitted the ERA to the states for ratification.

    Despite that we’ve met all the constitutional requirements, the ERA has not been published.

    The goal is to raise awareness that the ERA is still not officially in the US Constitution.

    So have a little party with a birthday cake or cupcakes in recognition that we are still waiting for the Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the US Constitution.  This can be a small gathering in you home, a large gathering, or simply part of an already planned meeting or event.   Take lots of photos and post on social media with hashtag #ERA100.
    Please share these flyers at the birthday party and with your family and friends:

    Equal Means Equal has created a "cookbook" of ideas and graphics for groups to leverage. Click here to access.

    For more details on the ERA 100th birthday party, listen to Shari Temple’s appearance on the DA Blue Cafe podcast. 

    Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 08:00 PM Beijing Time · 2 rsvps
    Zoom in Beijing, China

    DACN's DO SOMETHING Hour


    It’s time. Time to raise your hand and answer the call to lead.

    Need help getting started? Dial into DACN’s DO SOMETHING Hours! 

    These calls are are available for all members who:

    • want to volunteer to get out the vote;
    • have an interest in communications;
    • are looking to host events;
    • want to serve on the Nominations and Elections Committee;
    • are interested in leading a DACN Caucus, Chapter, or Committee;
    • hope to serve on the Leadership Board;
    • and more!

    RSVP to join the call to action, and find out how you can turn America Blue!


  • News

    Democrats Abroad Celebrates Enactment of “Respect for Marriage Act”

    December 15th, Washington, D.C. — Democrats Abroad Leadership, including Global LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Bob Vallier, National Committeeperson Martha McDevitt-Pugh, Global Black Caucus Chair Leedonal 'Jazz' Moore, and International Chair Candice Kerestan, celebrate President Joe Biden for signing the landmark marriage equality bill into law, enshrining marriage equality protections for all Americans.   McDevitt-Pugh, who serves as Recording Secretary of the DNC’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus, said, “For too many years Americans with same-sex foreign partners were locked out of living in the USA by immigration laws that only recognized heterosexual partnerships. Our legal marriages were unrecognized until the 2013 Supreme Court Windsor decision struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). With President Biden’s signature on the Respect for Marriage Act this week, recognition of our marriages is now enshrined in federal law. One more step on the road to full equality. Thank you, President Biden! #lovewins”   Global LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Bob Vallier said, “In order to get the sixty votes needed, language for “religious exception” had to be included, which opens the door to subsequent judicial challenge. The law is imperfect, but nevertheless, the law means that a marriage - any marriage - performed in a state that respects marriage equality is legal and valid in every other state, no matter how marriage is defined in those other states.  While we still must remain ever vigilant to protect our hard-won rights, this is undeniably a giant and meaningful step forward."   McDevitt-Pugh added, “I especially want to highlight the bipartisan approach of Senator Tammy Baldwin’s efforts on this bill. She worked hard to get the support of twelve Republican Senators, which allowed the bill to overcome the filibuster. Senator Baldwin built a large coalition in support of the Respect for Marriage Act - a coalition that reflects the views  of a majority of the American people.”   Global Black Caucus Chair Leedonal "Jazz" Moore highlighted the importance of the legislation in codifying Loving v. Virginia in their statement on the enactment of the act, saying "While much of the attention has been focused on protections for same-sex marriages, interracial couples are glad Congress also included protections for their marriages, even though their right to marry was well-established decades ago."   “Over 70% of Americans support same sex-marriage, and this legislation is game changing for equal protection under the law for all Americans. I want to thank President Biden, Senator Baldwin, and everyone who voted for this bill. I also want to thank the activists who have continued to fight the good fight and ensure that LGBTQIA+ couples and interracial couples have access to the same rights as heterosexual couples.” said Chair Kerestan. 
    read more

    Global Black Caucus Chair Moore's Statement on the Respect for Marriage Act

      The Respect for Marriage Act ensures that not only same-sex marriages but also interracial marriages are enshrined in federal law. The Supreme Court overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion reminds all of us, that whatever rights we have in this society are conditional — they can be taken away, and the fact that Congress had to take up this issue in 2022 should be a stark reminder of that fact for us. The Respect for Marriage Act, which passed the Senate last week, had been picking up steam since June when the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion. That ruling included a concurring opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas that suggested the high court should review other precedent-setting rulings, including the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage. While much of the attention has been focused on protections for same-sex marriages, interracial couples are glad Congress also included protections for their marriages, even though their right to marry was well-established decades ago. It’s a little unnerving that these things where we made such obvious progress are now being challenged or that we have to beef up the bulwark to keep them in place. So many of those things that have just been taken for granted ... are under threat. But why is Loving v. Virginia so significant?  One day in the 1970s, Paul Fleisher and his wife were walking through a department store parking lot when they noticed a group of people looking at them. Fleisher, who is white, and his wife, who is Black, were used to “the look.” But this time it was more intense. “There was this white family who was just staring at us, just staring holes in us,” Fleisher recalled. That fraught moment occurred even though any legal uncertainty about the validity of interracial marriage had ended a decade earlier—in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws banning marriages between people of different races. In more than half-century since interracial marriage has become more common and far more accepted. So Fleisher was surprised that Congress felt the need to include additional protection in the Respect for Marriage Act, which was given final approval in a House vote Thursday. It ensures that not only same-sex marriages but also interracial marriages are enshrined in federal law. The 74-year-old Fleisher, a retired teacher and children’s book author, attended segregated public schools in the 1950s in the then-Jim Crow South and later saw what he called “token desegregation” in high school when four Black students were in his senior class of about 400 students. He and his wife, Debra Sims Fleisher, 73, live outside Richmond, about 50 miles from Caroline County, where Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, were arrested and charged in 1958 with marrying out of state and returning to Virginia, where interracial marriage was illegal. Their challenge to the law led to Loving v. Virginia, the landmark ruling that ended bans against interracial marriages.
    read more
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