2021 DACH Elections: Offices of Member-at-Large and DPCA Voting Rep
Candidates for 4 X Member-at-Large (4)
(in alphabetical order by last name)
Joe Amato (Zurich)
I was born in New York City in 1955 and grew up in Flushing, Queens. I left in the early 1980s to work as a Biology and Geography teacher as well as an IB Coordinator at international schools in Caracas, Bangkok, Tokyo and in Zurich (since 2000). I am presently retired and once the pandemic dust reasonably settles, hope to be involved in a number of volunteer activities.
Read moreDACH Needs YOU!
DACH Needs YOU!!!
Joe and Kamala have been inaugurated! And members like you help make it happen. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Now, work continues for 2022 and 2024. Locally here in Switzerland, DACH members will soon elect officers for two year terms. Becoming involved on the Executive Committee is rewarding and helps guide the future of our organization. The tremendous growth of membership in the last four years (as Democrats unified in the mission to defeat Mr. Trump) has allowed us to have highly motivated volunteers and a great basis to keep up the momentum with new ideas. We would love to see many new members running for offices. In addition to the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, we will elect “Members-at-Large” to the Executive Committee where you can volunteer your expertise in a given field (Volunteer Coordinator, Communications Chair, Fundraising Chair, etc.) or participate as required based on upcoming activities.
NOMINATIONS
This year, Democrats Abroad Switzerland will hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections on Sunday, March 14th. We have established a Nominations and Elections Committee (NEC) with Peter Buterfield as the NEC Chair. This Committee is available to help you determine which position you would like to run for and to answer any questions about how to promote your candidacy. You can contact the Nominations Committee via email at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can call Peter at +41 79 598 53 74 or Vance White (Outgoing DACH Chair) at +41 79 746 60 26 to ask about roles and responsibilities.
Running for officer positions is quite rewarding. And the next two years are a really good way to make your mark on our organization because during non-presidential election years you have time to really focus with the global team to make positive change happen.
You can help set the Democratic Party Platform, encourage new members and get to know other Democrats Abroad from around the world! And when COVID-19 restrictions ease, you can help us run local in-person events once again!
Can we count on you? Do you have questions or want to learn more? Are you interested in any of our roles, or know somebody else who might be a good fit? If so, please reach out to [email protected]. We will be more than happy to hear from you.
In addition to officers at the DACH country level, we will also have elections this Spring for officers in the Basel, Geneva, and Zürich chapters during their AGMs, so you can also run for local chapter positions.
IMPORTANT DATES
March 14, 2021 | AGM and Elections |
By Feb. 7, 2021 | Members who wish to run for office shall inform the Chair of the NEC in writing (email) |
Feb. 17, 2021 | The NEC will distribute to all current members of DACH a notice regarding the election meeting. The notice will include the names of all candidates and a brief summary of their qualifications |
To learn about officer and member-at-large duties, follow this link to see excerpts from the DACH Bylaws.
Crunch Time for the Georgia Senate Runoff Elections!
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Track your ballot and make sure it has been accepted. You have until January 8 to fix any issues. Please contact your Local Election Office (LEO) and if you have any questions, reach out to our Voter Help Desk!
Are you a Georgia voter? Have you sent your ballot back yet? If so, great! Make sure you track it to ensure that it is received and counted by your LEO. If you haven't sent your ballot back, you still have a bit of time! You can request and mail your ballot back, but be sure to return it via a courier service to ensure it reaches your LEO in Georgia in time! If you have questions, you can attend a 1-on-1 live voter help session with voting from abroad specialists or find out more at votefromabroad.org/georgia.
Are you not a Georgia voter but want to get involved to make sure that Democrats #FlipTheSenate? Phone- or textbank with us or many other organizations doing this work! (Yes, you can do it from abroad!) Find more info at democratsabroad.org/phonebanking.
All resources for the Georgia Runoff Elections can be found here and an overview of the candidates can be found here.
Accept the Votes & Stop the Seditionists
On Wednesday, Jan 6th, the 117th Congress will hold a joint session to accept the results of the Electoral College and certify Joe Biden & Kamala Harris as President and Vice-president elect. Currently, 140 GOP House & 12 Senate members have stated they will not accept, or will challenge the votes from some states.
Democrats Abroad is outraged by this seditious behavior. With the release of the Trump Tape it is clearer than ever that Trump is trying to get people to do literally anything they can to steal the election for him. Even if this sedition will fail, it happening at all is damaging to our democracy. Let's do everything WE can to help Congress stand up to him, end the reign of this would-be autocrat, and help us turn the page on this awful chapter in our history.
The Action:
Call your Senators & Representative and ask that they support the Constitution and state elections, and accept the results of the Electoral College vote.
A) If your Senators or Representative have stated they will challenge the Electoral College results, call them to demand they stop. They are participating in an attempt to steal the election, disenfranchise and invalidate the votes of American citizens, and support Trump's baseless accusations of fraud.
List of Senators in the #SeditionCaucus*
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
Mike Braun, Indiana
Roger Marshall, Kansas
John Neely Kennedy, Louisiana
Josh Hawley, Missouri
Steve Daines, Montana
James Lankford, Oklahoma
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
Ted Cruz, Texas
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Cynthia M. Lummis, Wyoming
(A full list of Congressional members is not available, but 2/3 of Republican Representatives have stated they will challenge the results.)
B) If your Senators or Representative have not spoken up, or have said that they do not support this sedition, call them to let them know you support their decision to defend the Constitution and support the will of the people.
Look up your Representative here.
Look up your Senators here.
* Note: this is a developing story and this list is changing in real time.
Sample script for seditionists:
Hi, I'm {Name} and I am a constituent of {insert person's name}. I'm calling about Wednesday's joint session to certify Joe Biden as President elect. I strongly support {insert person's name} accepting the results of the Electoral College vote, and believe that it is sedition to not do so.
Sample script for others:
Hi, I'm {Name} and I am a constituent of {insert person's name}. I'm calling about Wednesday's joint session to certify Joe Biden as President elect. I appreciate {insert person's name} accepting the results of the Electoral Collect vote.
via Aaron Fishbone at DemocratsAbroad.org/Tiny_Actions
New Email Alert!
Democrats Abroad Switzerland is very excited to announce our new email addresses. You can find the contact information for our national committee members here and the Basel, Geneva, and Zurich contact information on their individual pages.
Executive Committee
Office | Name | |
Chair | Vance White | [email protected] |
Vice Chair | Liz Voss | [email protected] |
Treasurer | Meli Hughes | [email protected] |
Member-at-Large | Farid ben Amor | [email protected] |
Member-at-Large | Pete Kaiser | [email protected] |
Basel Chair | Kristen Jafflin | [email protected] |
Geneva Chair | Laura Messenger | [email protected] |
Zurich Co-Chairs | Britta, Darcy, and Stacy | [email protected] |
Communications Team
Role | Name | |
Press Contact | Abby Collins | [email protected] |
Media Team Member | Amy Kasper | [email protected] |
Graphic Design | Alexander Kaufmann | [email protected] |
Committee Leaders
Committee | Name | |
Membership | Rachel Thibodeaux | [email protected] |
Nominations | Peter Butterfield | [email protected] |
Youth | Eric Burns | [email protected] |
Getting to Know the GA Runoff Candidates
Information about this election can be found here.
Regular Senate Election
The following is a selection of information courtesy of BallotPedia.org and the candidates' campaign websites.
Jon Ossoff | David Perdue | |
Campaign website | https://electjon.com/ | https://perduesenate.com/ |
Please list 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? |
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Perdue did not answer the Ballotpedia survey for 2020. |
COVID-19 |
Congress and the Administration should focus on boosting the health response, shoring up Americans’ finances, and speeding up containment and adaptation so Americans can return to work and normal life as soon as possible. |
I strongly encourage all Georgians to do their part to protect themselves and their communities by following the recommended safety precautions: wash your hands, watch your distance, and wear a mask. |
Economy |
This crisis is laying bare structural inequity and corruption in U.S. economic policy. Similar to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, while hardship is concentrated among working- and middle-class families and smaller businesses, the fastest and biggest emergency relief has gone straight to the top. |
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Healthcare |
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Education |
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(Critical) Infrastructure |
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I’m committed to strengthening our critical infrastructure. The Port of Savannah recently became the top U.S. port for agricultural exports and is the third fastest growing port in the country. After nearly 20 years of failures by career politicians, we’ve secured full federal funding for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), which is expected to be completed by early 2022. |
Roe v. Wade / Protecting Life |
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Being pro-life is a deeply held conviction for me. I believe we have a moral obligation to promote a culture that values life and protects the innocent, including the unborn. |
Gun Safety Reforms / 2nd Amendment |
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The right to bear arms is a freedom enshrined in the Constitution. We should focus on enforcing the gun laws already on the books to keep our families and communities safe. |
Immigration |
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Criminal Justice Reform / Safety |
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Get Ready for the Georgia Runoff Election
Elections were held for both of Georgia's US Senate seats on November 3, 2020. Both races are going to runoff elections on January 5, 2021. This is because no candidate received at least 50% of the vote.
The Races
- US Senate: Jon Ossoff (Democrat) vs David Perdue (Republican)
- US Senate Special: Raphael Warnock (Democrat) vs Kelly Loeffler (Republican)
You can find an overview of these candidates here.
Deadlines
- Dec. 7, 2020 - Register to vote, if needed [Email, fax, or postal mail]
- Jan. 5, 2021 - Request a ballot, if needed [Email, fax, or postal mail]
- Jan. 5, 2021 - Voted ballot postmark deadline [Postal mail return only]
- Jan. 8, 2021 - Deadline for voted ballot to be received in GA and for any ballot curing to be completed
Registration and Ballot Request
Check your absentee ballot status on the Georgia Secretary of State's website. After you submit your information, go to "Click Here for Absentee Ballot Status" in the lower-left.
- If it shows that your absentee application has been received for the January 5 runoff, you don't need to submit a new Federal Postcard Application (FPCA).
- If it doesn't show that the absentee application has been received, you can vote in the runoff election but will need to submit an FPCA as soon as possible (January 5 deadline).
- If you aren't registered to vote but will be 18 by January 5, you can vote in the runoff election but will need to submit an FPCA by December 7, 2020.
Ballot
Ballots for the January 5 runoff election are now available. Please check all email folders, including your spam folder, to make sure you have received your official ballot.
If your official ballot is lost or delayed, we are strongly recommending that voters abroad fill out and mail in a backup ballot (Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot or FWAB). Because the FWAB isn't set up for two Senate races, here is a sample FWAB showing how to fill it out:
Ballot Return
The instructions will indicate how to prepare your ballot for mailing and will provide the mailing address for your election office in GA.
Returning Ballot by Courier (International Express Mail Service)
Given the deadlines and the fact that the Christmas season will further exacerbate the mailing disruptions caused by COVID, we recommend that you use a courier service to return your ballot (if possible). We strongly recommend voters use a courier service for any ballots mailed back in December.
A DACH member in Zurich has kindly offered to let other Georgia voters use her corporate FedEx account to return their ballots. Due to Federal Election Commission rules, you must pay the postage or courier fees for sending ballots yourself. Democrats Abroad cannot send them for you. However, with this corporate rate the courier fee is significantly reduced.
If you are interested in using this option, please complete this Google Form. You will need to know the address of your Election Office, which you can find here. FedEx cannot deliver to PO Boxes, so you may need to contact your local election official for a street address.
Verify Your Ballot was Accepted and Fix if Needed
After you mail in your ballot, be sure to verify that it was accepted. If your ballot is rejected for signature issues, GA will let you fix it. The deadline to do so is January 8, 2021.
Additional Information and Resources
Congratulations! We are thrilled about our 46th President!
My fellow Americans —
I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris.
In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.
With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.
It’s time for America to unite. And to heal.
We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.
- Joe Biden, November 7, 2020
Statement from Julia Bryan, Global Chair of Democrats Abroad
Ballot Curing
Georgia voters abroad ! Track your ballot by TODAY and make sure it's good to go. More details here.
Arizona voters abroad! Track your ballot by November 10 (Tuesday) to check it's counted. Details here.
Nevadans abroad! The path to the White House may be up to you! Check your ballot by November 12 (Thursday) and make sure it's good to go. Details here.
North Carolinians abroad! Check your ballot online to make sure it's set to "valid return". If it's not the deadline to fix is November 12 (Thursday), details here.
#CountOurVotes Gatherings
Democrats Abroad has already held public gatherings of US Citizens demanding all votes be tallied, especially before any official declaration of who will be the next US President. Democrats Abroad Switzerland (DACH), will gather at 2 pm Saturday, 7 November in their respective cities as a show of resistance to the current President’s attempt to disenfranchise voters.
Note that this post may be updated as additional events are finalized.
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Basel
Münsterplatz
Saturday, November 7
2 PM
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Zürich
Lindenhof Hill
Saturday, November 7
2 PM
Please bring a #CountOurVotes sign (or make your own). Masks must be worn and we will observe social distancing guidelines. We will not gather in groups of more than 15 and information will be collected for contact tracing.
If you aren't able to attend one of our events, please consider having an individual demonstration, taking a photo or video and posting it to social media.
Social media information: Tag @demsabroad and @swissdemocrats; hashtags #CountOurVotes, #DAResists, #CountEveryVote