FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 6 November 2020

Contact: Darcy Alexandra, Communications Chair, [email protected] +41 78 920 79 98

US citizens living abroad account for more than 1.8 million mail-in absentee ballots in the 2020 General Election, a 250% increase over previous elections. These ballots will impact both the presidential race as well as down-ticket candidates; hence US citizens abroad want their ballots COUNTED.

Democrats Abroad (DA) 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.

Both the Basel and Zurich chapters of DACH will gather peacefully to ensure that the democratic process is upheld and all votes are counted. Event organizers at both locations will respect COVID-19 protocols, using volunteers to encourage the use of masks, social distancing, and safe behaviors even while gathering outdoors. Basel’s chapter of DACH will convene in Münsterplatz while Zurich’s chapter will gather at Lindenhof (known to English speakers as Lindenhof Hill or Lindenhof Park), in homage to the location’s historical significance as a site of resistance.

Democrats Abroad, whose global membership across 190 countries represents not only expats but also military families, foreign-born Americans, and dual citizens, is globally offering ballot curing and validation measures to Americans living outside the U.S. by providing tools to connect them to their home state election offices. The organization is also offering legal support to counter lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign which is attempting to manipulate the election results in key states.

For decades DA has assisted in absentee voting, which has always been deemed fair, reliable and legitimate. Only recently has the Trump administration made false claims regarding its legitimacy. Last-minute rule changes could disenfranchise thousands of military and overseas voters. These voters have already gone to great lengths to receive and send in their ballots from abroad. Postal mail delivery slowdowns instigated by the current administration and other restrictions have cost voters abroad time and money to make sure their ballots arrived back in the US on time. Trump’s threats to throw out ballots and his attempt to call the election is not just a travesty but a direct and unprecedented threat to the world’s longest running democracy.

Democrats Abroad Switzerland will gather because:

• Absentee voting is a proven method for US Americans living abroad to participate in the democratic process.
• All legal votes cast must be counted.
• We believe in the peaceful transition of power between administrations.

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About Democrats Abroad

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

Democrats Abroad has 45 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 US political process. Our members live in more than 190 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.