HAPPY 2022 from Democrats Abroad Germany!
For overseas citizens, a new calendar year means it’s time to (re-)register and request your ballot — even if you voted last time around!
Our suggestion? Go to www.votefromabroad.org RIGHT NOW and submit your Federal Post Card Application (ballot request/voter registration, if applicable). Once the form has been accepted, you will receive ballots for all primary, special, and general elections for which you are eligible this year. Come November, 34 U.S. Senate seats, all 435 U.S. Representative seats, 46 state legislatures, and 36 state governorships will be on the line!
Your vote counts in 2022 more than ever. Make sure you’re ready to use it! #KnowWhatToDoIn2022
Keep reading to find out more about how you can do the following:
I. Join our special event to commemorate the January 6 Capitol riot
II. Help us get out the vote in 2022
III. Receive important updates from the DA state outreach teams
IV. Participate in other exciting events this month
V. Support Democrats Abroad Germany
VI. Stay up to date with the latest news from DAG
I. Commemorate January 6 and Defend Democracy Together
We have an important anniversary this month: On January 6, 2022, it will have been one year since a violent mob overran our Capitol in Washington, D.C.
We’ll be remembering that day and gearing up to Defend Democracy Together starting at 7:30 p.m. CET. Please join us on Zoom to get registered, learn how to help others send in their Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), and hear from counter-terrorism expert and bestselling author Malcolm Nance and propaganda and authoritarianism scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat. Our guests will speak to us about what we can do to defend democracy from abroad – and why it matters so much that we do.
Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link.
II. Game Out The Vote
Join DA Germany for a friendly competition among our 14 chapters to GET OUT THE VOTE and WIN BIG in 2022! The contest begins on January 6 with online BINGO running through January 15 (International Voter Registration Day). During this period, all activities are worth double points — so don’t delay! The competition goes through March 3, with the winning chapter to be announced at our Annual General Meeting on March 4, 2022. RSVP today to push your chapter across the finish line — and help all of us to win in November!
Several chapters already have events planned for January 15, including the Münster-Osnabrück-Bielefeld Region, Düsseldorf-Ruhr Region, and Saxony chapters.
Please feel free to join our online Phonebanking Training on January 11 at 7:30 p.m. CET.
III. State of the States
Texas
- Time Sensitive: Register and/or Request 2022 Ballots NOW!
- Primary Ballots will be sent out starting January 15!
Texas Voters - NOW is the time to prepare to vote in ALL of the 2022 Texas elections, especially the March 1 Primary! Texans must fill out their Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) EVERY calendar year, even if you’re already registered. Ballots for the Primaries will be sent out JANUARY 15, so go to votefromabroad.org TODAY to fill out your application.
- For detailed voting information, download the guide for “Voting in Texas from Abroad” HERE!
- We highly recommend that you EMAIL your FPCA to your County Clerk to save time – remember that ballots must be returned by postal mail.
- If you have any questions, write to the DA Texas State Team at [email protected].
Timeline of 2022 Primary Elections
- First day to register/request ballots for 2022: January 1
- Ballots sent out: Saturday, January 15 (Check your Email/Spam folder)
- FULL ballot Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 9
- FEDERAL ballot Registration Deadline: Friday, February 18 (previously registered voters can request a FULL ballot up to this date)
- Election Day: Tuesday, March 1 (Ballot must be postmarked by 7:00 p.m.)
- Ballot Return Deadline: Monday, March 7
Florida
Join the Florida State Team on January 5 at 7:00 p.m. CET to meet Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the Democratic candidate in the January 11 Special Election in Florida's 20th Congressional District!
Sheila won the Democratic primary in November in a field of 11 candidates, following the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings in April 2021. If elected on January 11, 2022, Sheila would represent a majority-minority district with over 260,000 immigrants. Sheila is herself a daughter of Haitian immigrants. Immigration reform is a key priority for Sheila, and she will fight for a clear path to citizenship for the many undocumented workers who contribute so much to the American economy.
RSVP to join the conversation.
Michigan
Michiganders! 2022 is right around the corner and Governor Whitmer’s re-election campaign is already running full-steam ahead. Overseas votes and volunteers will make the difference this midterm season, making our Get-Out-the-Vote efforts from abroad crucial.
On January 8 at 6:00 p.m. CET, we will discuss the freshly-minted redistricting maps, what they mean for important elections throughout the state, and ways to get involved online.
RSVP to join the MI Abroad State Team and learn how to get involved in this critical election year.
Ohio
Join the Ohio State Team on January 29 at 4:00 p.m. CET for our 2022 Kick-Off. Wear your Ohio swag, meet our team leaders, and share your ideas for making a difference in our state this year. RSVP to receive the link.
IV. More Events of Interest
Global Black Caucus
The Re-United States: A Documentary Film Screening and Live Q&A with Filmmakers – January 7, 7:00 p.m. CET
Voting Rights, Swing States, and Justice Inequality: In Conversation with Black Lives Matter Tokyo – January 8, 8:00 a.m. CET
Global Progressive Caucus
Progress for Progressives Monthly Members Meeting – January 8, 2:00 p.m. CET
Reparations Task Force
Why We Can't Wait: DA in Conversation with Human Rights Watch, Nikkei Progressives, and Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress – January 16, 5:30 p.m. CET
Global Women's Caucus
Political Framing: Building Bridges in Divided Communities w/ Dr. Dustie Spencer – January 22, 5:00 p.m. CET
Books Abroad: Women and Power by Mary Beard – January 26, 7:30 p.m. CET
V. Support DA Germany
To ensure victory in November, DA Germany has many things planned to help find and reach American voters abroad. But as a result of COVID-19, DAG has raised only one-third of what it did in 2019 with its large fundraisers. This has created additional work for us this year to make sure we have the necessary funds in 2022 to carry out this work.
Some of our biggest efforts will center around reminding current members to request their ballots and reaching out to U.S. citizens in Germany on social media. During the primary season, we plan to send postal mailers reminding members of the primaries they should participate in, as well as a second postal mailer later in the year to all of our members to remind them to return their ballots. Like in 2020, we will also mail hand-colored postcards to our members from battleground states reminding them to vote. Additionally, we will run ads on social media and other online platforms all year long to reach new voters. And much, much more!
Our work is only possible with your help and generous donations! Become a sustaining donor today and help ensure DA Germany has the resources needed to reach Americans abroad in these critical midterm elections.
Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany
IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99
Additionally, Democrats Abroad Global is collecting contributions to revamp the DA website.
Having a strong digital presence will be more important than ever for finding and mobilizing voters abroad for critical races in 2022. That’s why Democrats Abroad has prioritized redesigning its website in the first quarter of 2022.
At the top of the to-do list is making our website more engaging, accessible, and user-friendly – something we know needs to be done, but which comes with a price tag of $30,000.
Help us in this longer-term investment so that we can better attract and support our online visitors – and in turn convert site visits into activism and votes! Please chip in today at www.democratsabroad.org/website.
Donations of any size are greatly appreciated as we seek to boost our 2022 voter outreach efforts!
VI. Stay Up to Date
Want to receive all the updates from DAG? Follow us on social media!
Facebook @DAGermany
Twitter @DemsAbroadDE
Instagram @demsabroadgermany
LinkedIn @Democrats Abroad Germany
Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you at an event, either online or in person, very soon!
Democratically yours,
DA Germany