Why use VoteFromAbroad.org to request your ballot?

Federal law provides special voting protections for U.S. citizens living overseas—but only if you submit the official federal ballot request. When you do, you receive:

• Your ballot by email (Check the “receive by email” box)
  
  
• Guaranteed ballot transmission at least 45 days before each federal election — critical if you must return your ballot by mail (22 states are mail-return only)

• Automatic ballot delivery for every election you’re eligible to vote in that year

• Protection against voter roll removal — your registration stays active that year

• Free ballot tracking, so you can confirm your ballot was received

• Access to an emergency write-in ballot if your ballot is delayed or doesn’t arrive
  

REQUEST MY BALLOT(S)

These protections are not automatic. They apply only when you submit the FEDERAL ballot request (as opposed to an absentee ballot from your local election official).

Go to VoteFromAbroad.org today!

Events happening in DA Austria in July —

60+ Community Group Get-Together
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Rinkhy Delikatessen Bar
Zieglergasse 29, 1070 Vienna
RSVP

July 4th Party in Vorarlberg
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Lochau Grillplatz, Schwarzbad, 6911 Lochau
3:00 p.m.
RSVP

July 4th in Vienna
Saturday, July 4, 2026 
Central Vienna – Venue location upon RSVP
1020 Vienna
This event is sold out!

50+ Community Get-Together
Thursday, July 9, 2026
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Rinkhy Delikatessen Bar
Zieglergasse 29, 1070 Vienna
RSVP

Salzburg Monthly Meet-up
Friday, July 24, 2026
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Krimpelstätter Restaurant,
Müllner Hauptstraße 31, Salzburg 5020
RSVP

Voter Registration & Ballot Request Tables are Back!
Saturdays throughout July at various locations*:
Sat. July 11 – 9:00am - 12:00 pm, Market location
12:00pm - 4:00 pm, Mariahilferstrasse location
*Many locations means many volunteers are needed; please check our signup list to volunteer for a time and location! 

In this Newsletter —

Message from the Chair

Event Highlights: 

• July 4th in Vienna — sold out!
• July 4th in Vorarlberg
• Community Group Get-Togethers
• Oktoberfest in Munich

Voting News:

• Primary Season is Now!
• Call To Action – U.S. Postal Service

Inside DA Austria:

• Your Donation Dollars at Work
• Veterans & Military Families Caucus

Issues and Actions:

• Volunteers Needed!

Review:

• Solidarity Sundays: June Meetup
• Volunteers Cocktail
• Vienna Pride Parade Watch Party

Our next Executive Committee meeting will be on Thursday, July 2, at 6:30 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Brett Carnito at [email protected] for the location.

DA Austria is committed to keeping you up to date while respecting your inbox. Our monthly newsletter brings together all the important information you need in one place, so you can stay informed without the extra emails. We appreciate you reading and staying connected!

Message from the Chair: 

As July 4th approaches, some of us are ambivalent about celebrating the birthday of a nation whose elected government is actively and transparently working to undermine democracy and the rule of law. Can we be proud to be Americans under these circumstances? Is celebration warranted? 

To my mind our nation represents an ongoing two hundred and fifty year project that is sustained by the beliefs and the strength of its people, a project that will continue long after the current administration is gone. In two hundred and fifty years that project has changed much for the better, and with our determination, participation, and persistence can continue to do so. And that, I think, is worth celebrating.

— Brett Carnito, DA Austria Chair

Event Highlights:

July 4th in Vorarlberg
Saturday, July 4, 2026

Come join us for a Fourth of July party at the Lochau Grillplatz, Schwarzbad just west of the harbor to celebrate the radical idea of being “united.”

We’re joining up with the Lindau Expats for a BBQ at the Lochau Grillplatz starting at 15:00 on Saturday, July 4, for good food, cold drinks and positive chats. Bring what you’d like to eat and/or what you’d like to share!

July 4th Party in Vienna:  1776–2026 Celebrating Our Democracy
Saturday, July 4, 2026

This event is sold out!

Bring DA Austria will host a quintessential July 4th celebration of America's 250th birthday — a democracy worth fighting for then, and worth celebrating now. We're throwing a bash on July 4 with a decked-out American-style buffet.

Guests are invited to bring their favorite dessert to share — the more the merrier. Live music from English for Runaways will keep the energy high with hits spanning every generation. Test your skills (and your luck) in our Cornhole Toss Contest, with a suitably "corny" prize for the winner.

It's going to be a day full of food, music, games, and the kind of American spirit that has always found a way to build something better. We hope to see you there — come ready to celebrate!

Community Group Get-Togethers

Under the motto “a strong community is the basis of a strong political organization”  we have created new Community Groups based on decades of life—20s, 30s, 40s etc., –– as a starting point, but events are open to everyone! The goal:  connect people through interest-based volunteer and social activities. 

Groups are already forming across all age ranges—the 30+ group met in late June, and the 20+ and 70+ groups have July events in the works. See below for the upcoming 50+ and 60+ get-togethers, with more to follow. Hope you'll join us! 

60+ Get-Together — Wednesday, July 1, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Rinkhy Delikatessen Bar, Zieglergasse 29, 1070, Vienna

50+ Get-Together — Thursday, July 9, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Rinkhy Delikatessen Bar, Zieglergasse 29, 1070, Vienna

Both groups are meeting for the first time to plan activities for the coming months. Ideas on the table include vineyard walks, Vienna Woods hikes, outdoor films at Rathausplatz and other venues, and get-out-the-vote efforts before the midterms. Come share your suggestions—hope to see you there!

Oktoberfest in Munich

What started out 17 years ago as a Democrats Abroad “FUN-draiser” is now one of DA’s premier events worldwide. Join Democrats from all around the world in one of most traditional beer tents on the Wiesen! 

The annual Democrats Abroad Oktoberfest extravaganza takes place in Munich on Saturday, September 26. DA Germany has reservations in the Festhalle Schottenhamel for tables in the "Gallerie," specifically an area upstairs so that we are above the main crowd, from 10am until 2:30pm

For full details, please see DA Germany's event page – we look forward to seeing you there! 

Voting News:

Democrats Keep Winning! State and Local Elections Matter More Than Ever. 

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, state legislatures have become even more important battlegrounds for voting rights, election administration, and congressional redistricting. Forward Majority predicts that eight races in five states — Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — could help determine control of legislative chambers representing roughly 42 million Americans. Read more here. 

Across the country, Democrats continue to outperform recent presidential voting margins in state legislative special elections. Analysts tracking 2026 special elections report a significant Democratic overperformance compared with 2024 results, with multiple Republican-held seats already flipping to Democratic control this year. Read more here.

Primary Season is Now!

Its primary season and races will be taking place in state gubernatorial and federal House and Senate races — 470 federal-level primary races in all — from March to June.

Upcoming Primary Elections:

• July 21: Arizona (overseas ballots sent June 6) 
• July 25: Georgia-13 Special General Election (overseas ballots sent June 13) 
• August 4: Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington (overseas ballots sent June 20) 
• August 6: Tennessee (overseas ballots sent June 22) 
• August 8: Hawaii (overseas ballots sent June 22) 
• August 11: Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin (overseas ballots sent June 27) 
• August 11: Alabama – AL-01,  AL-02,  AL-06,  AL-07 (overseas ballots sent June 27) 
• August 18: Arkansas, Florida, and Wyoming (overseas ballots sent July 4) 
• August 18: California Special Election (overseas ballots sent July 4) 
• September 1:  Massachusetts (overseas ballots sent July 18) 
• September 8: New Hampshire (overseas ballots sent July 25) 
• September 9: Rhode Island (overseas ballots sent July 26)

Every race is important! Make sure you always receive your ballot for each election you’re eligible to vote in by going to votefromabroad.org and requesting your ballots for the entire calendar year. 

Call To Action – USPS 

The Trump Administration and the U.S. Postal Service are moving forward with a plan that could fundamentally disrupt voting by mail. Your ballot and millions of others could be at risk.

What’s happening? The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has said it is building a new records system and will only deliver ballots to voters who are on their mailing list. If carried through, this rule would mean that the USPS will only deliver ballots to voters who appear on specific lists provided by the states. This is yet another attempt by Trump to take control of elections from the states by creating a federal database of voters and determining who gets a ballot.

USPS is currently accepting comments on this proposal in a Federal public comment period. This period is one of the few opportunities we have to demand answers before these changes move forward. The deadline for submitting a comment is July 2, 5pm Eastern. Find the comment form here. 

READ MORE

Inside DA Austria:

Your Donation Dollars at Work

DA Austria is executing a widespread voter turn out campaign before the November midterms and will spend more than 6k on non-member and member outreach. Why? We want to make sure that the 12,000 U.S. citizens living in Austria know two crucial things — that they can vote and how to request and return their ballot. 

Thanks to our generous donors, we’ve raised almost 5k so far and need your financial support to help us meet our goal. Please become a sustaining donor or make a one time donation today at: https://www.democratsabroad.org/at_donate

Keep an eye out for our election cycle media outreach online, in your postbox, and on the streets near you this fall. Make sure to help get out the word — be sure to like and share with family, friends and colleagues!

Veterans & Military Families Caucus
Monthly Newsletter for June 2026

As we reflect on June 2026, let's not forget the women who have served in the U.S. military for over 250 years. A milestone came on June 12, 1948, when the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was signed into law, officially allowing women to serve in peacetime—though they were still barred from the highest ranks. Today, women make up 18% of our military. Don't let this administration erase what women have built—our armed forces stand on their shoulders.

June was also Pride Month–a reminder of what’s at stake. Harvey Milk served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and in 2016, the Navy honored him by naming an oiler ship in his name, the USNS Harvey Milk. This June, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had Milk’s name removed from the hull. Lest we forget what's being done to our America.

Juneteenth: On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation and freeing the last enslaved people in the country. Black soldiers served in the Union Army to help build a more perfect Union—and in doing so, helped shape the diverse armed forces we have today. These are the shoulders we stand on. Don't let that history be erased.

Lt. Col. Gregory Cromwell (U.S. Army, Ret.) wrote an opinion piece on navigating the VA's Foreign Medical Program: The VA's Foreign Medical Program Works – But Only If Veterans Do All the Heavy Lifting. This piece offers good insights into the experience of veterans, as they seek the help they need. 

Join us online at the Global VMF Meeting, Saturday, July 11 at 1:00 p.m. CET, to hear what the VMF caucus is working on. RSVP here for the link.

If you have any questions, you can contact me at the email address below.

 — George Bottorff, DA Austria VMF Caucus

[email protected]

Issues and Actions:

Let’s Create a Blue Tsunami for the Midterms – Volunteers Needed!

We need help to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) for November! Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer—you should have received an email with specific opportunities and contact information.

Want to Help? We Need You!

If you want to join the effort (plenty of which can be done remotely), see below where help is needed and send an email to me at [email protected] with “volunteering” in the subject line.

Voter Registration Tabling — Help U.S. citizens register to vote at Vienna markets (Kuschkermarkt, Yppenplatz, Karmelitermarkt) and Mariahilferstrasse. Outside Vienna? Let us know—we'd love to expand!

Media Team (remote) — Help us reach Americans in Austria:

• Graphic design (Canva)
• Social media calendar & event management (Facebook, Meetup)
• Stories & Reels content creation

Events Support and Fundraising — Bring ideas to life: raffles, comedy nights, cocktail events, concerts, and more.

Solidarity Sundays — Monthly activism and education: protests, letter-writing campaigns, and more. Paused for summer, but always welcoming new people.

Phonebanking (remote) — Our 2026 local campaign has wrapped, but phonebanking with DA Global starts again soon.

Many of these roles can be done remotely. Interested? Email [email protected] with "volunteering" in the subject line. Thank you!

— Kathryn Nenning, DA Austria Volunteer Coordinator

Take Action! 
In Your Neighborhood – Voter Registration Tables

Summer is here and election season is heating up. Look for DA’s volunteers at a voter registration table at a market or street corner in your neighborhood. It’s more important than ever to make sure EVERY eligible voter in Austria requests and returns their ballot this year. Stop by and say hello!

Reviews:

Solidarity Sundays: The Revolution Will Be Ranked
Sunday, 14 June, 2026

Our final SolSun meetup before summer break opened with something we didn’t expect:  hope, grounded in history and backed by evidence. George Bottorff broke us into teams and sent us digging into moments when ordinary people — not politicians, not institutions — decided enough was enough and actually changed things. What came back from those teams was a reminder that the arc of history doesn’t bend by itself. It bends because people showed up, organized, and refused to take no for an answer. It was the kind of presentation that doesn’t let you off the hook.

Then Richard Cipollini walked us through Ranked Choice Voting — and if you think you know what that means, Richard probably knows more. Under our current system, you pick one candidate and that’s it — which means if three people are running and the vote splits, someone can win with 34% while 66% of voters preferred someone else. Ranked Choice fixes that by letting you rank candidates in order of preference, so your vote keeps working even if your first choice doesn’t make it through. Several versions exist, each with tradeoffs, and all of them require serious public education upfront — but the payoff is a result that actually reflects what voters want, not just who squeaked through a crowded field. Washington DC just adopted it, joining a growing list of municipalities that have decided first-past-the-post has had its day. We left with a lot to think about — and a lot to do. We’re back September 27 — be there.

— Tanya Lolonis, Solidarity Sundays Co-Coordinator

Vienna Pride Parade Watch Party
Saturday, June 13, 2026

Volunteers gathered in the days before Vienna's Regenbogenparade to make props, and the energy was awesome — this community showed up. On parade day, the skies cleared just in time, and the party burst into the streets. We danced on the sidelines, drew lots of attention, and many people came over to take photos with our Trump in Drag and photobooth windows.

The parade was an exuberant, joyful celebration of diversity and acceptance — so much fun!! We were there as Democrats Abroad allies and to spread the word about Vote from Abroad ahead of the November midterms, and we did exactly that! 

— Hilary Monihan, DA Austria Events Coordinator

Community & Cocktails— A Great Kickoff!
Tuesday, June 9, 2026

On June 9, DA Austria launched its new Community Groups with a cocktail party—and what a night it was. The room was full of energy, with a fantastic turnout and no shortage of enthusiasm. Conversations flowed, ideas sparked, and it was clear that people are genuinely excited about building community together.

The evening centered on a simple but powerful idea: a strong community is the basis of a strong political organization. At DA Austria, that means more than getting out the vote—it means members who feel connected through socializing, volunteering, and contributing to life here in Vienna.

It was a wonderful reminder of what we can do when we come together. More to come!

— Kathryn Nenning, DA Austria Volunteer Coordinator

Member's Corner:

A Different Way Forward
Edward France DA Austria Member
In a world defined by widening inequality and political polarization, DA Austria member Edward France’s new book “A Different Way Forward” offers a timely and deeply researched examination of how Europe's social democracies and Austria's unique system of Social Partnership have navigated these challenges, and how their models can offer the United States a different path forward. 

Thanks for Reading the July Newsletter. We'll be back in September!

Don’t forget to register to vote and request your ballot at votefromabroad.org today.

The rules have changed and tightened for many states, and primaries are underway throughout the summer. Go to votefromabroad.org and make it happen. There are people on deck to help if needed.