Dear DA Germany Member,

Even though we can’t meet in person this year, there’s certainly going to be a lot to discuss on Election Night and the days after. We’ve organized a series of events around the Election, so that we – Democrats across Germany – can come together, discuss the results as they come in, and share how we’re experiencing the election in real time. Please scroll down for a full list of our Election events. And if you haven't voted, or need voting help, please visit www.votefromabroad.org right now to make sure we'll be celebrating next week! More details on voter assistance are also listed below.

Just because we’re not physically together doesn’t mean that we can’t get in the Election Night spirit. Why not grab an election night party pack, decorate your place with some Biden-Harris gear, and then Zoom into our Watch Party? Party packs are available for just €10 (and just €5 for every additional one). Each party pack includes:

6 balloons (mixed — red, white, blue)

6 posters (double-sided)

3 buttons (mixed Biden-Harris designs)

1 paper flag (doubled-sided)

1 reusable cup

Please note that only a limited number of party packs are available. Your party pack will ship once you've placed your order here and transferred your donation. Payment must be received by Thursday, October 29, 2020. We also have some new gear available like Biden-Harris face masks and RBG buttons! T-shirts and totes are still available for donation, too!

ORDER HERE

Donations for party packs should be directed to:

Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany
IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99
BIC: MALADE51KLK

DONATIONS CAN ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM U.S. CITIZENS

Election Events

Election Night Predictions and Insights with John McQueen

Sunday, November 1, 5:00pm

Please join us on the pre-election eve — November 1, 2020 — for John McQueen's well-researched election predictions and analysis. John previously served as one of the first chairs of DA Germany. Before diving into his predictions, we'll hear from speakers about issues near and dear to Democrats Abroad, and discuss how they're relevant in this election: Women's issues (Nicole Colaianni), Black Lives Matter (Robert Scott), LGBTQ+ (Daniel Hoever-Eckhardt), Science (Rebecca Alvarado), and Voter Suppression (Patrick Mears).

Niki Vonderwell, former DA Germany Heidelberg Chair, will also be reporting live from Ohio, where she’s helping at one of the polling centers in Greene County. At the end, John will use an interactive map to show his Election Day predictions, with a special eye on some important state races. Moderator will be DA Germany Heidelberg Chair, Nancy Schimkat, and our tech team is Joe Butler and Matthias Luft. This event will broadcast live from the Heidelberg Center for American Studies. Please RSVP to get the Zoom link.

Germany-wide Election Night Watch Party

Tuesday, November 3, 7:00pm — Wednesday, November 4, 9:00am

Join us on Election Night to discuss the current situation on the ground in the US, share how you’re experiencing the election, and connect with other Democrats across Germany. The event will begin at 7:00pm on November 3 and run through 9:00am on November 4. You do not have to attend the entire time, but can come and go as you please. We will not be broadcasting any news program, but you are welcome to have this on elsewhere and participate in our discussion in parallel.

Login information will be sent to RSVPs on November 2. Please note that prioritized entry will be given to Democrats Abroad Germany members. RSVP here.

Agenda

7:00pm-9:00pm – Open discussion with members of the DA Germany Executive Committee

9:00pm-11:00pm – Election Night 2020, an online theater performance by Julia Hart, director of Neuland

11:00pm-5:00am – Pajama party, sponsored by DA Germany’s Saxony Chapter

5:00am-9:00am – Open discussion with members of the DA Germany Executive Committee, including a look at the current legal situation with legal scholar Dr. Matt LeMieux (Münster)

 Germany-wide Post-Election Discussion

Wednesday, November 4, 7:00pm

Join us on November 4 to discuss where things stand 24 hours after the polls have closed. We'll take a look at current situation, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania where mail-in ballots couldn't be counted until Election Day, and hear from YOU! How are you experiencing the election? What "take aways" can already be identified from the 2020 election season?

Login information will be sent to RSVPs on November 3. Please note that prioritized entry will be given to Democrats Abroad Germany members. RSVP here.

Voter Help

If you haven't returned your ballot, it's imperative that you do this immediately. For the most current information on ballot return methods, including a how-to guide for our €25 express deal with FedEx, visit www.democratsabroad.org/vote_from_germany.

If you still have questions about voting from abroad, please connect with our voter assistance volunteers. You can visit one of our online help sessions on:

Sundays (24 hours)

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (6 pm-10 pm)

and Saturdays (8 am-4 pm) 

Access live help here.

You're also welcome to contact us via this Google form or by writing to info-germany@democratsabroad.org.

If you've already voted, please let us know by clicking "I sent in my ballot" at the bottom of this email. And then request your free physical "I Voted From Germany" sticker! 

We're really excited to see you — with your election night party pack — at our upcoming election events! We appreciate everything you've done to help get out the vote. Now let's keep it up and do this!

Yours,

DA Germany
http://www.democratsabroad.org/

Just because we're away from "home" doesn't mean that we're not working hard to get Democrats elected! We had volunteers on the ground in over 20 cities today finding and helping Americans, including many dual citizens, vote from abroad. Many thanks to all who participated in our "Ready, Set, Vote" outreach day! A reminder that it's not too late for you to spread the word. Here's more on how you can help.

If you still haven't voted, or have questions about voting, we've put together the most important voting resources for you below. In most cases, it's not too late to vote from abroad, but time is unfortunately running out. Please do not delay! Request your ballot at www.votefromabroad.org, contact us if you need help, and then get your free "I Voted from Germany" sticker! Again, please note that there is NO in-person voting in Germany in November!

There are also plenty of exciting events happening this week, including a TED talk on climate change with Dr. Ifung Lu, a phonebanking training, an "art of voting from abroad" exhibit in Wiesbaden, and an online Biden-Harris rally!

Also, please already mark November 1 on your calendars: The Heidelberg Chapter is hosting "Election Predictions and Insights with John McQueen", an event you won't want to miss! Next week, we'll also distribute an order form for Election Night "Party Packs", which will include Biden-Harris posters, reusable cups, balloons, and buttons. Root for Joe and Kamala from anywhere in Germany on Election Night!

• By this point, you should have received your ballot. If you requested it and have not received it, please contact your local election official (info here) AND submit a Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB), if you haven't already. Get started at www.votefromabroad.org/fwab. If you need help, please respond to this email or submit your question here.

There's no downside to submitting a FWAB. But you should also mail in your official ballot as soon as you receive it. If both the FWAB and your official ballot reach your voting jurisdiction by the deadline, only the official ballot will be counted and the FWAB will be discarded. 

• If your state allows email or fax ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay. Here is more information on fax submission. Please note that some states that allow email or fax return require that the ballot be sent by postal mail, too.

• If your state requires postal mail ballot return, we no longer recommend using the Deutsche Post, but rather a courier service, if financially feasible. You might want to consider taking advantage of the following special with FedEx Express:

FedEx Express is kindly offering Americans abroad a discount to send ballots home reliably. US voters living in 10 European countries can now take advantage of a special rate for overnight return of their absentee ballots. From now through November, FedEx International Priority service for envelopes up to 500g sent to the USA, including home pick-up in many cases, costs just €25 from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark (kr.186), Poland (112 zł), Sweden (260 kr), and the United Kingdom (£23). This special is only bookable online — discounts will not be given if booking at a FedEx store or on the phone. Feel free to privately tell your friends and family, but please do not post about this on social media. 

Please note that some DA Germany members have reported that delivery takes longer than one business day (in some cases four work days).

If using FedEx, or any other courier, your ballot must still be enclosed in a ballot envelope, also sometimes called a "secrecy" or "security" envelope. The instructions that come with your ballot will explain how to prepare your ballot envelope. Complete your ballot, put it in the ballot envelope, seal it, make sure to sign the ballot oath, and then put it in the courier service envelope.

All details, including a step-by-step "how to guide", about the FedEx deal can be found at

www.democratsabroad.org/vote_from_germany

As a small thank you for your civic engagement, DA Germany is happy to mail you an "I Voted from Germany" sticker free of charge.

Get your free "I Voted from Germany" sticker here

(save the picture and already make it your prof pic, too!)

24 Hours of Reality — Countdown to the Future

Sunday, October 11 — 5:00pm

Join Democrats Abroad Germany and Dr. Ifung Lu for a brief journey through climate breakdown — the science, impacts and solutions, with a quick look at what a single family of four, recently immigrated to Germany, can do. We’ll talk about both individual and collective actions, including VOTING, and then transition into a healthy discussion about what we all can do together as Americans living in Germany.

This webinar is part of a 24-hour, global event organized by the Climate Reality Project and TED Countdown, where thousands of climate leaders will give short TED-talks to start conversations. We’re creating the world’s largest discussion on climate, all at the same time! 

Phonebanking Training

Monday, October 12 — 6:00pm

Calling is one of the best ways to get our members to vote! It’s easy and effective! Do you have time to make a few calls? Many of our members are at home, eager to receive them.

Learn how to phonebank at this online live training. For beginners or to refresh your skills or to share your experience! We’ll focus on the basics, take questions, describe the new texting feature, and discuss how it will be to call in the current environment.

Biden-Harris Online Rally

Sunday, October 18 — 3:00pm

Are you fired up and ready to put Joe and Kamala in the White House?! So are we! On Sunday, October 18, Democrats Abroad Germany is hosting an online Biden-Harris rally to keep our spirits high in these critical last few weeks. We'll look back at all the passionate resistance in Germany over the past four years, hear from politicians and activists, and sing along to the music of talented songwriters like Alfred McCrary, a Frankfurt local who recently composed "Ridin' with Biden". Join us as we bring this thing home!

It's not too late to show your support and help our cause! Get your Biden-Harris and Democrats Abroad swag today at www.democratsabroad.org/germanyshop. Biden-Harris shirts are going fast, so we recommend ordering soon if you'd like one.

We also welcome one-time or recurring donations, which can be directed to:

Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany

IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99

BIC: MALADE51KLK

Thanks for reading and have a great rest of your weekend!

Yours,

DA Germany