Spring has finally arrived – and not without many exciting updates from Democrats Abroad! Here is some of the most important news we have to share:

I. DA Germany is proceeding full steam ahead under the leadership of our newly elected 2021-2023 Executive Committee. The election results are listed below. 

II. Our chair and vice chair have special messages for all DAG members.

III. The GOTV team is hard at work devising strategies to increase voter turnout. Learn how YOU can make a difference in the 2021 elections and 2022 midterms. 

IV. Want to get involved in specific issue areas? DA’s Caucuses and local chapters have a lot of exciting events in store. 

V. Germany members can get great deals on awesome gear – all for a good cause! 

VI. Our communications teams are looking for volunteers. 

Keep reading to find out more!

I. Annual General Meeting & Elections

On Saturday, March 20, we held our first-ever online elections at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). We appreciate everyone who took part in the process and are excited to welcome our newly elected national leadership team:

We extend a huge THANK YOU to all outgoing leaders, including Candice Kerestan (former chair), Ron Schlundt (former treasurer), Quaide Williams (former chapter development coordinator), Angela Fobbs (former communications coordinator), Susan Penrod (former membership/IT coordinator), and Beverly Seebach (former press coordinator). 

We also give a big round of applause to the Nomination and Elections Subcommittee, comprised of Susan Penrod, Nancy Schimkat, and Katie Solon, who ensured that the process ran smoothly and fairly. 

We are so grateful for all these super volunteers have done to make 2020 a success! 

II. Messages from Our Leaders

Dear Democrats Abroad Germany Members:

I am honored to have been elected to serve you as Chair for the next two years and look forward to continuing the great work that my predecessor, Candice Kerestan undertook in her tenure as Chair: namely continue to register more new voters, to increase our membership, to better educate our membership about the importance of voting, especially about voting in down-ballot races, to assist both members and non-members with the voting process, to provide more programming for our members, and to improve our overall organizational structure. However, I cannot do this alone. In the coming weeks I will be reaching out to our leadership to get to know them and to put forth an agenda that will guide us for the next two years and help us attain the goals mentioned above.  I also look forward to meeting many of you, our volunteers, who work tirelessly to locate Americans in Germany and urge them to become engaged in the political process.  I am grateful to you for all the work you do. Please know that it does not go unnoticed. With your help, your energy and your dedication we will tackle and hopefully overcome the challenges that face us. Like Barack Obama said “A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things.”  Like you, I am just an ordinary person, but together we will do extraordinary things to bring about the change that America needs today.

Yours,

Kenton E. Barnes, Ph.D.

[email protected]

Hello! For those that don’t know me, I’m Emily Lines and I live in Berlin and vote in Indiana. I’m very excited to be the next Vice Chair of DA Germany. Thank you to all those that voted for me at the AGM (and to the NES for the well run election). I’ve had the pleasure of working with many people in DAG during my time as Vice Chair in Berlin and as the Events & Fundraising Coordinator the past four years. I’m so appreciative of all the work, energy, and time our outgoing leaders put into our organization. As we move ahead, I look forward to working with our newly elected leaders and even more of you to make sure we keep control of Congress in 2022. If you have questions, you’re welcome to reach me at [email protected].

Do you have questions about DA? Do you want to get to know our new chairs better? Then join Kenton and Emily for a virtual Meet and Greet on April 24 at 2:00 p.m. CEST. RSVP for more information. 

III. GOTV Corner

Democrats Abroad Germany remains committed to our core mission of getting out the vote, and there are plenty of ways you can get involved. 

Reminder: Overseas voters need to register every calendar year. Check your status atvotefromabroad.org and reach out with any questions! 

Here’s what’s happening this April:

• Special election in Texas (CD-6) on May 1. 

Calling all Texans Abroad – We are currently building a global group to advocate for overseas and in-state voting rights, meet with state legislators and help flip races. Be sure to save the date for our Cinco de Mayo event on May 5 at 7:30 p.m. If you want to get involved, join our group on Slack or follow us on Twitter @TXabroad. Reach us at [email protected].

OTHER UPCOMING ELECTIONS -- If you're a voter in one of the states listed below, make sure you've requested your absentee ballot this year. Just go to votefromabroad.org to request or check your voter status.

• New Mexico (CD-1) special election on June 1.
• New Jersey and Virginia primaries on June 8 (General elections on Nov. 2).
• Ohio (CD-11) special election on August 3.

Here's what else you can do this month:

• Join a study group targeting MISINFORMATION AND RADICALIZATION – April 22, 7:00 p.m. CEST

We are piloting a group to review literature on misinformation and radicalization to help change the way we communicate in crucial swing districts.  The project is designed for the mutual benefit of overseas and homeland voters. RSVP to receive the connection information.

• Come out to meet and get involved with our STATE ACTIVISM TEAMS – April 25, 3:00 p.m. CEST

We will be introducing initiatives for voters abroad from Texas (see above), Arizona, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and sharing information on how to help keep or turn these states blue. RSVP on our website for more details. 

Interested in starting or contributing to a group from your voting state? Get in touch with Teresa Ritterhoff at [email protected]

• Keep your eyes peeled for another Pop Up for the People event to call our Senators in support of the For the People Act. We will be holding them regularly until S1 is passed and voting rights are secured for ALL Americans. 

What else can you do to help GOTV? A LOT! Postcarding is something you can start right away. Training for phonebanking is offered monthly. For more information/options, reach out to your chapter or send an email to [email protected].

We need everyone in DAG to Get Out The Vote – including you!

IV. Upcoming Events

Legislative Pulse: Using Billtrack50 to Follow Legislation – April 11, 9:30 a.m. CEST

Progressive Caucus

Biden-Harris Progress Report (Earth Day edition) – April 22, 7:00 p.m. CEST

Book Club: How to Be an Anti-Capitalist in the 21st Century – April 26, 6:00 p.m. CEST

SAVE THE DATE! Germany Progressive Caucus Launch – May 1, 7:00 p.m. CEST

Veteran's and Military Families Caucus

Sexual Assault Awareness Day (with Women's Caucus) – April 6, 6:00 p.m. CEST

Women's Caucus

Professor Linda Scott discusses her book The Double X Economy: The Epic Potential of Empowering Women – April 13, 6:00 p.m. CEST

Chapter Events of Note (open to all)

Virtual Pub Quiz – April 9, 7:30 p.m. CEST

Silly Debate Night – April 10, 7:00 p.m. CEST

"Nothing to Hide Part 1: Real-Time Communication" w/ Kevin Lyle – April 11, 2:00 p.m. CEST

Earth Day DIY Workshop – April 22, 7:00 p.m. CEST

Interview with Former Congressman Bart Stupak (MI-1) – April 22, 7:30 p.m. CEST

Book Club: How Long 'til Black Future Month? – April 22, 7:30 p.m. CEST

Book Club: The Storm: What Went Wrong and Why During Hurricane Katrina—The Inside Story from One Louisiana Scientist – April 29, 7:30 p.m. CEST

 DA Germany has a new addition this month: the DAG Climate Caucus! 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that humanity has less than 10 years to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid climate catastrophe; this means all hands on deck! The necessary political will has not yet been built, but as evidenced by the Biden administration’s climate pledges, the momentum is with us. Climate is a justice issue, a science issue, and a generational issue; for our present and our future we must demand action now. 

We’re looking to form a strong team of DAG members motivated by this issue. If you are interested in being active in the newly formed DAG Climate Caucus, please contact Dash Nesbitt at [email protected] to get involved!

V. Support DA Germany

As an entirely volunteer-run and donation-funded organization, your financial support allows us to do our important work — getting Americans overseas to vote. Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated and can be directed to:

Account name: Democrats Abroad Germany

IBAN: DE04 5405 0220 0140 2702 99

BIC: MALADE51KLK

If you’d like to get some bang for your buck, why not order some DA and Biden-Harris swag? All proceeds benefit DA Germany and help us get out the vote. As if it couldn't get any better, we are currently offering a special 20% off deal on 2020 merchandise!

Tip: Coffee lovers should also check out our exclusive new "Cup of Joe" mugs. 

VI. Join Our Communications Teams

Are you a social media, advertising, or design guru? Are you looking for a meaningful way to use your skills to support DA? 

Then join our new communications teams! Send an email to [email protected] for more information. 

Thanks for staying up to date, and see you at an event soon!

National elections were held online during the 2021 DA Germany Annual General Meeting on March 20, 2021. 

2021-2023 Executive Committee

Chair: Kenton Barnes

Vice-Chair: Emily Lines

Secretary: Jennifer von Estorff

Treasurer: Powen Shiah

Chapter Development Coordinator: Matt LeMieux

Communications Coordinator: Kaitlyn Kennedy

Events & Fundraising Coord: Courtney Newman

GOTV Coordinator: Teresa Ritterhoff

Membership/IT Coordinator: Shari Temple

Press Coordinator: Anya Leonhard

DPCA Voting Reps Delegation:

Candice Kerestan

Shari Temple

Aileen Dinin

Anya Leonhard

Matt LeMieux

Powen Shiah

Quaide Williams

Antar Rashiq Keith

Vincienzo Cabrera

Robert Scott

Angela Fobbs

Diego Rivas

Pat Klipp

DAG will be electing its leaders on March 20

Democrats Abroad Germany is a stronger, more effective organization when our leadership looks like our membership. We hope to have candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and identities.

Please take a look at the open positions and consider running, or think about someone you might want to nominate to run for a position. With everyone’s help, and working with our strengths, we can get so much done. Have more impact! Help steer the work!

We’ll hold two Info Sessions for interested members this coming week (Feb 10 and Feb 13). You can come to either session to ask questions, and learn about positions and election processes.

Info sessions - RSVP to get the meeting link:
Wed Feb 10 7pm CET
Sat Feb 13 4pm CET

Then join us on Saturday, March 20 from 10:30am to 6:00pm on Zoom for our 2021 DA Germany Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections. From 10:30am to 1:00pm, we’ll review our work in the 2020 election cycle and discuss the path to victory in the 2021 special elections and the 2022 midterms. After a one-hour lunch break, we’ll reconvene at 2:00pm for our national elections.

To vote in the election, you must be a DA Germany member and RSVP for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by 12:00pm on March 20, 2021.

RSVP Here

See the DAG Elections page for more info. All details about the election can be found in the DA Germany Elections Rules and Procedures.

These DAG Executive Committee positions will be elected for two-year terms at the AGM in the following order:

•   Chair
•   Vice Chair
•   Secretary
•   Treasurer
•   Chapter Development Coordinator
•   Communications Coordinator
•   Events & Fundraising Coordinator
•   Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Coordinator
•   Membership & IT Coordinator
•   Press Coordinator
•   12 or more DPCA Voting Representatives (exact number pending)

 Read the job descriptions for each position here

We will be holding chapter elections in all 14 of our chapters during the first quarter of 2021.   You can read all about all of them here.

Elections were held for both of Georgia’s US Senate seats on November 3, 2020. Both of these races are going to Runoff elections, to be held on January 5, 2021, as no candidate received at least 50% of the vote. Democrats need to win both of these seats to have a majority in the Senate so we can have progress in America and the world.

The two races are:

• US Senate: Jon Ossoff (Democrat) versus David Perdue (Republican)

• US Senate Special: Raphael Warnock (Democrat) versus Kelly Loeffler (Republican)

Zwischenmeldung der US-Demokraten in Deutschland zur Präsidentschaftswahl

Stimmen aus dem Ausland treffen in den Swing States noch ein

5. November 2020, 18.30 Uhr — Während die Stimmenauszählung noch läuft, blickt Democrats Abroad Germany, der offizielle Ableger der US-Demokratischen Partei in Deutschland, mit Zuversicht auf das Wahlergebnis, denn unsere Organisation weiß, wie viele der 6.5 Millionen im Ausland lebenden AmerikanerInnen in den letzten Monaten von ihrem Wahlrecht Gebrauch gemacht haben. Allein in Deutschland war die Anzahl von US-BürgerInnen, die einen Stimmzettel über VoteFromAbroad.org angefordert haben, dieses Jahr fünf mal höher als im Vergleich mit der Präsidentschaftswahl 2016. 

Mehr als die Hälfte der Mitglieder von Democrats Abroad sind WählerInnen, die aus Swing States stammen. Die Stimmen dieser im Ausland lebenden US-BürgerInnen könnten in den nächsten Tagen aufgrund des knappen Rennens ausschlaggebend für ein positives Wahlergebnis für Joe Biden werden. Die Gesetze einiger Bundesstaaten sehen vor, dass Stimmzettel aus dem Ausland, die bis zum Wahltag am 3. November abgeschickt wurden, rechtmäßig ausgezählt werden, sofern sie im Rahmen spezifischer Fristen eintreffen (Georgia: 6. Nov; Nevada: 10. Nov.; Pennsylvania: 10. Nov.; North Carolina: 12. Nov. / Quelle: VoteFromAbroad.org/states). Diese Fristen tragen dem Umstand Rechnung, dass Briefwahlzettel aus dem Ausland einen längeren Postweg haben, und sind daher vielfach länger als die Fristen für im Inland abgegebene Briefwahlstimmen.  

“Wir wussten, dass es auf ein knappes Rennen hinauslaufen könnte. Deswegen haben wir seit Monaten um jede Stimme in Deutschland gekämpft,” sagt Candice Kerestan, Vorsitzende von Democrats Abroad Germany, die von München aus ihren Stimmzettel nach Pennsylvania geschickt hat. “Jetzt müssen unsere Stimmen aber auch sorgfältig ausgewählt werden,” betont sie. Wenn dies geschieht, und damit der demokratische Wahlprozess weiterhin legitim durchgeführt wird, könnten die Stimmen aus dem Ausland zu einem wichtigen Faktor für einen Wahlsieg Joe Bidens werden.

Election Update from the Democratic Party in Germany

Votes from Abroad are Still Arriving in Swing States

November 5, 2020, 6:30pm — As ballot counting continues, Democrats Abroad Germany, the official representation of the Democratic Party in Germany, is confidently, awaiting election results. After all, our organization knows how many of the 6.5 million Americans living overseas cast a ballot this election. In Germany alone, more than five times as many voters requested a ballot via VoteFromAbroad.org than in 2016.

More than half of Democrats Abroad’s members are from swing states. Given that races are coming down to razor-thin margins, these votes could soon be the margin of victory for Joe Biden. The laws of some states stipulate that overseas ballots that have been sent by Election Day, November 3, are legitimately counted if they arrive within specific deadlines (Georgia: Nov. 6; Nevada: Nov. 10; Pennsylvania: Nov. 10; North Carolina: Nov. 12 / Source: VoteFromAbroad.org/states). These deadlines take into account that overseas ballots are coming from great distances and are thus often longer than the deadlines for domestic mail-in ballots.

“We knew that it could become a tight race. That’s why we fought for every vote in Germany for months,” says Candice Kerestan, Chair of Democrats Abroad Germany, a Pennsylvania voter who cast her ballot from Munich. She stressed that “now all of our ballots need to be carefully counted.” When this happens, and the democratic electoral process continues in a legitimate way, these votes – our votes from abroad – could become an important factor in making Joe Biden the next president.

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

Democrats Abroad Germany is making sure each and every U.S. citizen in Germany participates in the presidential election. We'll be in 19 locations around Germany on 10 October helping Americans get ready to vote. Drop by to meet Democrats Abroad.

If you can't drop by in person, it is not too late to request a ballot from home. Register to vote and request your absentee ballot 📝 All details can be found at www.democratsabroad.org/vote_from_germany.

Step number one: Visit www.votefromabroad.org to fill out your FPCA absentee ballot request — it only takes 5-10 minutes! If you’re not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Given the uncertainty surrounding the United States Postal Service (USPS), we strongly encourage you to request that your absentee ballot is sent to you via email.

If you need help or have a question about voting, get LIVE 1-on-1 voter assistance any Sunday (24hrs), Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (6 pm-10 pm), and Saturday (8 am-4 pm) through November CEST to talk to a volunteer LIVE on Zoom about questions you have about voting from abroad. Access live help here. 

You're also welcome to contact us via this Google form or by writing to [email protected]. 

Democrats Abroad Germany ist zutiefst empört über die hasserfüllten und rassistischen Kommentare, die Tina Chittom von Republicans Overseas Germany wiederholt im Rahmen der gestern ausgestrahlten Talkshow mit Markus Lanz getätigt hat. Denkweisen, die die Menschenwürde in irgendeiner Form missachten und fremdenfeindlichen Verschwörungstheorien dienen, lehnen wir strikt ab.

Leider sind solche Denkweisen innerhalb der Republicans Overseas Germany weit verbreitet. Schon eine kurze Onlinerecherche der Organisation macht deutlich, dass diese nicht nur als Fundraising Super-PAC für Donald Trump fungiert, sondern auch, dass verschiedene Mitglieder der Gruppe nicht davor zurückschrecken, Minderheiten bewusst zu erniedrigen und menschenfeindliche eugenische Theorien zu verbreiten, indem sie beispielsweise Afro-AmerikanerInnen wiederholt als Kriminelle sowie Drogenabhängige diffamieren. Diese Tatsache hätte den ZDF-Redakteuren bewusst sein müssen, bevor sie sich dazu entschieden haben, Frau Chittom als Gast einzuladen.

In diesem Zusammenhang müssen wir ebenfalls unsere Enttäuschung darüber ausdrücken, dass zahlreiche deutsche Medien den Republicans Overseas Germany trotz derartiger Ausfälle immer wieder eine Plattform bieten, um ihre abstoßenden Denkweisen zu verbreiten – und das häufig ohne VertreterInnen der Demokratischen Partei als argumentatives Gegenüber einzuladen. 

Wir betrachten es als höchst inakzeptabel, Diskussionsrunden über Themen wie Rassismus in den Vereinigten Staaten zusammenzustellen, ohne dabei auf eine ausgewogene Gästeliste zu achten, die vor allem den Perspektiven von betroffenen Personengruppen Rechnung trägt. Als offizielles Organ der U.S.-Demokratischen Partei im Ausland vertritt Democrats Abroad Germany mehr als 16.000 U.S.-BürgerInnen in der Bundesrepublik, darunter viele deutschsprachige People of Color, die gerne bereit wären, über die politische Lage in den USA vor der Wahl zu diskutieren.

Democrats Abroad Germany is disgusted by the hateful and racist comments that Tina Chittom of Republicans Overseas Germany repeatedly made during yesterday's talk show with Markus Lanz. We strictly reject ways of thinking that disregard human dignity in any form and advance xenophobic conspiracy theories.

Unfortunately, such ideologies are widespread within Republicans Overseas Germany. A quick online search of the organization reveals that it not only functions as a fundraising Super PAC for Donald Trump, but that many members of the group do not shy away from consciously humiliating minorities and spreading hostile eugenic theories, for example by repeatedly defaming African Americans as criminals and drug addicts. It is unlikely that ZDF researchers and producers missed this before they decided to invite Ms. Chittom as a guest.

In this context, we must also express our disappointment that, despite openly embracing such offensive views, numerous German news outlets continue to provide Republicans Overseas Germany with a platform to spread their repulsive ways of thinking – often without inviting representatives of the Democratic Party as an argumentative counterpart.

We consider it highly unacceptable to host discussion panels on topics such as racism in the United States without paying attention to a balanced guest list – one that includes the perspectives of the people affected. As the official organ of the U.S. Democratic Party for Americans living overseas, Democrats Abroad Germany represents more than 16,000 U.S. citizens in the Federal Republic, including many German-speaking People of Color who would be willing to discuss the political situation in the United States before the election.