The Florida Democratic Party has prepared two flyers to summarize arguments for friends and families on why Rubio needs to go, and how the Biden economic agenda is working for all Americans.

Charlie Crist, who handily beat Nikki Fried in the gubernatorial primary campaign in August, will face Ron DeSantis in the primary election on Nov. 8. Last weekend, he announced Miami-born teachers’ union leader Karla Hernández-Mats as his running mate. 

The two have a tough battle ahead, which makes our jobs as Florida Democrats Abroad all the more important – to vote and to encourage others to vote!

As DeSantis’ historic $140 million re-election war chest grows by the day, national Democrats have signaled they won’t invest in Florida as heavily as in the past, according to an NBC news report. The state’s growing Hispanic electorate has been shifting rightward since 2018. And, for the first time ever, there are now more registered Florida Republicans than Democrats — a key indicator of voter intensity.

Let’s hope the choice of Hernandez-Mats, 42, helps. 

As many of you know, the federal laws relating to voting from overseas require all states and territories to provide expats with a ballot that covers federal elections.  Many states also provide a “full ballot,” including state and local elections.  This is called “voting down-ballot.”

Florida state law is silent on this.  It leaves to the 67 county Supervisors of Elections (“SoE”) the decision as to whether you get a full ballot or just a ballot covering federal elections.  This year the Florida elections include the US Senate race and Congressional races, as well as the Governor’s race, three other state executive offices, the Florida legislature, and various local and municipal elections. 

Feedback from some of our Florida voters indicates varying ballots going out for the upcoming Florida primary on August 23^rd.   Some SoEs send the full ballot to everyone.  Others only send it to overseas voters who have to indicate an “intent to return” when filling out the Federal Postal Application Card (“FPCA”).  Members who have ticked the box indicating “…my intent to return is uncertain.” may only receive a ballot for the federal races.

With many of our members wanting to vote in the state and local elections, we have decided to write to the SoE in the 30 largest counties (covering 88% of the population) and ask what ballot an overseas voter can expect to receive based on the category they chose in the FPCA.  Voting in state and local elections has become critical now, with the current Supreme Court devolving more regulatory power to state governments. 

We will hope to finish this project in the next few weeks and will report back.  Meanwhile, feel free to get in touch with your local SoE if you are not sure why they have not sent you a full ballot to vote in both the federal and state elections.  Note that if you would like to change this designation based on your current intentions, go to www.votefromabroad.com and send in a new FPCA form. 

Carol Moore

[email protected]

To our Florida voters,

It’s time for Democrats to TAKE BACK FLORIDA!!

Gov. Ron DeSantis won the 2018 election by only a very close margin thanks to a Trump endorsement. Since then, he’s been instrumental in dragging down Florida’s political identity from a swing state to a playground for right-wing policy. At the same time, he’s plotting his move to the West Wing.

Here’s why we need to vote DeSantis OUT OF OFFICE! The ballots are now available to you. PLEASE VOTE ASAP!

This is what’s been happening in Florida since he became governor:

Discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited in early elementary school.

Math textbooks were rejected for what the state called “indoctrination.”

Schools and employers are limited in what they can teach about racism and other aspects of history.

During COVID, he not only opposed state mask mandates he made most local ones unenforceable. He also didn’t keep constituents informed about COVID state statistics.

He sided with business over the environment at nearly every turn

Tenured professors in public universities are subjected to new reviews.

New laws have limited mail-in ballots

Abortions are banned after 15 weeks (expect more restrictions to come)

A law enforcement office was created to investigate so-called election crimes.

A congressional map was redrawn to give Republicans an even bigger advantage.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration is going to disallow familiar treatments for gender dysphoria through Medicaid on the basis that scientific and medical evidence doesn’t support them. In fact, the predominance of medical opinion is that they DO help.

Instead, let’s elect a Democrat and restore our basic rights as Americans. Here are some of the changes proposed by our Democratic gubernatorial candidates:

Reverse the DeSantis limits on mail ballots

Automatically register to vote anyone who conducts business with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Make Election Day a state holiday so every voter has a better opportunity to cast their ballot.

Make it easier for the governor and Cabinet to restore felons’ rights.

Strengthen regulations regarding run-off from agricultural lands.

Support wetland restoration and protect freshwater springs.

Reduce gun violence and seek stronger gun safety laws

Legalize marijuana and use revenue to fund the police, drug treatment programs and teachers.

Expand Medicaid and lower prescription drugs costs

Work to make housing more affordable for renters and homebuyers

Ban the sale of assault weapons

Implement a $15 minimum wage for State workers, leading the way for a standard minimum wage across Florida.

Increase funds for community policing and support sending mental health professionals to non-emergency calls.

Implement a billion-dollar senior rebate through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Implement a Senior’s Bill of Rights.

Champion the rights of women to make their own healthcare decisions and defend the rights of doctors to provide care.

Voting Details

You can check your absentee ballot status at these sites: at https://registration.elections,myflorida.com 

If you need to register (deadline Sept. 26) or request an absentee ballot, go to www.votefromabroad.com

When you get your ballot, make sure to follow all instructions. You can contact your county elections office for assistance, as well as Democrats Abroad at [email protected]

Your ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. EDT, August 23, 2022.

Overseas voters may mail, fax, or have their ballots delivered to the Supervisor of Elections Office. Ballots received by email will not be counted. (Note: there are several free online faxing services. You do not need access to a fax machine!)

Thanks for VOTING!!!

On July 13, 2022, the Florida State Team of Democrats Abroad hosted an online Meet the Primary Candidates panel discussion with candidates for Governor, Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried. The candidates shared their backgrounds, key issues and their vision for the state. Fried and Crist both fielded some questions. You can watch the video here.