The Dems Abroad Platform is an impressive document. In addition to issues of wide interest – US domestic and foreign policy – it addresses those of material consequence to those of us living outside the US.

On the down side, three obstacles stand in the way of its full passage.

1. Our platform is melded into the Democratic Party Platform at the Convention and may or may not survive intact. Some planks may be amended or dropped altogether.

2. The passage of any particular plank into law requires ongoing commitment from our elected officials plus energetic, unrelenting advocacy by DA, often in coalition with stateside interest groups.

3. To accomplish points 1 and 2, we have to know what the Platform contains and how we will benefit from its passage. This raises the question: Do our members know the Platform? Do most of our ExComs and Chapter leaders know it?

As one example, below is an account one member sent along regarding a ‘glitch’ in Social Security rules for Americans living abroad. When we checked, we learned there is a plank in the Platform, fairly consistent since 2012 at least, that covers this discrepancy. Who knew?

The 2016 draft paragraphs in the Social Security, Medicare and Healthcare plank:

FAVOR replacing the much harsher Foreign Work Test, applicable to Americans abroad, with the Annual Earnings Test, so that all Americans are subjected to the same rules regardless of residence.

FAVOR examination of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) to establish a remedy that preserves the social security benefits fairly earned by Americans abroad through their working life.

FAVOR elimination of the provision that now cuts off Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) for persons who live outside the United States for more than 30 consecutive days.

FAVOR elimination of the withholding tax on Social Security for Americans abroad.

FAVOR negotiation and implementation of totalization agreements with all countries that have social security programs and which no such agreement is in place.

Does this cover what we need? We can comment on it till 5 p.m. EDT (Washington DC time) Wednesday, 27 April. That’s today, midnight in Greece.

To read the entire proposed Platform, go here:
http://www.democratsabroad.org/2016_draft_platform

For the personal account of how the Foreign Work Test rule impacts an eligible pensioner living abroad, read on.

Foreign Work Test aka “If you win some, you lose some!”

In 2012, I was entitled to apply for a reduced pension from Greece, the country I have resided in for some years, having married a Greek national and raised children here. A few months before, my husband died, leaving me with debts, amongst other problems one faces with the loss of a partner, and no prospect of a widow's pension. I was told that receiving a US pension meant that it would be calculated on totalization (the collaboration between the two countries) because I needed a few more credits to supplement the required amount and they would be taken from my Greek working credits. That also meant that the final pension would be smaller than expected. The amount I am entitled to is about 155 euros a month (at the time it was $178).

Before I applied, I had to make an important decision based on a law that seemed unfair. I was in a quandary because I needed an income, and this law would restrict me from finding the work I needed to do to support myself and my son. If I postponed receiving this pension until I turned 66 when it wouldn't matter if I worked, I might not actually find work in today’s Greece which has been undergoing tremendous financial austerity and stress for several years now. People have suffered more than anyone who does not live here would ever know. It's the average person, the lower income person that gets hit the hardest. Pensions, salaries, wages have been cut and the average person cannot easily find work. Many businesses have closed. This is the climate I have been living in.

The US law in question states that until a person living outside the US turns 66 they are not permitted to work over 45 hours a month. The reason supposedly is that currencies of each country are different. If they do work over, they have to pay the price: for any month that they go over 45 hours they will be penalized by having to pay the benefits back. If they consistently work over 45 hours a month their benefits will be suspended until they are 66. The clincher is that Americans living in the US and receiving a reduced pension are allowed to receive an aggregate of $14,000 a year before benefits are reduced.

Now at the present time in Greece basic wages are pretty low. People are even working for 2 euros an hour. An average pay, if they are lucky may be 20 euros a day. Everyone has had a cut in pay. Those of us in foreign language education are lucky to be paid 10 euros an hour, which isn't really the case anymore. This law means we could only work about 11 hours a week. That would add up to 45 hours x 10 euros (if we were lucky) which amounts to 450 euros a month....x 12 months = 5,400 euros a year. One can easily see there’s a discrepancy between $5,400 and $14,000 a year (12,000 euros). An amount of 750 euros a month (9000 euros a year) used to be an average salary in Greece but, unfortunately, in many cases that has gone down to 500 a month or less. Even in better times, most foreigners living in Greece would not have made 12,000 euros a year.

So the dilemma when I applied was whether I should accept the small, but stable amount coming in every month, supplementing it with various reported, non-permanent incomes, not to succeed 45 hours a month (it didn't matter if I was making 500 euros an hour, it just can't surpass the monthly hour limit) or to forgo the pension at that time and try to find more financially rewarding work, which is quite difficult and uncertain now, particularly because of my age. It is a very discouraging situation for foreigners living in Greece. At least the $150 pension was a constant and there was the hope that something else would come in.

There is seasonal work I do twice a year; the hours are never the same and it only lasts a month each time. I depend on this money. With the 45-hour limit, this income will be penalized. 

I was sent an initial report to fill out to see if I work 45 hours or less. I reported that I did and explained the situation. I failed to send the second, more in depth report they asked for, due to waiting for supplementary information from the seasonal employer, and also delayed it due to some serious circumstances in my environment. Just as I was writing to SSA, they informed me that my benefits would be cut because “you are working over 45 hours a week.” This, of course, is not the case. I have time to appeal, which I most certainly will do.

However, at this time I am writing to Democrats Abroad to inform them that this is a law, seriously unjust for all Americans living abroad and one that should be changed. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

~ Name withheld by request

April 15 is Tax Day in the US … the filing deadline for most US taxpayers. Those who don’t file today are likely businesses and other entities that operate on a fiscal year basis, rather than a calendar year.

And then there are the canny old farmers, who never owe tax because they show a loss, year after year, due to depreciating (possibly rusting) farm equipment. Penalties and interest are mainly based on taxes owed; if you don’t owe and so don’t file … that pile of receipts on the dining table can turn into a regular ‘garbology’ dig.

For Americans living abroad, however, the rules are a little different. If our income is from a foreign source, we usually file our host country taxes first and then carry the totals to our US return. For this reason, the filing deadline for taxpayers living outside the US is automatically extended to June 15. This allows time for the local filing deadlines, followed by the US one.  Note that you may have state income tax returns which don’t grant the automatic Federal extension, so be careful to check this.

Americans with higher incomes, businesses abroad, or those with just slightly more complicated financial holdings usually retain an accountant or hire one for the tax reporting task. Likewise, those whose grasp of the host country’s legal language is light may benefit from professional help. It certainly relieves the anxiety inherent in second-guessing the correct transfer of figures from one country’s return to the US 1040.

Adding to the anxiety is the notoriety gained in recent years by the FATCA and FBAR reporting requirements. The penalties for non-reporting can be stiff and ‘retro-active’ for those who return to the US after a long absence and years of non-reporting. Herein lies a special ‘hidden trap’ for those children of Americans who grow up abroad with US citizenship they’ve barely recognized and never used. In times, like the present, when host-country economies may be sagging, many look to the US as an alternative work place. Once in the US, they may find a surprise, in the form of those accumulated penalties from years of FATCA/FBAR non-compliance.

The reporting rules hit different taxpayers in different ways. At the high end, it may mean either paying extra taxes or paying a professional to help avoid extra taxes. At the low end, for those marginally employed or receiving pensions, meager incomes may be further stressed by the need to pay an accountant. A number of organizations have taken up opposition. Some, such as Republicans Overseas, favor abolishing FATCA. Democrats generally see the ‘anti-money-laundering’ goals as important but seek less harsh treatment for taxpayers. And non-partisan groups such as American Citizens Abroad, encompass both views. Still, some Americans, in particular those with no plans to return to the US, have renounced their citizenship over the matter. With its tradition of being ‘the one passport everybody wants,’ the surrender of US passports has produced screaming headlines in the financial press back home.

Democrats Abroad formed up a FATCA Task Force several years ago to seek solutions to the tax reporting difficulties. DA’s basic suggestion is ‘same country, safe harbor.’ If adopted as an IRS rule, this would allow those who live, earn and bank in just one foreign country and who owe no US tax above what they pay in the host country to file a simple statement with the IRS that they owe no US tax. Remember that in many countries income tax levels and tax brackets can be substantially higher than in ours.  In support of SCSH, lawmakers are being asked to sign on to a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and further solicited by door-knock campaigns whenever DA delegations are in DC.

The next phase, encoded in the DA Platform and carried forward by the DA RBT Task Force, is Residence Based Taxation. The US is one of a tiny handful of countries that base tax obligations on citizenship rather than country of residence and that  chase delinquent citizens around the globe. Enacting RBT would require legislation. Because this is almost a matter of political philosophy in the US Congress and Treasury Department,  this is much more than a simple rule change and will take more time. In the meantime, US taxpayers abroad are faced with compliance, like it or not.

More changes lie ahead, including one slated for January 2017 that’s expected to complicate relationships with foreign banks beginning this fall. To sort out the tangled mess, DAGR will be sponsoring a Tax Seminar at the end of May. Details TBA after the spring holiday break. It’s aimed at providing information for the self-filers as well as giving direction to those who need more professional help.

……………………

So you want to go it alone, DIY your tax return, OR just learn more by reading the instructions, the US IRS has a full catalogue of the essential materials. And don’t forget that certain taxpayers abroad, mostly in lower income categories, now  have the ability to file their returns electronically.

To download US Tax forms and publications, visit IRS at:

https://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs

Treasurer and Chair scrambled to put this one together. Enjoy!

Thank you to everyone who came to the film outing to see Suffragette and discuss the latest results of our on-going DAGR WC survey. Everyone enjoyed the film and expressed amazement that the history of the vote in England was so recent and violent! The film also highlighted the consequences women suffered for participating in the movement, with a story line that highlighted the lack of parental rights when women were seen to have stepped out of line morally. Fortunately, in the same decade that women's full voting rights came into law in England, women's custodial rights were instated as well. We have indeed come a long way in less than a century, in America as well, but there remains work to be done in order to protect women's improved condition and forge new advancements. Our progress depends on you and we hope that you will join us in our events to discuss, debate, propose and succeed in our efforts!

Below are a few highlights from the on-going, anonymous survey that we reviewed over drinks and nibbles. There are three clear umbrellas of concern with regard to policy in the U.S.:

• Woman's Health/Woman's Choice;

• Employment/Equal Pay for Equal Work/Maternity Leave/Job Security/Equal Opportunity;

• Education

The survey also highlighted our expat woman's concerns while abroad.

• Social Security

• Taxes/Fbar

• Language/Education and Integration

I VOTED! And You Still Can, Too!

Democrats in Greece who have not yet cast their ballot in the Global Presidential Primary have until midnight tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 8) to get in on the decision!

Meanwhile, yesterday’s live Voting Center at the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens saw a steady flow of voters from doors-open at noon until 6 p.m. Among these were nearly 50 new members, joining to take advantage of the same-day voting.

Unlike some GOP-controlled states back home, Dems Abroad, recognized as a state party committee by the national party, welcomes voter turnout and makes it easy to join and vote.

Easy as the process is, eligibility and accountability are strictly observed, just as in any precinct in the US. DAGR’s routine, laid out by Voting Center Manager Steve Medeiros in concert with Country Chair Karen Lee, tailored the global DA rules to the layout and flow of the venue in the GB’s mezzanine conference room area. “The buck stops with us,” remarked Lee. “So, that skype session with Steve, that ended at 2 a.m. was worth it. Honing those station instructions before volunteer training on Saturday really paid off in practice.” The Chair and Vice Chair of each Country Committee are the voting members of the DPCA (Democratic Party Committees Abroad).

Medeiros, Vice Chair of DAGR, noted, “You can read the rules over and over, but when you put them into a working plan for a particular venue, that’s when you digest the logic of the accountability process.”  

After close, when the ‘vote tellers’ made the preliminary count, sign-ins and new-joins matched every ballot cast! The preliminary count of local ballots did not include the ‘remote’ ballots sent by members outside Athens, and will not be official till worldwide ballots are counted by DA.  Athens results were roughly 57% Sanders, 43% Clinton, with no votes cast for the other two names on the ballot, de la Fuente and O’Malley. The tally was immediately reported by phone to the International Chair, Katie Solon. The signed report was then scanned and emailed to central. Once voting closes on March 8 and all remote ballots sent by post are received, the actual ballots will be sent to DA global. One more physical count will be made of ballots from around the world. Final, official count results will be announced by DA on March 21.

Remote ballots can be sent in by fax, email scanned attachment, or regular mail. Ballots sent via post office must be postmarked midnight on March 8. Democratic voters can still join DA and download a ballot and instructions at the DA website: http://www.democratsabroad.org/global_presidential_primary?e=e97bc892e2449f446a1c843ce4e3ef5c&utm_source=democratsabroad&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=glb3616lastapam&n=2

Over 40 member-volunteers covered three shifts, while students from an ACS 10^th grade history class helped usher voters. The students witnessed a typical – though possibly more fun than usual – US election site and learned much. They also helped with photos for live tweeting. Other photos were taken by a member volunteer, while video footage was also recorded throughout the day.

As voters moved through the site, there was ample time for talk about the process, as well as about issues of the day and DAGR plans for the election season. Several new volunteers signed on and the Women’s Caucus netted close to 20 new names for its mailing list.

A DAGR supporter rented the venue and provided sandwiches for volunteers, while the Grande Bretagne offered coffee and water. “The GB management and staff were superb, start to finish,” said Medeiros. “We can’t thank them enough!  Nor can we begin to thank our volunteers!”

“Electoral law, party rules, state variations, process and schedules … it’s a lot to take in, let alone be competent to explain to others. But with phone banking just past, and these members helping again with the GPP, we’re getting quite good at it,” Lee added. “That’s the life blood of the organization, though, with members pitching in, gaining knowledge and confidence, moving up into leadership.”

Volunteers will be recognized at DAGR’s Annual General Meeting, set for Thursday, March 21.

Check out photos from the Voting Center on Facebook and Twitter.

Bill and Melinda Gates - Two Super Powers We Wish We Had

https://www.gatesnotes.com/2016-Annual-Letter

Take the Pledge:

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

4 March, 2016

Americans Abroad help select Democratic Presidential candidate

• Greece is one of more than 40 around the world hosting in-person voting, and globally we are seeing a massive surge of overseas citizen involvement in the campaign

• U.S. Democrats living in Athens can vote in person for their favorite candidate on Sunday, March 6 at the Global Presidential Primary voting site

• Americans living elsewhere in Greece can vote now by postal ballot, email or fax

Demonstrating an unparalleled level of engagement in American politics this year, over 10,000 Americans overseas have already voted in Democrats Abroad’s Global Presidential Primary, with many more ballots to be cast between now and March 8.

Unlike voters in the United Sates, Americans living abroad will have the opportunity to vote in their primary for another four days at local polling stations, or by emailing, posting or faxing their ballot.   The primary, which kicked off at Midnight on Tuesday, March 1 in Wellington, New Zealand, has been the subject of unprecedented interest by the public and the international media. The final results of the Global Presidential Primary, including delegate allocations, will not be announced until all ballots are counted on March 21.

Voting centers report large numbers of Americans joining Democrats Abroad at their local voting center, showing proof of identity to volunteers, and casting a ballot.  U.S. Democrats in 111 cities, in 39 countries, will take part in the Global Presidential Primary before it runs its course. A full list of voting sites and times can be found at democratsabroad.org/gpp.

How we work:  Democrats Abroad, the official arm of the Democratic Party outside the United States, has launched its campaign to help Americans citizens living abroad to nominate the U.S. Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee. (1) Any Democrat living abroad (2) can take part in the Global Presidential Primary by joining Democrats Abroad via its webpage or the dedicated voter registration/ballot request tool, VoteFromAbroad.org. Membership is free.

There are two opportunities for Americans in Greece to vote in the Global Presidential Primary:

• On March 6, Democrats living in or near Athens can vote in person at a dedicated Global Presidential Primary voting site. Site details and polling hours have been sent to members.

• From now until March 8, Democrats who are unable to attend a voting site can vote remotely via postal ballot, email attachment or fax. Details at www.democratsabroad.org. (3)

After March 8, the votes of Democrats living in over 190 countries worldwide will be counted. Any candidate receiving 15% or more of the primary votes cast will be awarded delegates in proportion to their support in the Global Presidential Primary.

Democrats Abroad will have 17 delegate votes at the Democratic Convention, held in Philadelphia on July 25-28, 2016. (4)

Democrats Abroad Greece (DAGR) Vice Chair and Voting Center Manager Steve Medeiros noted that a huge amount of work has gone into preparations. “This is a serious election, with all the legal safeguards we have stateside. But it’s also a chance for Democrats to meet up, something that’s sometimes difficult in a city as big as Athens. We’re really looking forward to Sunday.”

DAGR Chair Karen Lee added, “Because Americans abroad hail from all 50 states, we usually vote for those who will represent our home states. But once every four years, the Democratic Party allows us to help choose the candidate we will all have in common, that is, the Presidential candidate. Casting our vote in this global election amplifies our voice in decisions that affect our lives as expats.  It’s a very special privilege. We’re looking forward to a great day on Sunday.”

For more information on this event or for members of the press interested in visiting the polling sites, contact Alec Mally, Treasurer of Democrats Abroad Greece at [email protected] or 697-379-4849

4 Μαρτίου 2016

ΣΥΜΜΕΤΕΧΕΙ ΣΤΗ ΔΙΑΔΙΚΑΣΙΑ ΕΚΛΟΓΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΥΠΟΨΗΦΙΟΥ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΕΔΡΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΗΠΑ

• Η Ελλάδα είναι μία από τις 40 και πλέον χώρες στον κόσμο όπου οι Αμερικανοί πολίτες προσέρχονται στις κάλπες για να ψηφίσουν αυτοπροσώπως τον εκπρόσωπο του Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος.

• Το ενδιαφέρον των Αμερικανών κατοίκων του εξωτερικού για συμμετοχή στην προεκλογική εκστρατεία  αυξάνεται σημαντικά σε όλο τον κόσμο.

• Την Κυριακή  6 Μαρτίου ψηφίζουν τα μέλη του Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος στην Αθήνα στο εκλογικό τους κέντρο.

• Οι Αμερικανοί που ζουν στις άλλες πόλεις της Ελλάδας όπου δεν υπάρχει εκλογικό κέντρο, μπορούν να ψηφίσουν ηλεκτρονικά, ταχυδρομικά ή με φαξ.
  

Πάνω από 10.000 Αμερικανοί πολίτες που ζουν σε χώρες εκτός των ΗΠΑ, έχουν ήδη  ψηφίσει τον υποψήφιο της αρεσκείας τους στις Παγκόσμιες Προκριματικές Εκλογές ενώ πολλές ακόμα ψήφοι αναμένονται να καταμετρηθούν και στις υπόλοιπες χώρες από τώρα ως και τις 8 Μαρτίου που θα ολοκληρωθεί η διαδικασία, επιδεικνύοντας έτσι μια άνευ προηγουμένου προσήλωση στα Αμερικανικά πολιτικά δρώμενα.

Αντίθετα με τους ψηφοφόρους που ζουν εντός των ΗΠΑ, οι Αμερικανοί του Εξωτερικού έχουν την ευκαιρία να συνεχίσουν να ψηφίζουν στα τοπικά εκλογικά τμήματα, με ηλεκτρονικό ταχυδρομείο, με μέσω ταχυδρομείου η με φαξ για 4 ημέρες ακόμα. Οι Προκριματικές Εκλογές που ξεκίνησαν στο Γουέλινγκτον της Νέας Ζηλανδίας την Τρίτη 1 Μαρτίου, βρίσκονται υπό το πρίσμα τόσο του κοινού ενδιαφέροντος όσο και του διεθνούς τύπου. Τα αποτελέσματα των Παγκοσμίων Προκριματικών Προεδρικών Εκλογών, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των αποτελεσμάτων για την κατανομή των εκλεκτόρων, θα ανακοινωθούν μόνο αφού θα έχει τελειώσει και η τελευταία καταμέτρηση στις 21 Μαρτίου.

Τα εκλογικά κέντρα που έχουν στηθεί σε όλο τον κόσμο αναφέρουν χαρακτηριστικά ότι οι Αμερικανοί πολίτες προσέρχονται αθρόα με το διαβατήριό τους για να ψηφίσουν. Αναμένεται ότι μέχρι την λήξη της προθεσμίας, Αμερικανοί Δημοκρατικοί από 111 πόλεις 39 χωρών θα έχουν λάβει μέρος στις Παγκόσμιες Προκριματικές Προεδρικές Εκλογές. Οι τοποθεσίες στις οποίες λειτουργούν εκλογικά κέντρα καθώς και τα ωράρια λειτουργίας τους αναρτώνται στην επίσημη ιστοσελίδα του Κόμματος, democratsabroad.org/gpp.

Πως γίνεται η διαδικασία: ΟΙ Δημοκρατικοί του Εξωτερικού, που είναι το επίσημο όργανο του Κόμματος των Δημοκρατικών, έχουν ξεκινήσει την προεκλογική εκστρατεία για την ανάδειξη του εκπροσώπου του Κόμματος για τις Προεδρικές Εκλογές. Οποιοσδήποτε Δημοκρατικός ζεί στο Εξωτερικό μπορεί να συμμετάσχει στη διαδικασία των εκλογών 1) με το να γίνει μέλος του Κόμματος μέσω της ηλεκτρονικής σελίδας του, ή 2) με το να εγγραφεί στους εκλογικούς καταλόγους και να ζητήσει το ψηφοδέλτιο του μέσω του VoteFromAbroad.org. Δεν υπάρχει καμία χρέωση για να γίνει κάποιος μέλος.

Υπάρχουν δύο τρόποι για να ψηφίσει στις Προκριματικές Προεδρικές Εκλογές κάποιος Αμερικανός πολίτης που ζει στην Ελλάδα:

• Είτε να προσέρθει στο Εκλογικό Κέντρο στις 6 Μαρτίου κατά την ώρα που θα αναγράφεται στο έντυπο που θα του αποσταλεί,

• Είτε να στείλει ταχυδρομικά, ηλεκτρονικά ή με φαξ το ψηφοδέλτιό του συμπληρωμένο στην διεύθυνση www.democratsabroad.org έως τις 8 Μαρτίου (3).

Οι ψήφοι των ψηφοφόρων του Δημοκρατικού κόμματος που ζουν σε 190 χώρες και πλέον εκτός των ΗΠΑ θα καταμετρηθούν μετά τις 8 Μαρτίου. Οι υποψήφιοι που θα λάβουν πάνω από 15%  επί του συνόλου των ψήφων, θα εξασφαλίσουν αντιπροσώπους ανάλογα με το ποσοστό των ψήφων που έλαβαν στις Παγκόσμιες Προκριματικές Προεδρικές Εκλογές.

Οι Δημοκρατικοί του Εξωτερικού θα εκπροσωπούνται από 17 μέλη στο Συνέδριο των Δημοκρατικών στη Φιλαδέλφεια στις 25-28 Ιουλίου 2106.

Ο Αντι-Πρόεδρος των Δημοκρατικών στην Ελλάδα κ. Στηβ  Μεντέϊρος  δήλωσε ότι έχει καταβληθεί πολύς χρόνος προετοιμασίας για τις εκλογές αυτές. « Οι εκλογές είναι σοβαρή υπόθεση και πρέπει να ακολουθήσουμε όλες τις  νομικές διαδικασίες. Εκτός από αυτό όμως, είναι μια ευκαιρία για να συναντηθούν οι Δημοκρατικοί και να γνωριστούν, κάτι που είναι δύσκολο σε μια μεγάλη πόλη όπως είναι η Αθήνα.  Ανυπομονούμε να έρθει η Κυριακή».

Η Πρόεδρος των Δημοκρατικών κα Κάρεν Λη πρόσθεσε ότι « Επειδή οι Αμερικανοί που βρίσκονται εδώ κατάγονται από όλες τις 50 Πολιτείες, συνήθως προτιμούν να ψηφίζουν τα άτομα που γνωρίζει ο καθένας από την δική του Πολιτεία καταγωγής. Αλλά κάθε 4 χρόνια το Κόμμα των Δημοκρατικών μας δίνει την δυνατότητα να ψηφίζουμε  τον ένα κοινό για όλους υποψήφιο, τον Πρόεδρο.  Η ψήφος μας στις Παγκόσμιες Προκριματικές Προεδρικές Εκλογές διευρύνει την δυνατότητά μας να ακουστούμε ως εκπατρισμένοι Αμερικανοί, κάτι που είναι πολύ ιδιαίτερο προνόμιο. Γι αυτό έχει μεγάλη σημασία για μας η Κυριακή των Εκλογών και ανυπομονούμε να δούμε τα αποτελέσματα».

For more information on this event or for members of the press interested in visiting the polling sites, contact Alec Mally, Treasurer of Democrats Abroad Greece at [email protected] or 697-379-4849

The film Suffragette has finally come to town!

Odeon Opera

Akadimias 57

Wednesday - 8:15 p.m.

https://youtu.be/FTSP_oEHcOE?list=PLIR3GeOfJwpX1DbX_oNu1iPrh03I3sbw3

Like Democrats Abroad around the world, DAGRs can nominate our candidates for the November election by voting in our home states. Or, as members of Democrats Abroad, we are also eligible to vote in the Global Presidential Primary. And there are good reasons why we should!

This means we can vote on two different ballots, BUT we can only vote ONCE for each office. While it may sound confusing, it’s really quite easy. Here’s how:

1. Register to vote in your home state and request your ballot. You’ll want the Primary ballot, now, and the General one sent in the autumn. Go to www.votefromabroad.org and follow the instructions.
2. Ask for your ballot to be sent by email or fax for fastest delivery. When it arrives, follow the instructions that come with it to vote and send it back.
3. On your state Primary ballot, mark the House and Senate candidates (or down-ballot races if your local election officlal determines you can).
4. Leave the Presidential box blank on the state ballot!
5. Vote for a Presidential candidate in the DA GPP, between now and March 8.
6. In Greece, the Voting Center will be in Athens on Sunday, March 6. Come, vote, meet friends, and argue politics! Watch for email with the location and open hours.
7. If you can’t make it to the Voting Center, you can order a GPP ‘remote ballot. ’ Download a remote ballot at http://www.democratsabroad.org/gpp and follow the instructions.

Remember, however you decide to vote, you can only vote for each office ONE TIME. So, do NOT send in a GPP remote ballot and then try to vote again at the Voting Center ‘just to be sure.’ If you do, they’ll both be invalid. But, you can still come to the Voting Center and be part of the action. 

 Now it's YOUR turn to decide!

Vote in the Democrats Abroad Global Primary!

Sunday March 6th

In Athens

Hotel Grande Bretagne

on Syntagma Square

From noon to 6pm

If you can’t make it to the Voting Center, you can order a GPP ‘remote ballot. ’

Download a remote ballot at http://www.democratsabroad.org/gpp and follow the instructions.

DAGR Debate Watch DW6 House Parties

After upsets in IO and NH and with crucial tests in SC and NV ahead, the 6th
Democratic Debate (pre-dawn Friday in central European time zone) may be the
best one yet,. PBS carries it from the University of Wisconsin, with PBS
NewsHour co-anchors Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff moderating.

Find a house party near you to watch it with friends!

THESSALONIKI
Friday, February 12, 7 p.m.
House Party at Panos Karousakis' home in Panorama 
Beer and wine provided - Potluck snacks! 
For address, directions and other details, call: 
Panos at 231 033 2565 or Kevin at 693 077 7237 or 231 091 6324

CENTRAL ATHENS 
Friday, February 12, 7 p.m.
House Party at Nikki Fellouris' home near the Hilton
Wine provided - Potluck snacks! 
For address, directions and other details, call:
Nikki at 693 661 8493

NORTHERN ATHENS
Saturday, February 13, 7:30 p.m.
House Party at Marion Kavallieros' home in Kifissia
Wine provided - Potluck snacks! 
For address, directions and other details, call:
Marion at 694 615 9203

If you'd like to host a party, reply here and we'll help put yours up on
this page.

We turn a spotlight on an issue which was solved on paper years ago. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear a landmark abortion case that could gut Roe v. Wade, it is important to know what is at stake.  Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt (formerly Cole) is a case regarding a deceptive Texas law designed to shut down more than 75 percent of all women’s health clinics that provide abortion services in the state.

Take a look at a preview of the startling new documentary, "Trapped", a film that addresses TRAP laws—Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers—and their impact on abortion providers in the South. The film was recently showcased at Sundance Film Festival and in the above link, you will see Amy Goodman interview the Director Dawn Porter and guests Willy Parker and June Ayers, who are fighting to keep abortion accessible in the South.

For more information on the Supreme Court Case, The Center for Reproductive Rights is representing medical caregivers in their efforts to ensure women’s access to safe and legal abortion care and their website provides an excellent overview of the case and its implications. Follow this link for a captivating read.

Good visuals on how recent legislation has severely limited women’s choice all across America can be seen through the following graphs - Learn more about their work at the Guttmacher Institute