Be a part of Democrats Abroad from wherever in the world you live! As we gear up for the 2024 presidential elections, we are looking for people to build our teams in countries that do not have an official Democrats Abroad Country Committee. 

We want to make sure ALL our volunteers and members are engaged every year! Whether you can contribute a lot of time or just a little, you can make a difference to advocate for issues that effect Americans living abroad and to get out the vote in critical elections. Your responses to the quick 10 minute survey in the link below will help us to better serve our outreach efforts in your region.

Let me know you'll join the effort by filling out the survey. I hope to hear from you soon!

Best regards,

Jen Rakow-Stepper

Regional Vice Chair for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)

In February—

Events:

• Experienced Dems Meet-up
• St Patrick’s Day Irish Music & Dance
• Annual General Meeting & Elections

Inside DA Austria:

• 2023 Annual General Meeting
• Call for Nominations 2023-2025 DA Austria Executive Committee
• ByLaws Amendments

Issues & Actions:

• Take the Survey of 2022 Voter Experience
• WI Feb 21 Primary State Supreme Court election
• 2022 Report on Tax Issues for Americans
• 2023 Election Watch:Wisconsin

Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held in person and online on: Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join.

DAA is making a strong effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!

Message from the Chair

In this month’s newsletter, we want to alert you to our Annual General Meeting next month (see below). It is an important one as we will be electing members to our Executive Committee for the next two years. A Nominations and Elections Committee has been formed (a big thanks to Brett, Renee, Amanda and Hilary for serving) which is putting out a call for people to run for the various positions.

I ran for chair two years ago because I felt that DA Austria was a way I could make an impact on many of the issues I believe in, working to ensure Democrats were elected in the midterms. The stakes will be even higher in 2024. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. Honestly, though, we need more people, people like you (sorry to put you in the spot) to consider running for an elected position or volunteering in some way. As an all-volunteer organization, this only works when many of us feel an obligation to take part and share the workload. Bottom line, we are working to preserve our democracy and to ensure that the issues we care deeply about are addressed by our government. That is something worth volunteering for.

Events:

Monthly Executive Committee Meeting

When: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Where: Online. Contact Richard ([email protected]) for the link.

Experienced Dems Meet-up

When: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: Café Museum, Operngasse 7, Vienna 1010

RSVP: Experienced Dems Meet Up

The Return of the Progressive Pizza

When: Thursday, March 16, 2023

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: L’Osteria, Florianigasse 55, 1080 Vienna

RSVP: ProDA Pizza

St Patrick’s Day Irish Music & Dance

When: Friday, March 17, 2023

Time: 6:00-10:00 p.m.

Where: Orpheum Theatre, Steigenteschgasse 94b, Vienna 1220

RSVP & purchase tickets by Feb. 16, 2023: https://www.democratsabroad.org/73648/celebrate_st_patrick_s_day_with_irish_folk_music_and_step_dancing

2023 Annual General Meeting and Elections

When: Sunday, March 19, 2023

Time: 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Where: Lindengasse 64 , Vienna 1070

RSVP: DAA AGM

Inside DA Austria:

2023 Annual General Meeting

Please join us for DA Austria's Annual General Meeting - either in-person or online! This is quite an important AGM as we will hold elections for our new Executive Committee that will lead us for the next two years.

Consider joining our Executive Committee for 2023-25! We need your drive and talents, your activism, and your desire to preserve democracy to help us to WIN BIG in 2024. Please contact me at [email protected] or members of our Nominations and Elections Committee at [email protected] if you care to discuss running for an elected position.

At the AGM, we will also seek your approval for some necessary changes to our By-Laws, as well as review our actions in 2022 and some of our plans for 2023. We'll bring some wine and snacks to enjoy post-meeting, and then we will arrange to go out for dinner afterward at a nearby restaurant. Details to follow for those who RSVP.

We have a quorum requirement to make the meeting valid. Please help us meet these challenges by joining us! Any American 18 or older by the next federal election and residing in Austria may join the meeting, become a member and vote on meeting business.

Your participation, activism, and donations have made Democrats Abroad Austria a strong and vital organization for more than 18 years. Thanks in advance for supporting DA Austria by joining our AGM and helping to set our direction for the coming two years. RSVP for the Annual General Meeting: https://www.democratsabroad.org/73648/da_austria_s_annual_general_meeting_2023

– DA Austria Executive Committee

ByLaws Amendments

Please keep an eye out for amendments to DA Austia’s ByLaws which will be voted on during the 2023 Annual General Meeting. They’ll arrive in your inbox no later than February 17, 2023.

– DA Austria Executive Committee

Call for Nominations: Democrats Abroad Austria Executive Committee Elections 2023

The 2023-25 Executive Committee will be elected at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 19, 2023. Voting will be conducted electronically or in person at the AGM.

The 2023 Nominating and Elections Committee (NEC) is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:

• Chair
• Vice-Chair
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Counsel
• Up to two DPCA Voting Representatives
• Up to three DPCA Non-Voting Representatives
• Up to six Members-at-Large -- In the past, Member-at-Large responsibilities have included: Province Coordinators, Database Manager, Media Contact, Social Media and Communication, and Membership Engagement.

A description of these offices’ responsibilities can be found in the DAA’s Bylaws on the Executive Committee here.

If you are interested in running for any of these positions or would like to nominate someone, please send your name or that of the nominee to [email protected] as soon as possible. Candidates must be seconded via email to the NEC and provide a short bio/candidate statement no later than March 2, 2023. Information about candidates and their platforms will be published in the March issue of the DAA Newsletter. In addition, candidates are encouraged to attend the upcoming meeting/s of the Executive Committee to learn more about the work of the group. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Key Dates

• No later than February 17: Call for nominations
• March 2: Nominations close
• No later than March 5: Ballots will be sent electronically to all DAA members and will be available on the DAA website.
• March 18: Early voting ends at 23:59
• March 19: Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting. Early votes and those cast during the AGM will be tallied, and the NEC will announce the results.

You can read the full DAA Bylaws (Article 8 covers Elections and Nominations) here and the DAA 2023 Election Rules here.

Our victories in 2022 were a direct result of the actions of committed Democrats around the globe. Please consider how you might contribute to the Party’s future success as part of the DAA leadership team. If you have any questions, please contact the NEC at [email protected].

— Brett Carnito (Chair), Amanda Grossman, Renee McCormack, Hilary Monihan, 2023 Nominations and Elections Committee

We Can’t Do It Without You!

DA Austria is looking to strengthen our teams so we can hit the ground running for important special elections in 2023 and the presidential election in 2024.

Have an hour to spare? We are looking for volunteers in all areas and with any time availability. Find out more information about how to join our team.

Issues & Actions:

Take the Survey of 2022 Voter Experience

The survey is open to U.S. and dual citizens who resided outside of the United States in 2022 and are at least 18 years of age. It is designed to gain insights into the overseas voting community and capture your experiences voting from abroad in 2022.

Ultimately, we're striving to learn from you to make voting from abroad easier in future election cycles -- from reducing administrative barriers to better educating legislators and election officials stateside to providing more robust support to overseas voters.

Please take a moment to fill out the 2022 Voter Experience Survey and share it widely with your networks and groups. Your feedback helps us help all Americans living overseas have their vote count and be counted.

2022 Report on Tax Issues for Americans

The Tax Survey of Americans Abroad was open for responses in April 2022. It was designed to collect up-to-date information on how Americans living outside the U.S. experience U.S. taxation and financial access. The report analyzed the survey responses and presents our findings. https://www.democratsabroad.org/2022_report

2023 Election Watch

The Wisconsin Primary

Are you a Wisconsin Voter? There is a critical State Supreme Court election on April 4, 2023 with the primary on February 21. Wisconsin voters need to request their ballots each year and only voters who mark "intend to return" may vote in these judicial elections. Find out more at https://www.votefromabroad.org/states/WI.

Ballotopedia writes about the Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, “While supreme court elections are officially nonpartisan, the court is considered to have a 4-3 conservative majority. With Roggensack—a member of the court's conservative majority—retiring, this election will determine the ideological control of the court. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Corrinne Hess, "[Mitchell and Protasiewicz] are running as liberal candidates. Kelly and Dorow are running as conservative candidates.” (https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2023)

Take a look at the Wisconsin State Team page to find out what DA’s Wisconsinites are up to! https://www.democratsabroad.org/wi-usa

Thank you for reading February's Newsletter!

After an extremely long hiatus, the Progressive Pizza returns with pizzazz!

Please complete our proDA Progressive Priorities Survey now: https://forms.gle/GHj7Jvmrkz53bNsz9

Join our Monthly Members meeting on Feb. 4th at 3:00 pm to discuss the results and set our course for 2023 and beyond: https://www.democratsabroad.org/proda_feb_2023_monthly_members

Then join our IN-PERSON PROGRESSIVE PIZZA WITH SPECIAL GUEST, SUPER PHONEBANKING, NEOPHYTE CALIFORNIAN MICHAEL WAGNER!

Visit us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/events/5812348242211663/

Experience comes in all ages! Join other Dems at the February Meeting of Democrats Abroad Austria's Experienced Democrats. 

Please join us for DA Austria's Annual General Meeting - either in-person or online! This is quite an important AGM as we will hold elections for our new Executive Committee that will lead us for the next two years. 

Consider joining our Executive Committee for 2023-24! We need your drive and talents, your activism, and your desire to preserve democracy to help us to WIN BIG in 2024. Please contact me at [email protected] or members of our Nominations and Elections Committee at [email protected] if you care to discuss running for an elected position.

At the AGM, we will also seek your approval for some necessary changes to our By-Laws, as well as review our actions in 2022 and some of our plans for 2023. We'll bring some wine and snacks to enjoy post-meeting, and then we will arrange to go out for dinner afterward at a nearby restaurant. Details to follow for those who RSVP.

We have a quorum requirement to make the meeting valid. Please help us meet these challenges by joining us! Any American 18 or older by the next federal election and residing in Austria may join the meeting, become a member and vote on meeting business. 

Your participation, activism, and donations have made Democrats Abroad Austria a strong and vital organization for more than 18 years. Thanks in advance for supporting DA Austria by joining our AGM and helping to set our direction for the coming two years.

-DA Executive Committee

In This Issue —

Events:

• How to Survive Tax Day as an American Abroad
• Experienced Dems Meet-up
• Reparations and the Black Vote

Issues & Actions:

• January 15 is International Voter Registration Day
• Democrats Abroad Tax Advocacy
• ‘22 Wins = ‘23 Momentum

Inside DA Austria: 

• Save the Date!
• It’s All Happening at #demsaustria
• We Can’t Win Without You! 

Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held in person and online on: Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join. 

DAA is making a strong effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!

Message from the Chair

When I was at the Silvesterpfad on New Year Eve, a TV reporter put a microphone in my face and asked me what I’ll remember most about 2022, and my resolutions for 2023. I fumbled with an answer in German, but what was truly on my mind was not really meant for an Austrian audience. It is really geared to you. 

Of course, 2022 was a calamitous year, with the war in Ukraine, floods in Pakistan, drought and famine in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, and the soaring cost of living affecting people globally. The results of the US midterm elections were a welcomed bright spot, and Democrats Abroad played a part in making that happen - one that we can all be proud of. Defying history to retain our majority in the Senate was a great achievement (and relief). However, the House Speaker fiasco on display last week was a preview of what we can expect with a divided government over the next two years. We will have to work hard in 2024.

I am truly grateful for all the Democrats Abroad Austria volunteers who gave so much of their time and energy to support our mission and rally the overseas vote in 2022. It may be hard to imagine but Austria has some of the most active phone bankers in all of DA - logging some 12,000 calls last year. One of those phone bankers, Marjorie Rosenberg of Graz, made 5,000 of those calls! She and the many others - Yvonne, Susan, Robert, Bruce, Tom (to name a few) - are among the heroes who helped save and preserve US democracy. (More shouts out in our achievements section, below).

What has been hard is that many key volunteers left Austria in 2022, leaving big gaps to fill. My heartfelt thanks to my vice chair, Faith Herbold, who left Austria early in the new year to begin a new chapter with her family in New Zealand! I am so grateful for her drive, leadership and contribution over many years for DA Austria (and am particularly thankful that she can rap). The departure of Faith and others means we are in need of new volunteers, especially people willing to run for election to serve on our Executive Committee (more on that later). 

I think we know individual New Year's Resolutions are rarely kept. But perhaps we can have a collective one - that we resolve to contribute, in ways large and small, to ensure Democrats Abroad Austria remains a vibrant community of Americans and that we are ready for even greater activism and success in 2024! 

Events:

Monthly Executive Committee Meeting

When: Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Time: 7:00 p.m. 

Where: Online. Contact Richard ([email protected])  for the link.

How to Survive Tax Day as an American Abroad

When: Wednesday, January, 11

Time: 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Online RSVP 

Experienced Dems Meet-up

When: Tuesday, January, 17

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: Café Museum, Operngasse 7, Vienna 1010

Reparations and the Black Vote

When: Saturday, January, 28

Time: 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Where: Online RSVP 

Annual General Meeting & Executive Committee Elections

When: Sunday, March, 19

Time: TBA

Where: In-Person and Online 

Issues & Actions:

January 15 is International Voter Registration Day

Help raise awareness that Americans need to request absentee ballots every calendar year! Go to VoteFromAbroad.org today. The Federal Voting Assistance Program estimates that only 16% of eligible Americans voted in the 2020 elections and only 7% worldwide. We can do much better than that. Overseas Americans are protected by the UOCAVA Act and Move Act which protects the right to vote and provides special provisions–including receiving an absentee ballot 45 days before an election–for overseas voters. Voting is our Right and votes from abroad have been the margin of difference in close elections. 

Every election cycle, we hear from voters who didn’t receive their ballot, were taken off the voter rolls, or forgot to update their voting records; every election cycle, we spend countless volunteer hours, donations, and energy reminding our members to vote. 

This year, help us help you. Go to VoteFromAbroad.org and update your ballot request. You’ll receive ballots for some critical elections in 2023. And remind your family members, work colleagues, and those in your community to do the same. 

Democrats Abroad Tax Advocacy

In late 2022 DA’s Taxation Taskforce (TTF)  finished a comprehensive report, the Update on Tax and Financial Access Issues of Americans Abroad to bring attention to these issues to our representatives at home. The report enabled the TTF to meet with the Treasury, IRS, and the Joint Committee on Taxation in Congress. They’ve also spoken to UK Finance and are due to speak to EU Banking Federation.

You can get involved and help DA make an impact! 

• Get the 2022 Tax Report to your Members of Congress in three quick and easy steps:
  • Find your two Senators and one House Representative’s Washington DC office phone numbers
  • **Call** their offices
  • Send 3 emails

Detailed instructions are here: https://www.democratsabroad.org/help_share_tax_report_with_your_reps_today 

• Become a tax ambassador for DA Austria! Contact Richard at [email protected] or Rebecca at [email protected] to find out how to get involved. 
• Join the How to Survive Tax Day as an American Abroad on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023 7:30 pm (Austria) RSVP: democratsabroad.org/SurviveExpatTax

‘22 Wins = ‘23 Momentum

(excerpt from International Chair email)

From Tokyo to Johannesburg, Stockholm to Mexico City, Democrats Abroad kept organizing and persevering throughout 2022. Our dedicated volunteers made over 250,000 phone calls, sent over 500,000 texts, organized thousands of in-person and virtual events, and provided voting assistance nearly round the clock. The result: We defied all odds and elected Democrats to key positions nationwide, putting us on strong footing for both the next legislative session and the 2024 election cycle.

Some noteworthy firsts at Democrats Abroad in 2022

Our volunteers around the world worked to:

• Form Battleground State Teams and a state-specific communications strategy, providing tailored voting and candidate information and organizing over 100 state- and issue-specifc events for voters to learn more about who and what was on the ballot.
• Get published in major U.S. media outlets, including Time, Teen Vogue, and NPR. 
• Expand overseas voting rights at the state level, reinstating the right for New Jerseyans abroad to vote in state-level elections.
• Gain official representation within the Young Democrats of America, creating new avenues for young voters to get involved from abroad and spread the word about DA in collegiate and young professional networks stateside.
• Advocate on behalf of the U.S. and dual citizen community abroad, including meeting with President Biden directly to share perspectives and needs from our unique constituency.

Some noteworthy achievements at Democrats Abroad Austria in 2022

• Democrats Abroad Austria had the third highest percentage rate of members going to VoteFromAbroad.org to request their ballot (44.64%, or 826 members)
• Our DA Austria phone bankers logged more than 12,000 calls in 2022
• Our “Experienced Dems” group returned to meeting in person! A big thanks to John Cahill for organizing the Experienced Dems meet-ups and keeping the group active,
• We held some great events in 2022, namely for Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and our Punsching for Democracy in December.
• We again held an Austria focused calling campaign, followed by a postcard campaign to battleground state voters and then again for the Georgia runoff. 

Inside DA Austria:

Save the Date! 

Annual General Meeting & Executive Committee Elections 

Fresh voices, energy, and ideas — save the date! On Sunday, March 19, 2023 DA Austria members will meet in person and online for our Annual General Meeting and to elect a new Executive Committee. More information about the meeting and how you can run will be posted in February’s newsletter, but we wanted to make sure you add this important date to your calendar!

It’s All Happening at #demsaustria

We’re looking for someone to help run our DA Austria’s Instagram page and social media channels. This is a great resume building opportunity. Be sure to visit today and don’t forget to follow us at #demsaustria!

We Can’t Win Without You! 

DA Austria is looking to strengthen our teams so we can hit the ground running for important Special Elections in 2023 and the presidential election in 2024. 

Have an hour to spare? We are looking for volunteers in all areas and with any time availability. Find out more information about how to join our team. 

Take our Volunteer Survey. 

Do you have an idea? We're looking for suggestions on how we can connect with more Americans in Austria, find places to advertise, events to have, and any suggestions you have to get more people to vote. Bookmark this link and submit your ideas at any time.

Thank you for reading the January Newsletter!

We urge all voters who voted in the November 8 midterm elections in AZ, CA, CO, NV, OR, or WA to confirm that your ballot arrived and was counted without issue. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate will be decided by just a handful of votes in these states. Please act now and double check!

If there are issues preventing your ballot from being counted, these states allow you to "cure" you ballot. This essentially means fixing issues such as mismatched or missing signatures or dates on the ballot materials you returned (note that the issues that can be "cured" do vary by state). Deadlines and processes to remedy issues vary by state. Details are listed below alphabetically by state. 

If there are issues with your ballot, please immediately get in touch with your local election office!

If you have any questions or require help, please write to [email protected].

We have teams standing by to make sure that your vote gets counted!

Arizona 

Deadline to fix ballot issue: November 16, 5:00pm US Mountain Time

Link to look up ballot status online:* https://my.arizona.vote/AbsenteeTracker.aspx 

Look up contact information for local election office: www.votefromabroad.org/states/az 

California

Deadline to fix ballot issue: December 6, 5:00pm US Pacific Time

Link to look up ballot status online:* https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/ 

Look up contact information for local election office: www.votefromabroad.org/states/ca  

Colorado

Deadline to fix ballot issue: November 16

Link to look up ballot status online:* https://colorado.ballottrax.net/voter/

Look up contact information for local election office: www.votefromabroad.org/states/co 

New! You can also fix ballot issues by text: Txt2Cure FAQs (will likely only work cell phones that have US number)

Nevada

Deadline to fix ballot issue: November 14, 5:00pm US Pacific Time

Link to look up ballot status online:* https://www.nvsos.gov/votersearch/

Look up contact information for local election office: www.votefromabroad.org/states/nv

Some Nevada counties have online signature curing resources, see www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/cure

Oregon

Deadline to fix ballot issue: November 22

Link to look up ballot status online:* https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do

Look up contact information for local election office: www.votefromabroad.org/states/or

Washington

Deadline to fix ballot issue: November 28

Link to look up ballot status online:* https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx

Look up contact information for local election office: www.votefromabroad.org/states/wa

*If accessing this page outside of the United States, you may need to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). More on using a VPN here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/faqs/TI1 

In This Issue —

Events:

• Election Night Party on November 8
• Experienced Dems Meet-up
• Thanksgiving: A Feast with all the Fixings
• Punsching for Democracy – TBA

Issues & Actions:

• It’s All on the Line
• $15,000/day – You read that right

Midterm Election News:

• Vote from Austria! – Voter Information Guide
• Information for Ballot Access & Return
• DHL 20% Discount

Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held in person and online on: Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join.

DA Austria is making a strong effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!

Message from the Chair

Less than a week to go until election day! Volunteers are making thousands of calls in a final push to get voters to request and send back their ballot. If you are among those who still need to mail in your ballot, please consider sending it by DHL, where Democrats Abroad has negotiated a 20% discount for Americans - just use the code USA20. More information is on our Vote from Austria page. So much is riding on this election! If you have voted, please click here. The more members who self-report, the less money and volunteer time we have to spend! Come join us for a drink and conversation at our Election Night Party on Tuesday, Nov. 8. I know we won’t have results yet, but we will celebrate our efforts with the hope that we have even more to celebrate the following day!

— Richard Miller, Chair Democrats Abroad Austria

Still haven't voted? There may still be time!

www.votefromabroad.org/states

Events:

Election Night Party

When: Election Day, Tuesday, November 8

Time: 8:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. (November 9)

Where: The Long Hall Bar Vienna. RSVP for details

What: Join DA Austria as we celebrate our efforts in getting out the vote and watch as the first results come in.

Experienced Dems Meet-up

When: Tuesday, November, 22

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: Café Museum, Operngasse 7, Vienna 1010

Giving Thanks: A Feast with all the Fixings

When: Thursday, November 24

Time: 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Where: Melker Stiftskeller, Schottengasse 3, Vienna 1010.

What: The restaurant will prepare turkey with all the fixings, including a famous aunt's stuffing recipe. Please bring a pie or other dessert to share. Let us know if you can contribute a family favorite!

Drinks are not included and you pay those separately with the restaurant.

The price is $30 for adults, $26 for vegetarians, and $12 for children 12 and under. Please purchase your tickets on the link after you've RSVP'd. Euro/US Dollar ticket price is the same.

Tickets: RSVP for details

Issues & Actions:

It’s All on the Line

It’s hard to believe that races in solidly blue states like California, New York, and Rhode Island may elect Republican candidates this cycle. You may normally feel that your vote doesn’t count, but this year it’s all on the line. Don’t have regrets on November 9 — Vote NOW. Really, what are you waiting for? Go to VoteFromAbroad.org to see if you can still request and return your ballot – there’s still time to do so in many states!

$15,000/day – You Read that Right

Democrats Abroad has run a massive global outreach effort this year to ensure that more overseas voters than ever know they have the right to vote and return their ballots. DA has spent upwards to $15,000 per day since September on phonebanking, texting, postal mailing, and digital ad campaigns – all targeted at voters abroad from must-win states like Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and even Orange County, California.

With your help, we can reach more voters abroad in these final days. Thank you to those of you who have already generously donated recently to help fund these efforts. If you’ve been unable to volunteer, but would still like to support our phonebanking programs, please consider making a donation at www.democratsabroad.org/donate.

Midterm Election News:

Vote from Austria! – Voter Information Guide

Democrats Abroad has created a one stop spot for answering your voting questions. Please share this guide with friends and colleagues who may have questions. Check it out here!

Information for Ballot Access & Return

General information by state at www.votefromabroad.org/states

And state-specific guides for states that often have more barriers to accessing and/or returning ballots:

GA ballot return guide

MI ballot return guide

PA ballot download guide

TX ballot return guide

Ballot Tracking Info

By state at www.votefromabroad.org/states

DHL Discount to the U.S.A.

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, most likely, the BEST option you still have to get your ballot back by your state’s deadline is to use a courier service. Please confirm your State’s “ballot received by” deadline here.

DA Austria has arranged with DHL a discount to send mail (including your ballot) from Austria to the US. The discount is available from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30, 2022. Packages can be sent from DHL Express Flagship Stores and Service Points.

Use USA20 for a 20% discount. More information and details are here: https://www.simplydhl.com/at/usa2022

A few tips:

→ Please do not use an online booking service if your state requires a postmark to be on the outside envelope AND your ballot might arrive close to or after Nov 8. Remember, it can take 4-5 days for courier service to arrive.

→ DHL cannot send to a P.O. Box! Be sure to confirm a street address with your local election official if a P.O. Box is the return address on your ballot.

→ Do NOT require a signature for receipt.

→ Some states allow ballots to be postmarked by Nov 8 and received AFTER Nov 8. Find out your state’s requirements here.

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

Thank you for reading the November Newsletter! Thank you for being a voter!

Voting in the November 8 midterms elections is the best tool you have to make your voice heard on important issues, from climate change to bodily autonomy to election administration. If you haven’t requested your ballot, or you’re unsure if you’ve requested one, follow the three easy steps below.

Also, spread the word about voting to your family, friends, and co-workers. Let them know that you voted and that if they’re a U.S. or dual citizen, they should, too!

Step 1: Request your ballot

Head to www.votefromabroad.org, your one-stop-shop for registering to vote and requesting your overseas absentee ballot. There, you’ll complete and submit your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), the form overseas voters like you use to request ballots. The website will help you fill out the FPCA and tell you exactly where to send it. In most cases, you can submit it right then and there electronically!

If you’re not registered to vote or need to change where you’re registered, don’t worry: The FPCA doubles as a voter registration form. You’ll register at the address where you most recently lived in the United States.

Pro tip: On the FPCA form, mark that you want to receive your ballot by email. That way, you'll get your ballot quickly and avoid snail-mail delays.

Step 2: Receive and vote your ballot

Once you’ve got your ballot, carefully read the instructions and fill it out as soon as possible. You’ll probably want to vote for all the offices listed on the ballot, especially at the state and local levels— where tons of decisions that impact our future are being made. A Google search of the candidates or ballotopedia.org are great ways to find out where they stand on issues important to you, as is reading news coverage of the races in which you’ll be voting.

Pro tip: Make sure you’ve signed everywhere required, used the right color pen, and put the right envelope inside of the other (if returning voted ballot by postal mail). Each state, and sometimes even county, has different requirements. Human error is a top reason overseas absentee ballots get rejected, so it’s worth taking some extra time to read the instructions and do it right. If you have questions, we're here to help!

Step 3: Return your completed ballot

• It is now too late to use the US Embassy pouch service!
• Check return times for regular mail services before using.
• If possible, please use a private courier service. See country discounts below. 

After you’ve completed your ballot, return it right away. Some states allow overseas voters to return their voted ballots through secure electronic means — like an upload portal, email, or even fax (yes, fax!) — but many require it to be sent by postal mail. You can check your state’s rules and deadlines at www.votefromabroad.org.

If you have to return your ballot by postal mail, you’ll want to make sure you’ve put the correct postage and recipient address on the envelope (the latter will be included with your ballot instructions). If time’s running short, you can also use a courier such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx, many countries have arranged for a discount – see the list below. 

If you vote in one of the following states, we also have ballot return guides to help you get your ballot back: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Pro tip: Return your voted ballot within 48 hours of receiving it, especially if you have to return it by postal mail. Voting early will not only save you stress and money, it will give you enough time to confirm that your ballot made it and will be counted. Late arrival is another top reason absentee ballots are rejected. Don’t let it happen to you.

And just like that, you’ll have voted from abroad in the November midterm elections!  

Votes from abroad may have proved decisive in the 2020 election outcome — now, with your help, we’re ready to make an even bigger difference in 2022!

Here are some resources to help

Need one-on-one help? A live voter assistant is just a Zoom away! Click in to ZoomTheVote, hosted and staffed by experienced VoteFromAbroad voter helpers, from anywhere in the world. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon-4pm EDT, Saturdays from 4am-6am EDT, and Sundays from 11am-3pm EDT. Link to join is here: https://qrco.de/bbh0zg

Voting questions? Check out our FAQs or write to us at [email protected] 

What to know about voting in your state. Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for detailed information on your state's deadlines, how to send in your registration/ballot request/ballot return, contact information for local election officials, and links to state websites to confirm registration and see sample ballots. You can also find the link to track your ballot at www.votefromabroad.org/states.

In which states can the ballot only be returned by mail? You must return your voted ballot by postal mail if you vote in the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Please don't wait to return your ballot — international mail takes time! 

Haven’t received your ballot?

If you requested to receive your ballot by postal mail, you should have likely received it by now (they started being sent to voters on Sept 24).

If you requested to receive your ballot electronically, please double check your spam and junk folders.

If you still can’t find your ballot, please do the following immediately:

1. Submit a new ballot request form via www.votefromabroad.org. Please submit the request electronically, if possible, and on the form, mark that you would like to receive your ballot by email. Doing this will expedite the process.
2. AND, if you vote in a postal mail return state (see above), vote and return a Federal Absentee Write-in Ballot, also known as a FWAB or “Backup Ballot.” Details on the Backup Ballot can be found here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/faqs/BB1.

Please note that even if you vote and return a Backup Ballot, you should still vote and return your official ballot once you receive it. If both your official voted ballot and Backup Ballot reach your local election office in time, the official ballot will be counted and the Backup Ballot will be voided. If only the Backup Ballot arrives, that will be counted as your vote.

Need to use a courier service? Call or email your local election office in the United States to check out the best address to use, and then check out courier solutions. Some couriers have provided discounts for some countries for mail return to the U.S. 

Special deals for Courier services:

From Argentina to Vietnam, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at information specific to your country of residence including courier service discounts and more. 

Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Not Listed?  

Asia Pacific: Australia , China , Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Not Listed?

Europe, Middle East & Africa: Africa Committee, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland , Israel, Italy, Kenya , Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Not Listed?

Have a technical question? Take a look at these videos and PDF’s to find out how-to scan a ballot, fold a New York ballot, use VPN to access blocked U.S. websites, photograph your signature, send your ballot by post, get the fax transmission cover sheet, and fax your ballot using your phone with fax.plus, efax.com or other "email to fax solutions" option.

Do you vote in one of the following states? We also have ballot return guides to help you get your ballot back to: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Thank you for voting!

Click to join us on Zoom for free, live voter help

Voting in the November 8 midterms elections is the best tool you have to make your voice heard on important issues, from climate change to bodily autonomy to election administration. If you haven’t requested your ballot, or you’re unsure if you’ve requested one, follow the three easy steps below.

Also, spread the word about voting to your family, friends, and co-workers. Let them know that you voted and that if they’re a U.S. or dual citizen, they should, too!

Step 1: Request your ballot

Head to www.votefromabroad.org, your one-stop-shop for registering to vote and requesting your overseas absentee ballot. There, you’ll complete and submit your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), the form overseas voters like you use to request ballots. The website will help you fill out the FPCA and tell you exactly where to send it. In most cases, you can submit it right then and there electronically!

If you’re not registered to vote or need to change where you’re registered, don’t worry: The FPCA doubles as a voter registration form. You’ll register at the address where you most recently lived in the United States.

Pro tip: On the FPCA form, mark that you want to receive your ballot by email. That way, you'll get your ballot quickly and avoid snail-mail delays.

Step 2: Receive and vote your ballot

Once you’ve got your ballot, carefully read the instructions and fill it out as soon as possible. You’ll probably want to vote for all the offices listed on the ballot, especially at the state and local levels— where tons of decisions that impact our future are being made. A Google search of the candidates or ballotopedia.org are great ways to find out where they stand on issues important to you, as is reading news coverage of the races in which you’ll be voting.

Pro tip: Make sure you’ve signed everywhere required, used the right color pen, and put the right envelope inside of the other (if returning voted ballot by postal mail). Each state, and sometimes even county, has different requirements. Human error is a top reason overseas absentee ballots get rejected, so it’s worth taking some extra time to read the instructions and do it right. If you have questions, we're here to help!

Step 3: Return your completed ballot

• It is now too late to use the US Embassy pouch service!
• Check return times for regular mail services before using.
• If possible, please use a private courier service. See country discounts below. 

After you’ve completed your ballot, return it right away. Some states allow overseas voters to return their voted ballots through secure electronic means — like an upload portal, email, or even fax (yes, fax!) — but many require it to be sent by postal mail. You can check your state’s rules and deadlines at www.votefromabroad.org.

If you have to return your ballot by postal mail, you’ll want to make sure you’ve put the correct postage and recipient address on the envelope (the latter will be included with your ballot instructions). If time’s running short, you can also use a courier such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx, many countries have arranged for a discount – see the list below. 

If you vote in one of the following states, we also have ballot return guides to help you get your ballot back: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Pro tip: Return your voted ballot within 48 hours of receiving it, especially if you have to return it by postal mail. Voting early will not only save you stress and money, it will give you enough time to confirm that your ballot made it and will be counted. Late arrival is another top reason absentee ballots are rejected. Don’t let it happen to you.

And just like that, you’ll have voted from abroad in the November midterm elections!  

Votes from abroad may have proved decisive in the 2020 election outcome — now, with your help, we’re ready to make an even bigger difference in 2022!

Here are some resources to help

Need one-on-one help? A live voter assistant is just a Zoom away! Click in to ZoomTheVote, hosted and staffed by experienced VoteFromAbroad voter helpers, from anywhere in the world. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon-4pm EDT, Saturdays from 4am-6am EDT, and Sundays from 11am-3pm EDT. Link to join is here: https://qrco.de/bbh0zg

Voting questions? Check out our FAQs or write to us at [email protected] 

What to know about voting in your state. Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for detailed information on your state's deadlines, how to send in your registration/ballot request/ballot return, contact information for local election officials, and links to state websites to confirm registration and see sample ballots. You can also find the link to track your ballot at www.votefromabroad.org/states.

In which states can the ballot only be returned by mail? You must return your voted ballot by postal mail if you vote in the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Please don't wait to return your ballot — international mail takes time! 

Haven’t received your ballot?

If you requested to receive your ballot by postal mail, you should have likely received it by now (they started being sent to voters on Sept 24).

If you requested to receive your ballot electronically, please double check your spam and junk folders.

If you still can’t find your ballot, please do the following immediately:

1. Submit a new ballot request form via www.votefromabroad.org. Please submit the request electronically, if possible, and on the form, mark that you would like to receive your ballot by email. Doing this will expedite the process.
2. AND, if you vote in a postal mail return state (see above), vote and return a Federal Absentee Write-in Ballot, also known as a FWAB or “Backup Ballot.” Details on the Backup Ballot can be found here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/faqs/BB1.

Please note that even if you vote and return a Backup Ballot, you should still vote and return your official ballot once you receive it. If both your official voted ballot and Backup Ballot reach your local election office in time, the official ballot will be counted and the Backup Ballot will be voided. If only the Backup Ballot arrives, that will be counted as your vote.

Need to use a courier service? Call or email your local election office in the United States to check out the best address to use, and then check out courier solutions. Some couriers have provided discounts for some countries for mail return to the U.S. 

Special deals for Courier services:

From Argentina to Vietnam, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at information specific to your country of residence including courier service discounts and more. 

Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Not Listed?  

Asia Pacific: Australia , China , Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Not Listed?

Europe, Middle East & Africa: Africa Committee, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland , Israel, Italy, Kenya , Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Not Listed?

Have a technical question? Take a look at these videos and PDF’s to find out how-to scan a ballot, fold a New York ballot, use VPN to access blocked U.S. websites, photograph your signature, send your ballot by post, get the fax transmission cover sheet, and fax your ballot using your phone with fax.plus, efax.com or other "email to fax solutions" option.

Do you vote in one of the following states? We also have ballot return guides to help you get your ballot back to: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Thank you for voting!

In This Issue —

Events:

• Progressive Happy Hour Calling Party!
• Voter Help Tables in Vienna
• Experienced Dems Meet-up
• Young Dems Pub Night 
• Election Night Party on November 8
• Thanksgiving: A Feast with all the Fixings on November 24
• Punsching for Democracy – TBA

Issues & Actions:

• Key Senate and Congressional Races 
• Help Make November a Roe Wave

Midterm Election News:

• Thanks to our great phone-bankers!
• Vote from Austria! – Voter Information Guide
• Information for Ballot Access & Return 
• DHL 20% Discount 

Review:

• DAATalks about the Georgia Midterm Elections

Democrats Abroad In the News: 

• DA in Teen Vogue and Other Publications

Members Corner

• Campaign Support from a Distance

Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held in person and online on: Wednesday, October 12, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join. 

DAA is making a strong effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!

Message from the Chair

It’s almost a rap! Less than 30 days to go until the midterm election - and we are doing everything we can to rally the overseas vote. We even produced the first-ever VoteFromAbroad.org Rap! If you have not seen it, you can find it here on Facebook and here on YouTube! A big thanks to our vice chair, Faith Herbold, for rapping with me, all those who sent in contributions for the chorus, and to my musical collaborator, Gregor Loetsch, an Austrian ally of ours, for composing the music and producing the video. Please watch it, share it, and spread the word. Request your ballot at VoteFromAbroad.org, and send it in ASAP!

A big shout out to all of our volunteers who are doing all they can in their free time and in between full-time jobs to get out the vote in these final weeks. A special thanks to all of our amazingly dedicated phonebankers in Austria, who are among the top callers in the DA world. You are truly making a difference!

Keep motivated and keep positive.

— Richard Miller, Chair, DA Austria 

ps –

Let us know if you've already voted! The more members who self-report, the less money and volunteer time we have to spend!

Events:

Progressive Happy Hour Calling Party!

When: Friday, October 14

Time: 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Where: Online. RSVP for details

Voter Registration Help Tables in Vienna

When: Saturday, October 15 and 22

Time: 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Where: Café Museum, Operngasse 7, Vienna 1010. RSVP for details

Experienced Dems Meet-up

When: Tuesday, October 18

Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: Café Museum, Operngasse 7, Vienna 1010. RSVP for details

Election Night Party on November 8

When: Election Day, Tuesday, November 8

Time: 8:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. (November 9)

Where: The Long Hall Bar Vienna. RSVP for details

What: Join DA Austria as we celebrate our efforts in getting out the vote and watch as the first results come in. 

Giving Thanks: A Feast with all the Fixings

When: November 24

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Where: Melker Stiftskeller, Schottengasse 3, Vienna 1010. RSVP for details

What: The restaurant will prepare turkey with all the fixings, including a famous aunt's stuffing recipe. Please bring a pie or other dessert to share. Let us know if you can contribute a family favorite!  

Drinks are not included and you pay those separately with the restaurant. 

The price is $30 for adults, $26 for vegetarians, and $12 for children 12 and under. Please purchase your tickets on the link after you've RSVP'd. Euro/US Dollar ticket price is the same. 

Click "Read More" below to find out everything that's happening in DA Austria in October

Living in Africa? Find out all you need to know about how to vote in the 2022 Midterm Elections at our Voter Help Guide. You can also find country specific Consulate information compiled by the DA Africa Committee here. 

Get involved and help to grow DA's Africa Committee. Get in touch with us. 

This is a midterm election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs in November. U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live! If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on November 8, 2022, you have the right to vote from abroad in US elections — including in the November 2022 midterms!

As a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote from abroad while living, working, or traveling overseas by submitting one form — the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote before you left the U.S., how long you’ve lived outside the U.S., or if you've never resided in the U.S. at all. You have the right to vote!

The U.S. State Department recommends, “all U.S. citizens living abroad complete and submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) annually, to ensure you remain on your state’s voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information.” Vote From Abroad provides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy!

📌  Please note that there is NO IN-PERSON VOTING for the November midterm elections! 📌

✭ ✭ ✭ In 2022, these States must mail in the ballot. Vote as soon as you get your ballot! Don't wait to return your ballot! ✭ ✭ ✭

 Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for specific  details

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

What's covered on this page: 

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot

2. Confirming your request has been accepted

3. Receiving your ballot

4. Oct 1 and the ballot hasn’t arrived? 

5. Voting your ballot

6. Returning your ballot

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival

9. What to do if you encounter difficulties

10. Getting your "I Voted from EMEA" Stickers 

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot for the 2022 midterm elections

The first step is to request your ballot, and if need be, register to vote from abroad. You should do this every election year to ensure you remain on your state’s overseas voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information. It’s important to register as an absentee voter from abroad because the ballots of US citizens voting from abroad have special protections and are different from the standard absentee ballot. 

Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) absentee ballot request — it takes 5-10 minutes! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Choose the option to receive ballots by email.

The second step is to submit the FPCA absentee ballot request form to your local election office in the United States. Most states allow you to submit your FPCA directly from votefromabroad.org without the need to print it out. But some states require that you submit your completed form by email attachment, fax, or postal mail. State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.

If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from Abroad FAQ section or type your question in the website's chatbox (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen). Or you can email us at [email protected] 

2. Confirming your request has been accepted  ✅

After submitting your FPCA absentee ballot request form, call or email your Local Election Official (LEO) to confirm they have received it and will be sending your ballot. Your LEO's contact information is listed in the instructions generated when you fill out your FPCA form at Vote from Abroad. You can also look up their contact info here. 

Most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status. To find your state's website, click here and scroll down to “Where Is My Ballot?"

3. Receiving your ballot 📬

Your overseas absentee ballot is not your standard absentee ballot back home! Thanks to the MOVE Act, all states must send FPCA-requested  absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election — this year that’s September 24, 2022. 

And, if requested, all states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.

You don't need to wait for ballots to arrive on September 24. If you're worried your ballot won't arrive on time, send in a Backup Ballot NOW. The Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭

Check your spam folder. Still no ballot? Contact your local election official here and confirm they’ve sent your ballot to you. Go to votefromabroad.org if you need to send in a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.

If you haven’t received your ballot by October 1 and your state requires postal mail return, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

5. Voting your ballot 🗳️

It’s easy to get informed about candidates, ballot initiatives, and judicial candidates and important to vote your ballot completely. State and local races are critical in 2022! 

The simplest way is to vote for Democrats straight down the ballot. Some elected positions do not list a party affiliation, like school boards, judges, and others. To determine who to vote for in those cases, you can do the following: 

• Google your county's local Democratic Party
• Go to the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service 
• Go to Ballotpedia - Example: google “Ballotpedia Arizona elections 2022”
• Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website

6. There are lots of ways to return your ballot! 

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

Ballot return methods – by email, online, postal mail, fax – vary by state. Always return your ballot as quickly as possible, but especially if your state only allows postal mail return. Find your state's exact ballot return methods here.

If your state allows email, online upload or fax  for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay! Here is more information on fax submission.

If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from Austria.

New Jersey Voters: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.

New York Voters: Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.

➡ International Postal Service:  

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from your country's postal service. Please remember mail service can be slow and send your ballot as soon as possible!

You should – and some states require you – to ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. 

➡ The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch: The U.S. Consulate requests that ballots sent by the diplomatic post be dropped off no later than four weeks before the ballot due date. You will need to place your ballots in a U.S. postage paid return envelopes (usually provided with your ballot) or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. You can download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov.

Please be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster. It can take up to four weeks for the mail to reach its final destination. Use a Back-up Ballot to make the diplomatic pouch deadline if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Find out more here.

Find the U.S. Consulate address near you on the on the usembassy.gov website  

➡ Courier Service:

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service.

Democrats Abroad is working to arrange with DHL a discount for ballots to be returned to the U.S. We'll share the specific details here as soon as they've been set. Stay tuned!

Even with expedited courier services though, ballots still take several days to get to the United States. Please send your ballot as soon as possible! Do not wait! You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.

Do you reside in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, or Turkey? Discounts are also available for Austria, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania and Spain. please check the country committee page for specific information democratsabroad.org/emea

DHL is offering a discount to send mail (including your ballot) from these countries to the US. The discount availability varies by country. Please check bit.ly/USA2022DHL for the offer dates and booking code. Please confirm with your local DHL provider whether or not packages can be sent from DHL Express Flagship Stores and Service Points or must be booked online.

DHL cannot send to a P.O. Box! Be sure to confirm a street address with your local election official if a P.O. Box is the return address on your ballot. 

Please do not use an online booking service if your state requires a postmark to be on the outside envelope AND your ballot might arrive close to or after Nov 8! Find out your state’s requirements here.

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes 👀

When filling out and packaging your ballot, don't forget to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot!

Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you – the voter – must be the one who places it “in the mail.” In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Unsure? Find out your state’s requirements here. 

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival at your local election office in the United States ✓✓

Once you've sent your ballot, follow up with your local election official to make sure that it arrived and will be counted. Please do not just assume that your ballot has made it! 

The easiest way to ensure your ballot has arrived is to go to "Track Your Ballot" on your state’s website. You can also look up your local election office's contact details here and contact them directly. They may be experiencing a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through to someone.

9. Having trouble? Need help? 😕

We understand that the voting process to some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email at  [email protected] 

10. Get your "I Voted from XX" sticker

Thank you for voting!  If you would like to print an “I Voted from XX” sticker with your country's name go here.

This is a midterm election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs in November. U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live! If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on November 8, 2022, you have the right to vote from abroad in US elections — including in the November 2022 midterms!

As a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote from abroad while living, working, or traveling overseas by submitting one form — the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote before you left the U.S., how long you’ve lived outside the U.S., or if you've never resided in the U.S. at all. You have the right to vote!

The U.S. State Department recommends, “all U.S. citizens living abroad complete and submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) annually, to ensure you remain on your state’s voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information.” Vote From Abroad provides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy!

📌  Please note that there is NO IN-PERSON VOTING for the November midterm elections! 📌

✭ ✭ ✭ In 2022, these States must mail in the ballot. Vote as soon as you get your ballot! Don't wait to return your ballot! ✭ ✭ ✭

 Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for specific  details

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

What's covered on this page: 

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot

2. Confirming your request has been accepted

3. Receiving your ballot

4. Oct 1 and the ballot hasn’t arrived? 

5. Voting your ballot

6. Returning your ballot

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival

9. What to do if you encounter difficulties

10. Getting your "I Voted from EMEA" Stickers 

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot for the 2022 midterm elections

The first step is to request your ballot, and if need be, register to vote from abroad. You should do this every election year to ensure you remain on your state’s overseas voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information. It’s important to register as an absentee voter from abroad because the ballots of US citizens voting from abroad have special protections and are different from the standard absentee ballot. 

Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) absentee ballot request — it takes 5-10 minutes! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Choose the option to receive ballots by email.

The second step is to submit the FPCA absentee ballot request form to your local election office in the United States. Most states allow you to submit your FPCA directly from votefromabroad.org without the need to print it out. But some states require that you submit your completed form by email attachment, fax, or postal mail. State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.

If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from Abroad FAQ section or type your question in the website's chatbox (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen). Or you can email us at [email protected] 

2. Confirming your request has been accepted  ✅

After submitting your FPCA absentee ballot request form, call or email your Local Election Official (LEO) to confirm they have received it and will be sending your ballot. Your LEO's contact information is listed in the instructions generated when you fill out your FPCA form at Vote from Abroad. You can also look up their contact info here. 

Most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status. To find your state's website, click here and scroll down to “Where Is My Ballot?"

3. Receiving your ballot 📬

Your overseas absentee ballot is not your standard absentee ballot back home! Thanks to the MOVE Act, all states must send FPCA-requested  absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election — this year that’s September 24, 2022. 

And, if requested, all states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.

You don't need to wait for ballots to arrive on September 24. If you're worried your ballot won't arrive on time, send in a Backup Ballot NOW. The Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭

Check your spam folder. Still no ballot? Contact your local election official here and confirm they’ve sent your ballot to you. Go to votefromabroad.org if you need to send in a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.

If you haven’t received your ballot by October 1 and your state requires postal mail return, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

5. Voting your ballot 🗳️

It’s easy to get informed about candidates, ballot initiatives, and judicial candidates and important to vote your ballot completely. State and local races are critical in 2022! 

The simplest way is to vote for Democrats straight down the ballot. Some elected positions do not list a party affiliation, like school boards, judges, and others. To determine who to vote for in those cases, you can do the following: 

• Google your county's local Democratic Party
• Go to the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service 
• Go to Ballotpedia - Example: google “Ballotpedia Arizona elections 2022”
• Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website

6. There are lots of ways to return your ballot! 

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

Ballot return methods – by email, online, postal mail, fax – vary by state. Always return your ballot as quickly as possible, but especially if your state only allows postal mail return. Find your state's exact ballot return methods here.

If your state allows email, online upload or fax  for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay! Here is more information on fax submission.

If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from Austria.

New Jersey Voters: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.

New York Voters: Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.

➡ International Postal Service:  

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from your country's postal service. Please remember mail service can be slow and send your ballot as soon as possible!

You should – and some states require you – to ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. 

➡ The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch: The U.S. Consulate requests that ballots sent by the diplomatic post be dropped off no later than four weeks before the ballot due date. You will need to place your ballots in a U.S. postage paid return envelopes (usually provided with your ballot) or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. You can download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov.

Please be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster. It can take up to four weeks for the mail to reach its final destination. Use a Back-up Ballot to make the diplomatic pouch deadline if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Find out more here.

In Africa? Find country specific Consulate information compiled by the DA Africa Committee here. 

Find the U.S. Consulate address near you on the on the usembassy.gov website  

➡ Courier Service:

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service.

Democrats Abroad is working to arrange with DHL a discount for ballots to be returned to the U.S. We'll share the specific details here as soon as they've been set. Stay tuned!

Even with expedited courier services though, ballots still take several days to get to the United States. Please send your ballot as soon as possible! Do not wait! You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.

Do you reside in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, or Turkey? Discounts are also available for Austria, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania and Spain. please check the country committee page for specific information democratsabroad.org/emea

DHL is offering a discount to send mail (including your ballot) from these countries to the US. The discount availability varies by country. Please check bit.ly/USA2022DHL for the offer dates and booking code. Please confirm with your local DHL provider whether or not packages can be sent from DHL Express Flagship Stores and Service Points or must be booked online.

DHL cannot send to a P.O. Box! Be sure to confirm a street address with your local election official if a P.O. Box is the return address on your ballot. 

Please do not use an online booking service if your state requires a postmark to be on the outside envelope AND your ballot might arrive close to or after Nov 8! Find out your state’s requirements here.

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes 👀

When filling out and packaging your ballot, don't forget to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot!

Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you – the voter – must be the one who places it “in the mail.” In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Unsure? Find out your state’s requirements here. 

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival at your local election office in the United States ✓✓

Once you've sent your ballot, follow up with your local election official to make sure that it arrived and will be counted. Please do not just assume that your ballot has made it! 

The easiest way to ensure your ballot has arrived is to go to "Track Your Ballot" on your state’s website. You can also look up your local election office's contact details here and contact them directly. They may be experiencing a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through to someone.

9. Having trouble? Need help? 😕

We understand that the voting process to some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email at  [email protected] 

10. Get your "I Voted from XX" sticker

Thank you for voting!  If you would like to print an “I Voted from XX” sticker with your country's name go here.

In September's Newsletter —

Message from the DA Austria Chair

Events:

• Postcard Writing Party
• Voter Registration Tables in Graz, Salzburg, and Vienna
• Register Together – Voter Registration Day of Action
• Experienced Dems Meet-up
• Lady Day Theater FunRaiser
• Young Dems Pub Night
• September 24 Ballot Day Rally “Delivering Democracy”
• Election Night – TBA
• DAATalks about the Midterm Message – TBA
• Thanksgiving Celebration on November 24

10 Actions to Take Now!

Issues & Actions:

• Progress to Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision
• Dems Deliver
• Help Make November a Roe Wave
• Alma Mater Writing Campaign

Midterm Election News:

• Upcoming Primary Dates
• Vote from Austria! – Voter Information Guide
• We Need Your Help!
• Be the Margin of Victory

Democrats Abroad In the News:

• Thanks for the Tweet Nancy!

Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held in person and online on: Wednesday, September 14, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join.

DAA is making a strong effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!

Message from the Chair

Dems Deliver! The recent passage of the landmark Inflation Reduction Act shows that (after long delays) we can make progress to curb inflation, lower prescription drug prices, and promote clean energy (see Ted France’s column below). We can only continue to make progress on these issues if we control Congress! We are nearly two months away from the midterm elections. We at Democrats Abroad Austria—and other Democrats Abroad country committees—are working hard to mobilize the overseas vote. Phonebankers are calling tens of thousands of DA members who vote in battleground states and social media campaigns have been launched. Meanwhile, postcards are being sent out to many of you in Austria as a final reminder: please go to votefromabroad.org and request your ballot and urge others in your circle to do the same. If you want to get involved in our final push to get out the vote, please contact me at [email protected].

-Richard

Chair, Democrats Abroad Austria

Events:

Postcard Writing Party!

When: Thursday, September 8

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

Where: Private home. RSVP for details

What: We will be sending postcards to members living in Austria, and we’re gathering for pizza and drinks to customize the cards. If you can spare a few hours, please join us. Go to our signup genius link to RSVP. We’ll be in touch with more details.

Link: RSVP for details

Voter Registration Table in Graz

When: Friday, September 9

Time: 4:00 -11:00 pm

Where: Herzl Weinstube, Prokopigasse 12, 8010 Graz

Link: RSVP here

Register Together in Salzburg – Voter Registration Day of Action

When: September 17

Time: 5:00 - 7:00pm

Where: TBD, Müllner Hauptstraße, 5020 Salzburg

Link: RSVP here

Register Together in Vienna – Voter Registration Day of Action

When: September 17

Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm

Where: Mark's Bagels, Führichgasse 1, 1010 Vienna

Link: RSVP here

Experienced Dems Meet-up

When: September 20

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Café Museum, Operngasse 1, 1010 Vienna

Link: RSVP here

Lady Day Theater FunRaiser

When: September 21 (new date!)

Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Where: Theater Drachengasse,Fleischmarkt 22, 1010 Vienna

Link: RSVP here

Young Dems Pub Night

When: September 22

Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Where: Trattoria Officina, Neumanngasse 4, 1040 Vienna

Lunk: RSVP here

Coming Up – details to be updated at democratsabroad.org/at_events

September 24 Ballot Day Rally “Delivering Democracy” — Join DA members and activists around the world for top-name speakers and candidates from critical swing states. Details to be announced! #DeliverDemocracy

Election Night – TBA

DAATalks about the Midterm Message – TBA

Thanksgiving Celebration on November 24

10 Actions to Take NOW to elect Dems on Nov 8th!

#1 - request your ballot at Vote From Abroad (VFA)

#2 - add VFA to your email signature

#3 - share VFA & voting info on social media

#4 - send an alma mater letter

#5 - phonebank with Dems Abroad

#6 - get trained to help voters (on Intercom)

#7 - join a State Team, as a voter or ally

#8 - adopt a campaign (see list) & push on social media

#9 - help 3 people get ballots & get them to help 3 more

#10 – donate to get out the overseas vote

Issues & Actions:

Progress to Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision

Democrats Abroad is encouraged by the advancement of the Social Security Fairness Act which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). WEP has unfairly and disproportionately impacted Americans abroad, particularly seniors who paid into Social Security and deserve to receive a fair amount in retirement. Some beneficiaries only learn of WEP after they have retired, and the reduced benefits substantially affect their financial standing in later years.

Read Democrats Abroad full statement on WEP repeal news here.

You can find out more information about what Democrats Abroad is doing and how you can help repeal WEP from these resources:

• Write and call your members of Congress to ask them to help repeal WEP: https://www.democratsabroad.org/contact_your_congressional_representative_about_the_repealing_of_wep
• Click here to sign up for the Seniors Caucus mailing list to stay in the loop on repealing WEP: https://www.democratsabroad.org/gsc
• Read the WEP FAQ: https://www.democratsabroad.org/wep_faq
• Volunteer for the Seniors Caucus to help us repeal WEP sooner: https://www.democratsabroad.org/gsc-volunteer

Dems Deliver!

The proverbial race most often goes to the swift. But sometimes, as Aesop reminds us, the race goes to the slow but steady. Thus, we Democrats and Americans abroad can finally heave a sigh of relief after months of slow and painstaking negotiations, which have resulted in the passage and accomplishment of major legislative goals. Persistence pays.

READ MORE

Help Make November a Roe Wave!

The Supreme Court’s erosion of abortion protections with the Dobbs ruling has caused a backlash and turned what looked like would be a red wave in November into a possible Roe wave.

Woman from Kansas to New York to Louisiana are registering to vote in record-breaking numbers* (NYT Tom Bonier, 9.3.2022). Mr Bonier writes, “As for many Americans, confronting the loss of abortion rights was different from anticipating it. …Women are engaged politically in a way that lacks any known precedent.”

Be a part of it! Make sure every woman you know—whether they’re in Austria or in the States, your daughter or your grandmother—casts their ballot in November’s election. Send them to votefromabroad.org or, if they’re in the U.S., to votesaveamerica.com.

Bonier continues, “Whether the coming elections will be viewed as a red wave, a Roe wave or something in between will be decided by the actions of millions of Americans — especially, it seems, American women.”

At Democrats Abroad we know our votes are critical in swinging elections — ladies, let’s show how it’s done.

Join the online webinar The Fall of Roe on September 13.

Photograph courtesy of Christine Benally Peranteau

Alma Mater Writing Campaign

Democrats Abroad invites YOU to participate in an alumni outreach campaign to help encourage democratic participation by students studying abroad during the Fall 2022 semester. Our goal is to have members reach out to their alma mater(s) and make sure they’re providing accurate and current information about registering to vote to students while they're abroad.

All details and templates can be found at https://www.democratsabroad.org/almamater.

Midterm Election News:

Upcoming Primary Dates

Massachusetts primary - September 6

Delaware | New Hampshire | Rhode Island primaries - September 13

Vote from Austria! – Voter Information Guide

Democrats Abroad has created a one stop spot for answering your voting questions. Please share this guide with friends and colleagues who may have questions.

Check it out here!

Key Senate and Congressional Races

There are nine races deemed “highly competitive” by the Cook Report and others. With a net gain of two Senators (= victory in six of these nine contests), Dems take real control of the Senate.

Share these candidates’ websites on social media! Far and wide! Several of them will be joining us on September 24, Ballot Day!

Find out more about about key races here: Battleground State Voting Information Pages and State Team Pages.

READ MORE

We Need Your Help!

Thanks to your help phonebanking, registering people to vote, and writing postcards in 2020, we not only elected Democratic majorities to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, but we took back the White House.

The next 70 days will have a lasting impact on our country. Do your part to get out the vote in 2022! Come help out at an upcoming voter registration table, study abroad event, or postcard writing party. Or call members to remind them to request their ballot.

If you can’t give us your time this election cycle, please consider making a donation instead at www.democratsabroad.org/donate. Every dime helps us reach more overseas voters. $20.22 will help keep Congress blue!

Be the Margin of Victory

In 2020, Democrats Abroad volunteers like you came together to defend American democracy. The truth is that if U.S. voters abroad hadn’t shown up in 2020, we would be looking at a very different political landscape in the United States: one guided solely by authoritarianism, hate, and one’s own personal benefit. But overseas votes were the margin of victory in many close elections and secured Biden and Harris’s wins in Arizona AND Georgia!

2022 is just as important. November’s midterm elections will determine the fate of countless issues that cannot wait, from our climate to reproductive rights to racial justice. And with more and more races being won by the slimmest of margins, the ballots coming in from U.S. voters abroad are certain to be decisive again this November.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election this November. That means every overseas voter has at least one important race to vote in! Get your absentee ballot today at www.votefromabroad.org.

The time to request your ballot is now! Don’t wait.

Democrats Abroad In the News:

Thanks for the Tweet Nancy!

Congrats to the Global Twitter team for getting Nancy Pelosi to shout us out! Continue to share!

Thank you for reading the September Newsletter! Please share with your networks. Don't forget as an overseas voter you need to request your ballot in every election year!

Go to VoteFromAbroad now!

The proverbial race most often goes to the swift. But sometimes, as Aesop reminds us, the race goes to the slow but steady. Thus, we Democrats and Americans abroad can finally heave a sigh of relief after months of slow and painstaking negotiations, which have resulted in the passage and accomplishment of major legislative goals. Persistence pays.

This is a midterm election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs in November. U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live! If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on November 8, 2022, you have the right to vote from abroad in US elections — including in the November 2022 midterms!

As a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote from abroad while living, working, or traveling overseas by submitting one form — the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote before you left the U.S., how long you’ve lived outside the U.S., or if you've never resided in the U.S. at all. You have the right to vote!

The U.S. State Department recommends, “all U.S. citizens living abroad complete and submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) annually, to ensure you remain on your state’s voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information.” Vote From Abroad provides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy!

📌  Please note that there is NO IN-PERSON VOTING for the November midterm elections! 📌

✭ ✭ ✭ In 2022, these States must mail in the ballot. Vote as soon as you get your ballot! Don't wait to return your ballot! ✭ ✭ ✭

 Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for specific  details

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

What's covered on this page: 

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot

2. Confirming your request has been accepted

3. Receiving your ballot

4. Oct 1 and the ballot hasn’t arrived? 

5. Voting your ballot

6. Returning your ballot

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival

9. What to do if you encounter difficulties

10. Getting your "I Voted from Abroad" Stickers 

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot for the 2022 midterm elections

The first step is to request your ballot, and if need be, register to vote from abroad. You should do this every election year to ensure you remain on your state’s overseas voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information. It’s important to register as an absentee voter from abroad because the ballots of US citizens voting from abroad have special protections and are different from the standard absentee ballot. 

Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) absentee ballot request — it takes 5-10 minutes! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Choose the option to receive ballots by email.

The second step is to submit the FPCA absentee ballot request form to your local election office in the United States. Most states allow you to submit your FPCA directly from votefromabroad.org without the need to print it out. But some states require that you submit your completed form by email attachment, fax, or postal mail. State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.

If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from Abroad FAQ section or type your question in the website's chatbox (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen). Or you can email us at [email protected] 

2. Confirming your request has been accepted  ✅

After submitting your FPCA absentee ballot request form, call or email your Local Election Official (LEO) to confirm they have received it and will be sending your ballot. Your LEO's contact information is listed in the instructions generated when you fill out your FPCA form at Vote from Abroad. You can also look up their contact info here. 

Most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status. To find your state's website, click here and scroll down to “Where Is My Ballot?"

3. Receiving your ballot 📬

Your overseas absentee ballot is not your standard absentee ballot back home! Thanks to the MOVE Act, all states must send FPCA-requested  absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election — this year that’s September 24, 2022. 

And, if requested, all states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.

You don't need to wait for ballots to arrive on September 24. If you're worried your ballot won't arrive on time, send in a Backup Ballot NOW. The Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭

Check your spam folder. Still no ballot? Contact your local election official here and confirm they’ve sent your ballot to you. Go to votefromabroad.org if you need to send in a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.

If you haven’t received your ballot by October 1 and your state requires postal mail return, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

5. Voting your ballot 🗳️

It’s easy to get informed about candidates, ballot initiatives, and judicial candidates and important to vote your ballot completely. State and local races are critical in 2022! 

The simplest way is to vote for Democrats straight down the ballot. Some elected positions do not list a party affiliation, like school boards, judges, and others. To determine who to vote for in those cases, you can do the following: 

• Google your county's local Democratic Party
• Go to the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service 
• Go to Ballotpedia - Example: google “Ballotpedia Arizona elections 2022”
• Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website

6. There are lots of ways to return your ballot! 

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

Ballot return methods – by email, online, postal mail, fax – vary by state. Always return your ballot as quickly as possible, but especially if your state only allows postal mail return. Find your state's exact ballot return methods here.

If your state allows email, online upload or fax  for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay! Here is more information on fax submission.

If your state requires postal mail return, see info below.

New Jersey Voters: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.

New York Voters: Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.

➡ International Postal Service:  

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from your country's postal service. Please remember mail service can be slow and send your ballot as soon as possible!

You should – and some states require you – to ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. 

➡ The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch: The U.S. Consulate requests that ballots sent by the diplomatic post be dropped off no later than four weeks before the ballot due date. You will need to place your ballots in a U.S. postage paid return envelopes (usually provided with your ballot) or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. You can download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov.

Please be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster. It can take up to four weeks for the mail to reach its final destination. Use a Back-up Ballot to make the diplomatic pouch deadline if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Find out more here.

Find the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you, plus specific drop off details, on your country's DA website: From the Americas Homepage, click at the top on Countries - Americas - Country Name in the drop down menu. "How to Vote from (YOUR COUNTRY)" will be directly on your country's landing page or click the button at the top to take you there.

If your country does not have an established DA Country Committee and is therefore not listed, email the Americas Non-Country Committee GOTV Coordinator for Embassy and Consulate info for your country at: [email protected].

Note that Belize, El Salvador, and Uruguay, while not official country committees, each have a facebook page where you can find your "How to Vote from XX"  information: Go to Democrats Abroad Belize, Democrats Abroad El Salvador, or Democrats Abroad Uruguay on Facebook.

➡ Courier Service:

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service.

Democrats Abroad is working to arrange with DHL a discount for ballots to be returned to the U.S. We'll share the specific details here as soon as they've been set. Stay tuned!

Even with expedited courier services though, ballots still take several days to get to the United States. Please send your ballot as soon as possible! Do not wait! You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.

For courier information for your country, go to your countries DA website (as above), or to your country's Facebook page (Belize, El Salvador, and Uruguay); or email the Americas Non-Country Committee GOTV Coordinator for courier information for your country at: [email protected].

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes 👀

When filling out and packaging your ballot, don't forget to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot!

Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you – the voter – must be the one who places it “in the mail.” In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Unsure? Find out your state’s requirements here. 

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival at your local election office in the United States ✓✓

Once you've sent your ballot, follow up with your local election official to make sure that it arrived and will be counted. Please do not just assume that your ballot has made it! 

The easiest way to ensure your ballot has arrived is to go to "Track Your Ballot" on your state’s website. You can also look up your local election office's contact details here and contact them directly. They may be experiencing a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through to someone.

9. Having trouble? Need help? 😕

We understand that the voting process to some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email at  [email protected] 

10. Get your "I Voted from XX" sticker

Thank you for voting!  If you would like to print an “I Voted from XX” sticker with your country's name go here.

This is a midterm election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs in November. U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live! If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on November 8, 2022, you have the right to vote from abroad in US elections — including in the November 2022 midterms!

As a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote from abroad while living, working, or traveling overseas by submitting one form — the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote before you left the U.S., how long you’ve lived outside the U.S., or if you've never resided in the U.S. at all. You have the right to vote!

The U.S. State Department recommends, “all U.S. citizens living abroad complete and submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) annually, to ensure you remain on your state’s voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information.” Vote From Abroad provides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy!

📌  Please note that there is NO IN-PERSON VOTING for the November midterm elections! 📌

✭ ✭ ✭ In 2022, these States must mail in the ballot. Vote as soon as you get your ballot! Don't wait to return your ballot! ✭ ✭ ✭

 Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for specific  details

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

What's covered on this page: 

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot

2. Confirming your request has been accepted

3. Receiving your ballot

4. Oct 1 and the ballot hasn’t arrived? 

5. Voting your ballot

6. Returning your ballot

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival

9. What to do if you encounter difficulties

10. Getting your "I Voted from EMEA" Stickers 

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot for the 2022 midterm elections

The first step is to request your ballot, and if need be, register to vote from abroad. You should do this every election year to ensure you remain on your state’s overseas voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information. It’s important to register as an absentee voter from abroad because the ballots of US citizens voting from abroad have special protections and are different from the standard absentee ballot. 

Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) absentee ballot request — it takes 5-10 minutes! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Choose the option to receive ballots by email.

The second step is to submit the FPCA absentee ballot request form to your local election office in the United States. Most states allow you to submit your FPCA directly from votefromabroad.org without the need to print it out. But some states require that you submit your completed form by email attachment, fax, or postal mail. State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.

If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from Abroad FAQ section or type your question in the website's chatbox (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen). Or you can email us at [email protected] 

2. Confirming your request has been accepted  ✅

After submitting your FPCA absentee ballot request form, call or email your Local Election Official (LEO) to confirm they have received it and will be sending your ballot. Your LEO's contact information is listed in the instructions generated when you fill out your FPCA form at Vote from Abroad. You can also look up their contact info here. 

Most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status. To find your state's website, click here and scroll down to “Where Is My Ballot?"

3. Receiving your ballot 📬

Your overseas absentee ballot is not your standard absentee ballot back home! Thanks to the MOVE Act, all states must send FPCA-requested  absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election — this year that’s September 24, 2022. 

And, if requested, all states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.

You don't need to wait for ballots to arrive on September 24. If you're worried your ballot won't arrive on time, send in a Backup Ballot NOW. The Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭

Check your spam folder. Still no ballot? Contact your local election official here and confirm they’ve sent your ballot to you. Go to votefromabroad.org if you need to send in a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.

If you haven’t received your ballot by October 1 and your state requires postal mail return, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

5. Voting your ballot 🗳️

It’s easy to get informed about candidates, ballot initiatives, and judicial candidates and important to vote your ballot completely. State and local races are critical in 2022! 

The simplest way is to vote for Democrats straight down the ballot. Some elected positions do not list a party affiliation, like school boards, judges, and others. To determine who to vote for in those cases, you can do the following: 

• Google your county's local Democratic Party
• Go to the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service 
• Go to Ballotpedia - Example: google “Ballotpedia Arizona elections 2022”
• Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website

6. There are lots of ways to return your ballot! 

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

Ballot return methods – by email, online, postal mail, fax – vary by state. Always return your ballot as quickly as possible, but especially if your state only allows postal mail return. Find your state's exact ballot return methods here.

If your state allows email, online upload or fax  for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay! Here is more information on fax submission.

If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from Austria.

New Jersey Voters: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.

New York Voters: Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.

➡ International Postal Service:  

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from your country's postal service. Please remember mail service can be slow and send your ballot as soon as possible!

You should – and some states require you – to ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. 

➡ The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch: The U.S. Consulate requests that ballots sent by the diplomatic post be dropped off no later than four weeks before the ballot due date. You will need to place your ballots in a U.S. postage paid return envelopes (usually provided with your ballot) or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. You can download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov.

Please be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster. It can take up to four weeks for the mail to reach its final destination. Use a Back-up Ballot to make the diplomatic pouch deadline if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Find out more here.

In Africa? Find country specific Consulate information compiled by the DA Africa Committee here. 

Find the U.S. Consulate address near you on the on the usembassy.gov website  

➡ Courier Service:

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service.

Democrats Abroad is working to arrange with DHL a discount for ballots to be returned to the U.S. We'll share the specific details here as soon as they've been set. Stay tuned!

Even with expedited courier services though, ballots still take several days to get to the United States. Please send your ballot as soon as possible! Do not wait! You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.

Do you reside in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, or Turkey? Discounts are also available for Austria, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania and Spain. please check the country committee page for specific information democratsabroad.org/emea

DHL is offering a discount to send mail (including your ballot) from these countries to the US. The discount availability varies by country. Please check bit.ly/USA2022DHL for the offer dates and booking code. Please confirm with your local DHL provider whether or not packages can be sent from DHL Express Flagship Stores and Service Points or must be booked online.

DHL cannot send to a P.O. Box! Be sure to confirm a street address with your local election official if a P.O. Box is the return address on your ballot. 

Please do not use an online booking service if your state requires a postmark to be on the outside envelope AND your ballot might arrive close to or after Nov 8! Find out your state’s requirements here.

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes 👀

When filling out and packaging your ballot, don't forget to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot!

Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you – the voter – must be the one who places it “in the mail.” In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Unsure? Find out your state’s requirements here. 

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival at your local election office in the United States ✓✓

Once you've sent your ballot, follow up with your local election official to make sure that it arrived and will be counted. Please do not just assume that your ballot has made it! 

The easiest way to ensure your ballot has arrived is to go to "Track Your Ballot" on your state’s website. You can also look up your local election office's contact details here and contact them directly. They may be experiencing a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through to someone.

9. Having trouble? Need help? 😕

We understand that the voting process to some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email at  [email protected] 

10. Get your "I Voted from XX" sticker

Thank you for voting!  If you would like to print an “I Voted from XX” sticker with your country's name go here.

This is a midterm election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs in November. U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live! If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on November 8, 2022, you have the right to vote from abroad in US elections — including in the November 2022 midterms!

As a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote from abroad while living, working, or traveling overseas by submitting one form — the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote before you left the U.S., how long you’ve lived outside the U.S., or if you've never resided in the U.S. at all. You have the right to vote!

The U.S. State Department recommends, “all U.S. citizens living abroad complete and submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) annually, to ensure you remain on your state’s voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information.” Vote From Abroad provides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy!

📌  Please note that there is NO IN-PERSON VOTING in Austria for the November election! 📌

✭ ✭ ✭ In 2022, these States must mail in the ballot. Vote as soon as you get your ballot! Don't wait to return your ballot! ✭ ✭ ✭

 Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Go to www.votefromabroad.org/states for specific  details

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

What's covered on this page: 

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot

2. Confirming your request has been accepted

3. Receiving your ballot

4. Oct 1 and the ballot hasn’t arrived? 

5. Voting your ballot

6. Returning your ballot

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival

9. What to do if you encounter difficulties

10. Getting your "I Voted from Austria" Stickers 

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot for the 2022 midterm elections

The first step is to request your ballot, and if need be, register to vote from abroad. You should do this every election year to ensure you remain on your state’s overseas voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information. It’s important to register as an absentee voter from abroad because the ballots of US citizens voting from abroad have special protections and are different from the standard absentee ballot. 

Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) absentee ballot request — it takes 5-10 minutes! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Choose the option to receive ballots by email.

The second step is to submit the FPCA absentee ballot request form to your local election office in the United States. Most states allow you to submit your FPCA directly from votefromabroad.org without the need to print it out. But some states require that you submit your completed form by email attachment, fax, or postal mail. State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.

If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from Abroad FAQ section or type your question in the website's chatbox (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen). Or you can email us at [email protected] 

2. Confirming your request has been accepted  ✅

After submitting your FPCA absentee ballot request form, call or email your Local Election Official (LEO) to confirm they have received it and will be sending your ballot. Your LEO's contact information is listed in the instructions generated when you fill out your FPCA form at Vote from Abroad. You can also look up their contact info here. 

Most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status. To find your state's website, click here and scroll down to “Where Is My Ballot?"

3. Receiving your ballot 📬

Your overseas absentee ballot is not your standard absentee ballot back home! Thanks to the MOVE Act, all states must send FPCA-requested  absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election — this year that’s September 24, 2022. 

And, if requested, all states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.

You don't need to wait for ballots to arrive on September 24. If you're worried your ballot won't arrive on time, send in a Backup Ballot NOW. The Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭

Check your spam folder. Still no ballot? Contact your local election official here and confirm they’ve sent your ballot to you. Go to votefromabroad.org if you need to send in a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.

If you haven’t received your ballot by October 1 and your state requires postal mail return, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.

5. Voting your ballot 🗳️

It’s easy to get informed about candidates, ballot initiatives, and judicial candidates and important to vote your ballot completely. State and local races are critical in 2022! 

The simplest way is to vote for Democrats straight down the ballot. Some elected positions do not list a party affiliation, like school boards, judges, and others. To determine who to vote for in those cases, you can do the following: 

• Google your county's local Democratic Party
• Go to the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service 
• Go to Ballotpedia - Example: google “Ballotpedia Arizona elections 2022”
• Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website

6. There are lots of ways to return your ballot! 

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

Ballot return methods – by email, online, postal mail, fax – vary by state. Always return your ballot as quickly as possible, but especially if your state only allows postal mail return. Find your state's exact ballot return methods here.

If your state allows email, online upload or fax  for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay! Here is more information on fax submission.

If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from Austria.

New Jersey Voters: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.

New York Voters: Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.

➡ International Postal Service:  

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from the Austrian Postal Service. Please remember mail service can be slow and send your ballot as soon as possible!

You should – and some states require you – to ask for a postmark or date stamp (Zeitstempel) to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. 

➡ The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch:

As of October 8, it is now too late to use the US Embassy pouch service! Use the DHL code USA20 for a 20% discount.

The U.S. Consulate in Austria requests that ballots sent by the diplomatic post be dropped off no later than four weeks before the ballot due date. You will need to place your ballots in a U.S. postage paid return envelopes (usually provided with your ballot) or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. You can download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov.

Please be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster. It can take up to four weeks for the mail to reach its final destination. Use a Back-up Ballot to make the diplomatic pouch deadline if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Find out more here.

The U.S. Consulate address in Austria is: 

U.S. Consulate Vienna
Parkring 12a (Marriott hotel building)
1010 Vienna, Austria
Hours: Weekdays between 8am and 4pm. (Closed U.S. and Austrian holidays)
Nearest metro stops: Weihburgasse (Tram 2), Stadtpark (U4), Stubentor (U3)

More information is on the website  

➡ Courier Service:

If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service.

DA Austria is working to arrange with DHL a discount for ballots to be returned to the U.S. We'll share the specific details here as soon as they've been set. Stay tuned!

Even with expedited courier services though, ballots still take several days to get to the United States. Please send your ballot as soon as possible! Do not wait! You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stamp (Zeitstempel) to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.

DHL is offering a discount to send mail (including your ballot) from Austria to the US. The discount is available from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30, 2022. Packages can be sent from DHL Express Flagship Stores and Service Points. 

DHL cannot send to a P.O. Box! Be sure to confirm a street address with your local election official if a P.O. Box is the return address on your ballot. 

Use USA20 for a 20% discount with DHL. More information and details are here:  https://www.simplydhl.com/at/usa2022

Please do not use an online booking service if your state requires a postmark to be on the outside envelope AND your ballot might arrive close to or after Nov 8! Find out your state’s requirements here.

📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌

7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes 👀

When filling out and packaging your ballot, don't forget to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot!

Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you – the voter – must be the one who places it “in the mail.” In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Unsure? Find out your state’s requirements here. 

8. Confirming your ballot's arrival at your local election office in the United States ✓✓

Once you've sent your ballot, follow up with your local election official to make sure that it arrived and will be counted. Please do not just assume that your ballot has made it! 

The easiest way to ensure your ballot has arrived is to go to "Track Your Ballot" on your state’s website. You can also look up your local election office's contact details here and contact them directly. They may be experiencing a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through to someone.

9. Having trouble? Need help? 😕

We understand that the voting process to some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email at  [email protected] or contact [email protected] 

Or, a one-on-one live voter help is just a Zoom away! Click in to ZoomTheVote, hosted and staffed by experienced VoteFromAbroad voter helpers, from anywhere in the world. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon-4pm EDT and Sundays from 11am-3pm EDT. Link to join is here: https://qrco.de/bbh0zg Please share widely!

10. Get your "I Voted from Austria" sticker

Thank you for voting!  If you would like to print an “I Voted from Austria” sticker go here.

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

In This Issue —

Events:

• Experienced Dems Meet-Up – Summer pause
• Global Pride Fundraiser in Amsterdam
• Lady Day Theater FunRaiser
• Oktoberfest in Munich

Issues & Actions:

• We Can & Must Fight Back
• DA Austria In the News
• Innsbruck Consular Services
• Follow us on TikTok

Midterm Election News:

• The Missing 83%
• State Teams
• Dialing for Democracy Results

Reviews:

• Pride Parade
• Fourth of July Party

Our Executive Committee meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Our next meeting will be held online on: Wednesday, July 13, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. Members are welcome to join us at the meetings. Please contact Richard at [email protected] to join.

DAA is making a strong effort to include in our monthly newsletter all the information you need to stay up to date. By sending you fewer emails, we hope you will read those you receive. Thanks for reading!

Message from the Chair

Leading up to our Independence Day Celebration in Vienna, I heard from a number of people who wanted to sit this July 4th out. They told me they thought there was nothing to celebrate about America. The Supreme Court decisions overturning Roe v Wade, the ruling limiting the EPA’s power to combat climate change, the seemingly weekly news of mass shootings - now even at a July 4th Parade - are tragedies that leave us little to celebrate.

However, it is my hope that we can channel our emotions - our sadness, anger, frustation - to take action. For Democrats Abroad, that means ensuring every one of our 200,000 plus members requests their ballot and votes in the mid-term elections. We have a ways to go. As of today, only 18% of our members have requested their ballot at our VFA website, and only 17% of our members in Austria.

What can you do? If you have not done so already, please request your ballot at VoteFromAbroad.org. Also, please volunteer with Democrats Abroad Austria, including perhaps joining our phone banking team. DA Global is launching important calling campaigns in August to call overseas Americans who vote in battleground states. Please consider joining us! It is both fun and rewarding work helping voters to request their ballot. The overseas vote was the margin of victory in key races in 2020 and 2021.

Let’s do it in 2022!

-Richard Miller, chair, Democrats Abroad Austria

Events:

Training Tuesdays

When: Ongoing

Time: See schedule

Where: Online

Hosted by DA Germany

State Teams Events and Planning Sessions

When: Ongoing

Time: See schedule

Where: Online

Hosted by: DA State Teams

Amsterdam Canal Pride

When: August 5–8

Time: Varies

Where: Amsterdam

RSVP to attend

Hosted by DA Global LGBTQ+ Caucus & DA Netherlands

Theater Fun-Raiser – Lady Day

When: September 20

Time: 8:00pm

Where: Drachengasse Theater

Minimum Donation: $38

RSVP to attend

Hosted by DA Austria

Oktoberfest Extravaganza

When: Oct 2, 2022

Time: 11:00 am

Where: Munich

RSVP to attend

Hosted by DA Global & DA Germany

Issues & Actions:

We Can & Must Fight Back

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is an abhorrent and unprecedented assault on our fundamental human rights. Today is a dark day, a hard day in American history.

Stripped of protections and freedoms the past 50 years had granted us, we now confront a new, grim reality where our health, marriages, and basic bodily autonomy are on the chopping block. Make no mistake: the radical Republican Party has no intention of stopping with Roe.

We can and we must fight back. We must show up to the polls this November — and make sure that every single American we know has a plan to vote, too.

In this moment of despair, let us not forget that the power still resides with us – and that the overwhelming majority of Americans support the freedoms Roe upheld. A net gain of only two more U.S. Senators will allow for abortion rights to be codified at the federal level. The America we want, need, and deserve is within reach, and Democrats Abroad is committed to making it a reality.

We still have each other — and our resolve to fight for our basic rights. Let’s do this.

– Candice Kerestan, DA International Chair

DA Austria In the News

Sophie Spiegelberger, DA Austria Communications Director, was invited to appear on Puls 24 on July 1 to discuss the US Supreme Court’s decision to curtail the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Interested in more news regarding the decision? Be sure to join the Global Progressive Caucus and the Global Environment and Climate Crisis Council to stay informed.

Puls 24 clip

Innsbruck Consular Services – July 18-19

Attention U.S. citizens in western Austria! A Consular Team from U.S. Embassy Vienna will be visiting Innsbruck, Monday July 18 - Tuesday, July 19, 2022. We are offering LIMITED appointments for applicants who must appear in-person for services such as Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), passport renewals for children under 16, and replacement of a lost or stolen passport (DS-11 applications), and emergency notary services. The turnaround time for passports and CRBAs is about 2 weeks.

If you are interested in Innsbruck services, please send a detailed email to [email protected] and include the names and Dates of Birth of all applicants and attendees, contact information, and what service(s) you require.

Due to the high demand and limited appointment slots, we will not be able to accept all requests. If your case is selected, we will send you a follow-up email with the exact time, date and location for your Innsbruck appointment.

Innsbruck applicants must arrive fully prepared with all required application forms, supporting documentation, photocopies and self-addressed stamped envelope. We are only able to accept payment in Euros (exact change only).

See the consulate’s website for detailed instructions on all consular services: https://at.usembassy.gov

– U.S. Embassy Vienna

Follow us on TikTok

Vote from Abroad is on TikTok and it’s pretty awesome. Have your kids show you how to use it if you don’t know 😉. DA-UKs summer interns from Syracuse have outdone themselves! Take a look at the VoteFromAbroad TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@votefromabroad.org and the Democrats Abroad TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@demsabroad/video/7105060440622845189

– Linda Adeson, DA United Kingdom

Midterm Election News:

The Missing 83%

Are you one of the 83% of DA Austria members who has not yet gone to VoterFromAbroad and requested your ballot for the 2022 midterms? What are you waiting for?

The GOP is and will do everything in their power to prevent our votes from being counted. Do not let that happen! Go to votefromabroad.org today and register/request your ballot. The FVAP form on the site provides special protections for overseas voters that a regular absentee ballot does not. Plus, the up-to-date Frequently Asked Questions section and voter assistance volunteers are there to answer your questions.

Be counted — and make sure your family, friends and colleagues are too!

State Teams

Do you vote in California, Ohio, North Carolina or Florida? The State Teams group is hosting Candidate meet & greets and organizing meetings in July. Go to the State Teams event page to find out more about these events and others from many States across the Union.

Dialing for Democracy Results

The D4D 48 hour around-the-world fundraiser Call-a-thon which took place over the weekend of June 25-26 was a great success!

Thanks to the time and amazing effort spent by DA volunteers during Dialing for Democracy, together 72 callers from 21 countries on four continents and in all three regions made 5771 calls!

And 24 donors raised more than $2400 to help Democrats Abroad to get out the overseas vote.

Working together on actions like D4D shows DA volunteers are a force to be reckoned with when we set our minds to it. The surge of calls over the weekend was 4-5 times our recent daily call averages and it is truly important to get to these battleground state voters now, as our callers know from hearing members eagerness to vote and their need to be reminded!

DA Austria led the way in the number of contributions given from any one country with nine unique donations raising $670 dollars — thank you donors for your generosity!

Four DA-AT callers (the sixth from 21 CCs participating ) made 323 calls, the fourth highest – only behind Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico – once again swinging above our weight! Thank you callers!

Please donate a little or a lot to congratulate DA Austria’s callers’ success and support the thousands of calls that we’ll be making in the fall! https://www.democratsabroad.org/d4d_donate

Are you interested in helping us call members in the fall? There are regular training sessions to learn to be a phonebanker or to help answer voter questions. Find out more here https://www.democratsabroad.org/live_training Trainings are updated regularly.

– Jen Rakow-Stepper, DA-AT Member-at-Large, RVC-EMEA

Review:

Pride Parade

Thanks to everyone who joined Democrats Abroad Austria as we again walked with pride in Vienna’s annual Regenbogenparade on June 26. While our group was small, we had lots of spirit and Faith’s soundtrack had the crowd around us dancing!

Fourth of July Party

Thanks to everyone who attended our Fourth of July event in the Prater! We had live music from the band “Rage Against the Voting Machines” and your chair and vice chair, Richard and Faith, performed the VoteFromAbroad.org Rap (stay tuned for the music video). Congratulations to our raffle winners. The event was a fundraiser for DA Global’s get-out-of-the-vote efforts, including funding upcoming calling campaigns. We raised a bit over 200 euros for the cause. If you care to contribute, here is the link.

Thank you for reading July’s newsletter and we’ll see you in September!

Our fearless Chair & Vice Chair at Vienna Pride