The 2023 Democrats Abroad Czech Republic Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will include elections to the Executive Committee, will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at UNYP, Londýnská 41, Prague 2. 
During the AGM we are discussing changes to the DACZ Bylaws, and holding our elections. To review the suggested bylaws changes prior to the meeting, please visit this link. 

All positions are up for election at this meeting and are listed below: 

Chair 
Vice Chair 
Secretary 
Treasurer 
Counsel 
At-large 1 
At-large 2 
At-large 3
DPCA Voting Rep
DPCA Non-Voting Rep  

Elizabeth Perry has been appointed as chair of the DACZ Elections Committee (EC) for our 2023 elections.

Nominations for an office shall be made in writing and sent to the EC. A member may nominate themselves. The EC may also make nominations directly. Nominations should be sent to the EC by notifying the Committee via email at [email protected] by no later than April 4, 2023.  

A statement supporting the nomination may also be included. It should be no longer than one page. The EC will issue the nominating report no later than April 8, 2023. The nominating report will include nominations, nominee statements (if any), and full proxy voting guidelines.

A tentative agenda for the AGM is listed here:

1. Call to order
2. Approval of minutes from last meeting
3. Report of the Chair
4. Report of the Treasurer
5. Bylaws discussion
6. Executive Committee Elections
7. 2023 Planning
8. Adjournment

Please write the Elections Committee if you have any questions about the positions, the volunteer time and work required. 

Welcome to Democrats Abroad Ukraine!

DAUA is the official country committee for US Democrats living in Ukraine. Watch this space for upcoming announcements of meetings and events - we have events planned throughout the year, and encourage anyone interested in participating to get in touch.

If you have questions or would like to help with Democrats Abroad in Ukraine please contact us.

Reno Domenico, Chair
Democrats Abroad - Ukraine

Contact: [email protected]

You've gotten your ballot, and now it's time to send it back to the US. But how? We've put together a short explainer below!

Fax plus postal mail states (Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma) 
Fax machines are not prolific in the Czech Republic. Instead we recommend email to fax! There are many commercial services available, such as fax.plus or efax.com. You can also google "email to fax solutions" for more options.

Postal mail only states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey**, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.) 

Czech Post
If you need to send your ballot back to the US by Czech Post and wish to send it by international priority, you may use a Z stamp or 45 CZK stamp for mail weighing up to 50g.

Courier (FedEx, DHL, etc). 
Call your local election office in the United States to check out the best address, and then check out courier solutions. The cheapest we've found so far is DHL's Service Point - they are currently offering a 20% discount with a special code (check their page for more details). There are many other courier solutions available as well, this is not a recommendation or advertisement. 

U.S. Embassy diplomatic pouch
Mailing your ballot through the embassy is free IF you use an elections material U.S. postage paid return envelope (the envelope template is usually provided with your ballot, and is also available at FVAP.gov). You may also mail your ballot in an envelope with sufficient U.S. postage. 

Please note that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster. The embassy generally estimates that it can take a month or more for mail to arrive at its destination in the U.S.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Prague at Tržiště 365/15, 118 00 in Malá Strana. 

Ballots can be dropped off at the American Citizens Services unit any business day from 8:30 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m. The embassy asks that you bring some form of ID, preferably your U.S. passport. Ballots should be sealed but will be x-rayed. 

Email/online states (Alabama*, Arizona***, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska***, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Washington State, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wyoming

Follow the instructions on your ballot material and ask us if you have questions! Also, don't be tempted to delay, since the pandemic, regular absentee voting has grown enormously in the States, which means the sooner voters from abroad send ours in (even by email!) the better.

*Alabama voters must demonstrate that they are voting from abroad in order to be allowed to submit their ballot electronically. See Alabama's guidelines. 

** If you email your ballot to New Jersey, you must also immediately postal mail it back in. 

***Arizona, and Nebraska voters should ask their local election offices about voting online.  

Need more help? Send us an email at [email protected] or [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.

Democrats Abroad Czech Republic members were delighted to meet up to celebrate the first Prague Pride Parade held since 2019. Members joined together to walk with the nearly 60,000 people who came out to celebrate, show off our pride colors and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. We were all so glad to be back!! 

The job of Congress is to represent the people of the United States, passing legislation that supports your constituents. 52% of your constituents are women. They are not insurance companies looking to raise their profits on the backs of women, they are not corporations, knowing full well that they can offer women lower salaries because the market will bear it - your constituents are people who are supporting their families through their income. They deserve to be represented fairly. Support the ERA, and support your constituents. Support the ERA, and support families. Help ensure that finally, America becomes the land of equality for all, not just a few. I live in the Czech Republic and vote in North Carolina.

How can it be that in 2021 that US women do not have rights guaranteed in the US Constitution? And how can it be that over 88% of all countries do but the US does not? That alone is my reason to support the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA passed in the US House and US Senate in 1972, the year I graduated from college. I remember then, as I started my career, being surprised to learn how difficult it was for a woman to get a credit card. So many things have improved during my life for women but so many more improvements are needed. I see the ERA as one way to improve equality for women in laws, rules, and hopefully also in behavior. After retiring in 2016, I thought about the next phase of my life. I have several interest areas, but I concluded that for me, devoting my time to help women win equal rights in the US Constitution was where I wanted to focus my energy. I had spent the last 10 years of my career in the humanitarian aid sector. Hunger relief was a key part of that. Having spent lots of time in Africa, I realized there was a strong connection with women’s rights and food on the table. So rather than focusing just on hunger relief, I decided that women’s rights and issues were a higher priority. And the place where I could make an impact would be in the USA. I see the ERA as an opportunity for the US to demonstrate it cares about women. That act could encourage women in other countries to push harder for more gender equity in their country. The ERA is not a silver bullet to solve all gender equity issues however the ERA lays a foundation for equity in laws and rules that hopefully spills over into people’s behaviors and beliefs. I strongly believe that women must have equal rights spelled out in the US Constitution and the ERA is the way to do just that.   Shari Temple, Residing in Germany, Voting in Texas

Democrats Abroad wishes you a New Year where hope prevails and the bright lights of democracy, science, and truth shine strong. We celebrate the work we have done together this past year - efforts that led to more voters than ever casting their ballots and overcoming a concerted attack on the very foundations of our republic. We also mourn the many loved ones we have lost. We know the year to come will continue to offer challenges, but look forward to meeting them with you. 

HOW TO VOTE IN THE GEORGIA US SENATE RUNOFF ELECTION - JANUARY 5, 2021

Elections were held for both of Georgia’s US Senate seats on the November 3, 2020. Both of these races are going to Runoff elections, to be held on January 5, 2021, as no candidate received at least 50% of the vote.

The two races are:

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

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

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DEADLINES

Dec 7, 2020 – Register to vote, if needed at votefromabroad.org. [By Email, Fax, or Mail]

Jan 5, 2020 – Request a Ballot, if needed at votefromabroad.org. [By Email, Fax, or Mail]

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Jan 5, 2020 – Voted Ballot Postmark Deadline [By Mail only] - and -

Jan 8, 2020 – Deadline for Voted Ballot to be Received in GA (and any signature fix documentation to be received)

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REGISTRATION AND BALLOT REQUEST 

If you haven't received your ballot yet, check your Absentee Ballot Status on: www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do (After you submit your information, go to “Click here for Absentee Ballot status” in lower left box)

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BALLOT

Ballots for the January 5, 2021 Runoff election are now available (check your spam folder for the notice). You can also go to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do to see if your ballot is available.

If you haven't received a ballot yet, we strongly recommend overseas voters fill out and mail in a Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, or FWAB).

More information on how to find your ballot and/or fill out a FWAB is available here.

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BALLOT RETURN

The instructions will indicate how to prepare your ballot for mailing and will provide the mailing address for your election office in Georgia.

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RETURNING BALLOT BY COURIER (INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE)

Given the time deadlines and the fact that the Christmas season will further exacerbate the mailing disruptions caused by COVID, we recommend that you use a courier service to return your ballot if possible. And we strongly recommend voters use a courier service for any ballots mailed back in December.

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VERIFY YOUR BALLOT WAS ACCEPTED--AND FIX IF NEEDED

After you mail in your ballot, be sure to verify it was accepted. If your ballot is rejected for signature issues, GA will let you fix it but the deadline to do so is Jan 8, 2021.

If you have questions, please ask our Voter Help Desk (the orange circle on the bottom right of the screen) or email us at [email protected].

Or drop by for live one-to-one voter assistance via Zoom. For more information for dates and times, please click the link: Global Voter Assistance (Live via Zoom).

For more information about voting in the GA Runoff Elections, go to: www.votefromabroad.org/georgia

To protect our votes, Americans abroad need to draw attention to the importance of counting each and every one of them. 

We are asking all members to organize social distanced photo events around the world. Tell your voting story, and help raise awareness of who Americans abroad are as voters. Share your images on your social channels, and share your pics with us at [email protected] Details below:  

Safety: Please be COVID cautious and follow all local regulations. If you are participating with others, please practice appropriate social distancing.

Organize a stand alone demonstration 

1. Identify an iconic location near you, or a background that is clearly abroad 
2. Print or make a sign (here are samples) and organize a selfie or portrait of yourself (or a group, location permitting) with the sign and the iconic location behind you.
3. Go live on FB or Instagram and tell the story of why voting from abroad and ensuring your ballot counts is important to you
4. Make sure you share your pictures and videos across your social channels - tag @demsabroad and add hashtags: #CountOurVotes #DAResists 
5. Email your selfie pic to [email protected] and join our online demonstration

Sample Script 

• My name is ____ and I live in ____ and vote in ____ . 
• This year (talk about your voting experience, any challenges that you had, how you tracked your ballot). 
• I followed the rules, I sent my ballot on time. 
• I demand that my vote is counted and my voice is heard. 
• Trump cannot call the election. 
• We have a legacy of free and fair elections in this nation, and this election should be no different.
• Count Our Votes! 

Tips for Pics and Video

• Avoid standing with your back to the sun
• Look directly at the camera
• Hold the #CountOurVotes poster or place it on a ledge/wall/table so it’s visible in the image 
• For videos, set up your camera in front of you and film (a selfie video is ok too)

I’m running for DNC Representative because I care about the lives of Americans living abroad and their families. I will serve Democrats Abroad as an advocate for our platform and make our needs known at all levels of the DNC. I have been working for legislative change as an advocate and activist for almost two decades. I will bring stories of our lived experiences abroad to critical issues, such as universal access to affordable healthcare, tax reform, immigration and the climate crisis. As an LGBT woman, I bring diverse representation to the DA DNC team. Having a strong and diverse team expands DA’s reach and enables us to work hand in hand with the constituencies, caucuses, and councils that comprise the DNC. https://www.MarthaDNC2024.com

🔥 Hi everyone!🔥 I believe the Asia Pacific Delegate title is truly meant to represent a unique position to the convention. Democrats Abroad in AP, and as a whole, have direct experience in the effects of climate change, mass surveillance, and authoritarianism. If you select me as your youth candidate to go to the convention, I am going to bring those experiences directly to the forefront. I'm going to get in touch with the Sunrise Movement, and exchange strategy, tools, and ideas for organizing the next Climate Strike. I'm going to work hard, as this may be an online convention, to advocate for encryption so we have more adept and secure protests. But most importantly, I plan on using every procedural power in the book to keep the DNC accountable and protect the Unity Reform Commission. If you agree with those priorities, please consider me for this position!

In Korea, I teach on-campus undergraduate, MA, and PhD students in Korean history, and I have voted in the past as a resident of New Hampshire and as a resident of New York. In order for us to transform the discourse of our nation, we have to present Senator Sanders’s policies as ideas that transcend the divisiveness of our politics today. With humility and with thankfulness for the opportunity to run for a delegate position, I feel that I must help to participate in restoring America’s stewardship of our cares, dreams, and hopes. Not everyone in this world has entered the world with a family full of connections to the echelons of power, and we have the duty of empowering the neglected in our midst. Through our efforts in bringing about a revolution in human rights for all, we can finally allow the downtrodden to step out from the shadows.

I'm a progressive cis-gender straight male Caucasian living in Chile, my birth country, since 2002. Educated in US public schools all my life, I support Bernie's Free Public Higher Education proposal. Since my youth, I've been involved in social movements and political organizing for a more just, inclusive and non-imperialist US- Picketting for United Farmworker Union boycotts in the 70s, organizing teach-ins and campaigns to end illegal US covert wars in Central America in the 80s and working in education/child welfare advocacy in the 90s (in Minnesota). I've been working in international student exchange for the last 18 years, principally with US study abroad students. In addition to supporting Sander's campaign pledges, I'll advocate for a sharp reduction in military spending (but support fully funding veterans programs) in order to confront health and climate crisises and a non-interventionist, multi-lateral foreign policy that promotes human rights.

Dear Friends: Throughout 2020, I worked for Bernie, but also for Democrats Abroad. Our campaign understood working with DA -- no other campaign had official polling place representatives -- and our outreach helped deliver the largest turn-out ever for the Global Presidential Primary (GPP). I represent the Bernie Campaign: Since 2016, I've worked to win the GPP for Bernie. And we have done it twice. I am one of the founders of Bernie Abroad, and an official Bernie 2020 Campaign Co-Chair. I represent Democrats Abroad: I am the former Vice-Chair of Democrats Abroad United Kingdom. As a long-term resident outside the USA, I understand our problems, our needs, and how we help Democrats win. Like many, I wish that they paid more attention to those of us abroad, and worked to make sure our issues were directly addressed by the Bernie 2020 Campaign. I ask you for your vote. travis

The DNC doesn’t accord DA the respect and support we deserve as representatives of 9 million Americans abroad. With the leadership of the Black Caucus, I stood as our only DNC Member opposing depriving us a first-round vote at the Convention. I knew that would make me unpopular with some. And I alone took the DNC on for discriminating against us with only half-a-vote, when every Member from every other delegation is treated as a full person. (Letting us have only half-a-voice means Americans overseas don’t matter as much to the Party. They’re wrong. We’ve been and can continue to be the margin of victory.) I did this despite our Chair’s disapproval because I’m tired of DA sitting at the back of the bus. If you want a principled fighter to continue to battle for Democrats Abroad, I hope you will send me back.

A dual U.S. and French citizen, mother of two others who also vote, I grew up as Gen X in Massachusetts. After a Wellesley B.A., I earned a joint Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and (today’s) Sorbonne Université and became a tenured biomedical scientist, team leader and civil servant in France. This has brought me unique perspective on international policies concerning STEM, reproductive/health, cultural and many other issues pertaining to U.S. domestic and foreign policy. A rare disease advocate for >20 years (Alone we are rare. Together we are strong), organizer of the Marseille March for Science in 2017, I feel my responsibility now is to aid Joe Biden’s election as next POTUS. He will use the many forms of expertise that come from experience. I want our party to implement testable, effective ideas from the diversely talented people who make us proud to be Democrats, together. Twitter: @Etche_homo Email: [email protected]

Originally form New Orleans, I presently live in Warsaw, Poland. My background is in Public Policy (BA, Duke University) and Theatre (MFA, Catholic University). This candidacy is my first ever in any sort of political action. The present administration propelled me into this action, as I could not sit by and watch my birth country dissolve into a hateful and divided nation. I believe Biden is the candidate that can fix both the domestic and international damage done by the present president. Living in Poland, I am acutely aware of how much respect the US has lost abroad. I believe we need a leader with Biden's domestic and international experience because once elected, there is no time to "learn" nor wait. Action must be taken immediately regarding climate change, universal health care, Russia and China, to name a few.

Additionally, Biden should address the corruption and criminal activity of the present administration and bring them to justice.

Vergil Smith