This is it - just two weeks left until Election Day! Last Call to VOTE! 

To our many New Members, a very warm welcome! We'll look forward to getting to know you over the coming months. We're in the final stages of getting out the vote in South Africa and elsewhere abroad but you'll find suggested actions here so you can also help mobilise others. I know many of you have used Vote From Abroad and hopefully already returned your ballots, but there's voting info and access to voter help below too. Welcome! 

If you missed our October Newsletter, find it HERE 

Find our How To Vote From South Africa 2026 info HERE 

I know many of you don't feel like voting. All the more reason to do so!

I know its a hassle in many states, but we can't let that stop us.

Here's the Facebook recording of Saturday's Democrats Abroad Global Rise Up & Win Rally in solidarity with No Kings. If you need a boost, these candidates will provide it! They'll make you feel proud and hopeful again. Let's help them win. CLICK HERE - its 4 hrs long but you can scan through to catch some of them. Some of the lesser known candidates are really inspiring. 

We were online for this No Kings but you can find a reel with some photos from our protest related activities in Joburg and Cape Town over the past year or so HERE on Instagram  

Please Take Action - You'll find a series of Quick Easy Actions below. Take a few min to act today to change tomorrow.

Would you like to host an election watch party in your corner of the country or suggest a venue for a meetup when we get news? Let us know [email protected] 

This is an election we'll look back on for years to come. Our children and grandchildren will ask us what we did during this time in our country's history, and they'll ask us if we voted. Encourage your younger family members to vote for this same reason, they'll want to look back and know they did. 

Just a few more days, let's give it all we got!  

Liz O'Leary - DASA Chair 
[email protected] 

Have you voted? Don't wait 'til it's too late. Vote Now

The main cause of overseas ballots not being counted is because they arrived late. Don't be that person. 

If you've already voted, great!

• Track your ballot to ensure it arrives and is accepted 
  Your Local Election Official may have sent you a link or use the contact info available via https://www.votefromabroad.org/states 
  
  
• Reach out to others and ask them if they've voted or need any help. 

If you've requested your ballot, but haven't received it yet, check your spam and promotions folders first, then contact your local election official right away. Their contact details should be on the info you received when you requested it through Vote from Abroad or you can find it at https://www.votefromabroad.org/states

If you're just getting started...Do it now. Wait and it will be too late!

• Request your ballot and check your state-specific details at www.votefromabroad.org. Please take a few minutes to read through the info on your state page first. It will save you time and anguish later. 
  
  
• Return it as soon as you receive it. About half the states still make us send our ballots back by snail mail. Snails swim slowly, as do the Consulate Diplomatic Pouches, so it is now too late to use the Consulate.  Your only option now is to use a courier and even that you should do ASAP!   

Even if your state allows you to return your ballot electronically, do it now. Sh*t happens and the Local Election Officials are already extremely busy. 

VOTER ASSISTANCE 

THANK YOU

Democrats Abroad is a volunteer-led organisation, with the only paid employee being the Global Executive Director. Absolutely everything else is run by volunteers all around the world. It's inspiring, interesting and fun to work with so many people working toward the country we know it should be! 

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU to the many Democrats Abroad South Africa Volunteers who make things happen here. It's been a hectic couple of years and your ongoing support is greatly appreciated! 

TAKE ACTION

Candidates, their teams, organisers and volunteers across the US are knocking on doors, phonebanking and sending postcards. Much of our outreach abroad is digital and you can make a difference putting in just 15 minutes each day. Here are a few suggestions on how you can Take Action these last few days of the election. 

TAKE ACTION - TAKING CONTROL OF CONGRESS 

We CAN Take Control of Congress if we mobilise voters. Are you willing to put 15 min or an hour in today to help make it happen? Over the past week we've been sharing actions daily in our WhatsApp group and on social media. That information is shared below and in the linked Google Doc. We hope more of you will join the effort! 

Check out the visuals in this NY Times overview of competitive Senate races based on data from the Cook Political Report. Envision a Blue Congress and help get us through the finish line!

Senate Polling Averages – look how close races are! As are many races for the House, State and Local election too! https://www.ms.now/polling 

TAKE ACTION: REACH OUT TO THE US CITIZENS IN YOUR NETWORK, FAMILY & FRIENDS

Direct messaging works! Reach out to a few each night this week - Ask if they’ve voted, share why it’s important you, ask if they need help, and remind them that time is running out!

• If they’re in SA or elsewhere abroad encourage them to go to votefromabroad.org right away to 1) Check their state-specific details 2) Request their ballot 3) Access help and 4) Track their ballot
  
  
• If they're in the States, encourage them to VOTE EARLY (NOW) 

TAKE ACTION: FOLLOW, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE OUR POSTS on Facebook and Instagram to help reach more voters!

https://www.facebook.com/DemocratsAbroadSouthAfrica/

https://www.instagram.com/democratsabroadsouthafrica/

Here’s an easy share with updated voting info
https://www.instagram.com/p/DegntOlqrom/

TAKE ACTION: USE YOUR WHATSAPP STATUS TO FIND VOTERS

We all have at least one other US Citizen in SA hidden in our contacts, some of us have many. And the South Africans in your contacts also likely know another US Citizen! Posting a voting graphic, message or video can help us reach more voters! Make your own or use from our Instagram and Facebook accounts.  

TAKE ACTION: DONATE TO CANDIDATES

Small grassroots contributions make a difference! Especially for those not taking Corporate PAC money. $10 is about R150 today, can you skip a lunch or dinner out this week and donate to a Senatorial candidate?

As of last week, Americans outside of the US can now donate again through ActBlue. They have put additional steps in place in response to unfounded Republican accusations which have prevented donations from overseas since 2025. We will now use an Act Blue Express Account, using our overseas address. We will need to provide a passport and a selfie through their secure systems. If you’re not from one of the battleground states, donating can be a great way to support their races.  

EVENTS

Democrats Abroad Global has put together a number of great events at short notice recently. As you can imagine the candidates' campaigns are in full swing, with many of them traveling nonstop around their states and doing endless speaking engagements so it's no small feat to make the timing work and pull them together! Hopefully you saw the event emails sent by Global and have been able to attend some. 

TODAY Tuesday 20 October, 7pm SA Time  

South Rising Candidate Series: North Carolina with NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, Kimberly Hardy (NC - 7), Major Richard Ojeda (NC 9) and LeVon Barnes (State HD-64). 

More Info & RSVP here  https://www.democratsabroad.org/south_rising_candidate_series_north_carolina

TEN TUESDAYS - Launched in Sept - Now Just TWO Tuesdays until Election Day!

We have built on our Take Action Tuesdays and are now collaborating with countries across Africa and the Gulf on Ten Tuesdays to Get Out the Vote. 

These are weekly, 30 minute Take Action sessions aimed at leveraging our networks to find and mobilise voters in our regions. 7:30-8pm South African time on zoom. 

While they still send handwritten postcards by snail mail, knock on doors and put up lawn signs in the States, much of our outreach is digital and we can quickly leverage our personal contacts and networks to reach others...if we take a few minutes to do it!  We’ll do a quick intro to the day’s action, share related resources and then spend the bulk of the time getting it done.

More Info + RSVP for upcoming Tuesdays HERE 

LIVE HELP IS AVAILABLE - As noted above, there are several Help Desk sessions October, but please seek help NOW. We can't take any chances this year! 

Visit the Vote From Abroad Voter Support Page HERE 

Monday 26 October, 7:30-9pm SA Time

Under Fire: The fight for LGBTQ+ Rights in America

The panel, with representatives from Equality Texas, Equality Project Tennessee, and SAVE in Florida, will discuss current challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities, highlight advocacy and organizing strategies, consider where LGBTQ+ issues feature in the upcoming midterm elections, and explore what these developments may mean for the future of equality and democracy in the United States.

More Info & RSVP at https://www.democratsabroad.org/freyaproudman/lgbtq_panel_underfire

It's PRIDE MONTH in South Africa. Celebrate, advocate, vote! 

Joburg Pride is coming up on the 31st October https://prideofafrica.org 

And the Market Theatre is celebrating Pride with a number of events https://markettheatre.co.za/ 

Follow us and share our posts on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you - 

Democrats Abroad South Africa 
[email protected]