It's March and the Primaries are here!
We encourage you to request your 2024 overseas ballots now via www.votefromabroad.org/gpp. You can submit your FPCA (ballot request form) to your local election officials via that Vote from Abroad link.
That link will also enable you to request your ballot for the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary (GPP). We encourage you to select your nominee for President in the GPP and then vote every other office on your state ballot.
NOTE: Leave President blank on the state ballot if you vote in the Democrats Abroad GPP so you're not voting twice.
Voting in the GPP helps to demonstrate how many of us live abroad and is a good avenue for us, US Citizens overseas, to get recognition /representation in the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and raise our profile at national level. With the GPP we are treated like a state party and send delegates to the Democratic Convention in August. Representation Matters!
As many of you know, Democrats Abroad has a longstanding policy of not engaging in US foreign policy or in the affairs of the countries we all live in. This is why we can't discuss the wars or related matters here, as hard as that is. I hope its safe to say that we care deeply about every life, throughout this world that we share. We must value our common humanity, support and protect each other, and advocate for positive change.
As we head into Primaries and Elections, whether it relates to foreign policy, domestic legislation, voting rights, tax issues for Americans living abroad etc, we should take full advantage of our freedom of speech to write to the White House and our leaders in Congress to share what's on our minds. They want our votes. Let's tell them what we want! Contact links are shared below in this newsletter.
As Rebecca Lammers pointed out in the recent Tax Advocacy webinar, if we don't raise awareness of Americans living abroad and raise our voices as active US Citizens, we are back of mind for the White House and Congress...or for many, they may not even know we exist! Whatever the topic, let's raise our voices and engage.
REQUEST YOUR 2024 BALLOTS NOW
Many of our members have already requested their 2024 overseas absentee ballots. Have you? Head to www.votefromabroad.org today or schedule it in your diary for the coming week.
Request your ballots now so we’re ready for primaries and all 2024 elections! Each state is different so please check your state’s processes and timeframes too.
There is plenty of info available on www.votefromabroad.org but if you need any help, email [email protected]
NOTE Until 12 March - When completing your info on VFA please also select to vote in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary (GPP). You will still vote in your state primaries for all other offices, just don't vote in the state Presidential Primary if you vote in the Democrats Abroad GPP.
Please make sure your friends and family are registered and request their ballots now too!
CLICK HERE for detailed info on VOTING FROM SOUTH AFRICA in 2024, including Consulate drop-off times and addresses for those in states that require postal return.
GLOBAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (GPP)
5-12 March
Please mark your calendars for 5-12 March. What is referred to as the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary starts on Super Tuesday and runs through the following week.
CLICK HERE for a 2-page How To summary on voting in the GPP
For general info about the Global Presidential Primary CLICK HERE
For more info on the Global Presidential Primary in South Africa CLICK HERE
JOBURG GLOBAL PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (GPP)
& FAMILY DAY EVENT 10 MARCH
Joburg area members are invited to join us on Sunday 10 March 12:00-16:00 for our GPP Election & Family Day Event in Sunninghill. This will be a family-friendly afternoon and a great opportunity for us to get together!
- Request your 2024 Ballots
- Vote in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary
- Meet other DASA Members
- Bring & Share drinks, snacks and desserts. (A few members have offered to buy pizza - we request that you RSVP in advance so we can plan accordingly)
- Prospective members can join DASA on the day! Invite them along.
More info and RSVP HERE
DASA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
Our AGM is coming up on Monday 11 March at 19:00 on Zoom. We're hoping to reach a quorum at 19:00 and run through the formal agenda in 30 min. For anyone who would like to stay on afterward we'll have informal discussion about the election year ahead and voter outreach in SA.
RSVP for the Zoom link and access the Agenda and Minutes of the previous year HERE
VOTER OUTREACH
Word of mouth should be one of our strongest membership development and voter outreach tools. This is the time to reach out!
Do you know other Americans in SA or living abroad? Ask them if they vote and encourage them to go to www.votefromabroad.org for info on voting in their state.
Please also invite them to become members of Democrats Abroad at www.democratsabroad.org/join
UPDATING OUR MEMBERSHIP DATABASE
The joys and woes of a membership database!
New members are sparking our joy! Hurray! Welcome! Let's keep up the word of mouth outreach and bring more members in. Members responding to confirmation requests or updating their info via the website (see below) also spark our joy!
Emails that bounce, numbers no longer in use, members who have moved back to the US but still on the list...this is what we're finding as we continue with our database cleanup....oh the database blues.
Spark a little joy by updating your details or letting us know if you've left SA. If you want to update your details but don't know how to log in, please email [email protected] and we'll help with the update!
It’s important that we have a current membership database as we prepare for the 2024 elections. We want to ensure you get the information you need to vote in your state.
Can you take 3 minutes now to update your profile?
- Log in above (https://www.democratsabroad.org)
- In the top right corner click on your photo (or the empty circle) then Account Settings.
- Update the info in the Public and Private drop downs and Email Preferences Tabs
- Please provide a South African cell number if you have one
- Even if all of your details are correct, please click SAVE PROFILE SETTINGS as this updates a time stamp on your profile so we'll know its current.
If you’ve left South Africa you can either change your details to another country, join the Democrats Abroad Alumni group, or simply delete your membership.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteers spark joy! Click on the red button above for the DASA volunteer interest form.
Democrats Abroad is a volunteer-led organisation but there's a lot of work to do, especially in an election year!
Democrats Abroad South Africa (DASA) is a small, newly reconstituted Country Committee so we're learning the ropes and trying to build our capacity but we need more help. We’re looking for volunteers in South Africa with a wide range of skills, interests and availability.
Global Opportunities include...
State Teams
DA’s State Teams focus on voter education, voter participation and advocacy in crucial states, and are open to all members of Democrats Abroad who vote in or want to mobilise voters in the states represented. We share our experiences, our knowledge of the process of voting from abroad and other election information that has a real and measurable impact in crucial elections up and down the ballot.
CLICK HERE to see if there's a Team for your state
Voter Assistance Training
Would you like to help others vote? Voter Assistance is a critical aspect of our role as Democrats Abroad. Voter Assistance Training is available online - live or recorded. Take a look at the training coming up this month HERE
Phonebanking
Calling members to remind them to request their ballots or vote has shown to be an invaluable part of our Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. We use a system called CallHub for global phonebanking. If you're keen to chat with Democrats Abroad members around the world take a look at the info and training available HERE
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
Contacting the White House and our leaders in Congress is a vital route to letting them know we are here (abroad) and what we care about. They want our votes...let's tell them what we want!
Contact your elected officials in the US and share your priorities, suggestions and concerns. Your Voice Matters! While Democrats Abroad doesn't engage in foreign policy, we encourage you to contact the White House and Congress directly.
Contact your Representatives in the House
https://www.house.gov/representatives
Contact your Senators
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Contact The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
CAUCUS HIGHLIGHT: TAXATION TASK FORCE
The recent Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force Webinar Series has reached completion for now.
The series culminated with a session this week on How to Help Pass Residency Based Taxation. You can watch the recording HERE and access the slides HERE
- Learn more about the Task Force’s work HERE
- Read the Democrats Abroad Tax Report at: democratsabroad.org/2022_report
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CLICK HERE for a list of relevant links including recordings of past sessions.
- Sign up for our tax mailing list by going to: democratsabroad.org/ttf_signup
EVENTS
Take a look at the various events, with wide-ranging topics, taking place regularly through Democrats Abroad https://www.democratsabroad.org/events
We’d love your input! Please take a minute to share ideas through our DASA 2024 Venues and Events Survey CLICK HERE
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Kitchen Table Talks Global Democrats Abroad is encouraging Kitchen Table Talks before 12 March to inform the DA Platform but there’s no reason we can’t hold these type of activities throughout the year. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to host one in your part of the country or even online. CLICK HERE for more info and a toolkit |
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EVENTS THIS MONTH
Sunday 10 March 12:00 - 16:00 (In person-Joburg)
DASA Global Presidential Primary Voting Centre & Family Day
Monday 11 March
DASA Annual General Meeting (AGM) - 7pm (Zoom)
Wednesday 13 March
A Gay 'ol Night at the Cinema 9pm SA Time (Zoom)
The DA France LGBTQ+ Caucus cordially invites you to attend an online viewing of the 2014 film Pride via zoom (RSVP for the link) on Wednesday, March 13th at 9pm (SA Time). The film depicts the story of gay and lesbian activists raising money to help the families affected by the British miners’ strike in 1984. It is a touching story about the importance of community, intersectionality, and grass-roots organization.
Friday 29 March Global Seniors Caucus & Disability Caucus - Monthly Friday Social
**We think this is 3pm SA time (US clocks change in March so please double check)
Interested in hosting an event or have an idea on finding American voters in SA?
Let us know [email protected]
DEMOCRATS ABROAD HIGHLIGHTS
The Cost of Inheritance | Reparations in the United States | Full Documentary | America ReFramed
If you missed the GBC Black History Month / Reparations Task Force event featuring this documentary and discussion you can watch them here. It was excellent and motivating to see the conversation on Reparations growing! Take some time to watch and read further.
The Documentary (PBS on Youtube) HERE
The Discussion with the filmmakers HERE
Website developed by two of the speakers https://reparations4slavery.com
Books recommended during the session:
- The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America (Shawn Rochester)
- The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America (Richard Rothstein)
- From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21st Century (William A. Darity)
- The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap (Mehrsa Baradaran)
- When Affirmative Action Was White (Ira Katznelson)
ALSO - take a look at recent progress made by San Francisco
“The San Francisco Reparations Plan outlines more than 100 additional ways for the City of San Francisco to demonstrate the sincerity of that apology by proactively creating pathways to equity for Black San Franciscans,” she said. “It should be used as a blueprint for the next century.”
San Francisco apologizes to Black residents and their descendants for systemic racism and past atrocities (CNN) - CLICK to read
Women's Caucus Special Edition Publication
The fall of Roe just a year and a half ago left a trail of devastation, with a cascade of anti-abortion laws whose impact is reverberating globally and shows no sign of slowing down. (See recent Alabama news!)
In this special edition of the Global Women’s Caucus newsletter, they take stock of the current precarious state of women’s rights, chart the course ahead, and offer constructive ideas on navigating this challenging terrain together.
Tip: For the optimal reading experience, we recommend accessing this magazine on your tablet or computer screen. VIEW THE PUBLICATION HERE
CONNECT
Americans in South Africa are invited to get in touch and get involved, contact us at [email protected]
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DemocratsAbroadSouthAfrica
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/democratsabroadsouthafrica/
Join our WhatsApp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/EBGCcLmGh0s3PU4rvCAzMu
We're a volunteer led organisation but still have expenses in getting out the vote. Can you contribute $24 toward our work this year? Thank you!
We encourage you to find a time in the next few days to go to www.votefromabroad.org to request your 2024 ballots. That will be one important action you can check off your list. Thank you!