Vote Now, If You Haven't Already!
It's Here! This election season is moving quickly. I've voted, have you?
First of all, a very warm welcome to our new members! Numbers are increasing every day. There's a lot going on and quite a bit covered in this newsletter so I'll keep this intro short - our most important goals are to:
- Ensure you get your ballot in on time and counted
- Encourage all members to play your part in voter outreach
Thank you for joining, volunteering, reaching out to others, donating and Voting!
You can read past newsletters HERE
Love and solidarity,
Liz O'Leary - DASA Chair
[email protected]
2 MIN DASA MEDIA & AD SURVEY
💙🇿🇦🇺🇸📝 You love surveys. You do! Win a chance to meet Kamala with this one! Just kidding - but PLEASE take 2 min to tick a few boxes and tell us which local media you read, watch and listen to. Help Win This Election! Thank you
CLICK HERE to Help Win This Election
DASA VOICES
If Biden Can Step Aside, Then Those Of Us Abroad Can Certainly Step Up! - Charles Belk
"It is easy to forget about voting when you’re outside of the United States. DON’T! One person (one vote) can make a difference; even from abroad.
In August of 2014, I was wrongfully arrested - mistakenly identified as the wrong tall, Black male, suspected of being involved in a bank robbery. As a result of that incident, and inspired by a speech in September of that year, by then President Barack Obama, I became an “Active Citizen” to right that which had been wrong – an innocent citizen wrongfully arrested, later released as innocent, but still having an arrest record. By working with state legislators, my “AutoErase” criminal justice reform language has been included in newly created laws in over 20 states. These new laws will now “automatically erase” (expunge) arrest records of individuals whose arrests were dropped or never prosecuted. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of that incident and it all started by motivation from someone that I helped elect."
Read Charles Belk's Full Article HERE
NOVEMBER IS NOW IN SOUTH AFRICA
VOTE!
Take No Chances & VOTE NOW
5 November may be Election Day in the US but we strongly suggest you view TODAY as Election Day from SA. Let's make sure our votes count!
CLICK HERE for detailed info on VOTING FROM SOUTH AFRICA 2024
Voting in some states is quick and easy, in others it is a MAJOR, CONFUSING, TIME CONSUMING TASK. The #1 reason overseas ballots are rejected is because they arrived late! Don't let that be yours.
IMPORTANT: Please note that we have passed the "safe return" deadline for dropping ballots off at the US Consulates. If you vote in a mail-in state, we recommend you use a courier such as DHL (again, do that now).
Request your 2024 Ballot at www.votefromabroad.org
Look at your state's timeframes and processes at www.votefromabroad.org/states
Read through our Voting from South Africa Info HERE
NEED HELP?
HELP IS AVAILABLE at www.votefromabroad.org
Vote from Abroad is a nonpartisan service of Democrats Abroad:
- Ballot Request Tool
- State-specific info
- FAQs
- Chatbox
- Email: [email protected]
- 1-1 Support via ZOOM:
CLICK HERE for Live Voter Support options!
Contact the Voter Protection Team with any concerns related to voter rights or challenges you're having in your state at [email protected]
ALL IN!
GET INVOLVED TO ENSURE OUR CANDIDATES WIN!
THANK YOU! We know you're all doing your part to ensure we reach voters in South Africa, abroad and in the States too. And if you're not...that's a invitation to step up!
Thank you to all who have been volunteering with DASA in some way - each action contributes toward our goal of winning this election! There is an incredible team spirit among us. This is how we do it!
Volunteers make it all possible! Click on the red button above for the DASA volunteer interest form or email [email protected]
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Volunteers are also still needed at the Global level for Phonebanking, Voter Assistance and more - please CLICK HERE for more info and training. Shout out to the few DASA Phonebankers who are making calls to Democrats Abroad members around the world!
STATE TEAMS
Join one of the State Teams to help mobilise voters!
The 2024 Presidential elections may be closely decided by a few states but there are critical races in every state. We need to vote at local, state and national levels to ensure the best candidates win! Do you know what's happening in your state? There are active State Teams for battleground states and many others. You are welcome to join any state team to lend your support.
CLICK HERE to see if there's a Team for your state or choose a state you'd like to support.
EVENTS
We’d love your input!
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Have ideas for DASA events or venues to use? Know of American owned restaurants? Please take a minute to share ideas CLICK HERE
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Interested in hosting an event or have an idea on finding American voters in SA? Let us know [email protected]
We have hosted a number of events in recent weeks and months - most recently our VP Debate Watch party this week in Joburg (photos above). We'll be planning Election Day/Day After Watch Meetups and looking toward Victory and Inauguration!
If you'd like to help host a meet-up in your corner of the country, let us know at [email protected]
Democrats Abroad Global Events
The Americans Abroad for Harris-Walz 5-hour online event hosted by Democrats Abroad brought together a wide range of guests from Sen. Cory Booker to Jane Fonda, Rep Maxwell Frost, Beto O'Rourke, Eric Holder , Elizabeth Cronise McLoughlin, Alfre Woodard and more. Find your favourites with time marks on Youtube.
WATCH HERE
Keep an eye on your email and the website for Global Events including interesting online events with candidates!
IN THE NEWS...
Americans in Joburg: Why We Vote
Check out our article and ad in the Johannesburg In Your Pocket newsletter this week as we search for potential voters! Link to the website for the full article where DASA member / Blogger / Photographer Heather Mason (@2summers) shares her own perspective on voting, and profiles Tiwana Merritt, Nina Neubauer and Charles Belk. Please share! Thanks for putting this together Heather Mason!
READ THE NEWSLETTER & ARTICLE HERE
VOTER OUTREACH
Word of Mouth & Digital - Spread the Word
Temi Stallings, a Member in Cape Town has created fun templates on Canva for all members to use and share on social media, WhatsApp etc.
SHARE OUR VOTER OUTREACH VIDEO
We are finding new members, new volunteers...new potential voters in South Africa each day! Please reach out to other US Citizens you know in SA, on the continent, and around the world.
Ask them if they're ready to vote.
Encourage them to join Democrats Abroad.
Engage and Share our Posts on Social Media (Links below)
PLEASE CONNECT TO STAY UPDATED & SHARE!
Americans in South Africa are invited to get in touch and get involved, contact us at [email protected]
**Join our WhatsApp group**
**This is the quickest way for us to keep in touch regularly as a group!
To keep the WhatsApp group secure we have removed the link from the website.
Contact us and we'll be happy to add you.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DemocratsAbroadSouthAfrica
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/democratsabroadsouthafrica/
DASA VOICES
Jimmy Carter at 100 – a lifetime of advancing human equality by peaceful democratic means
"Jimmy Carter had his centennial birthday on 1 October 2024, but his indomitable spirit for service throughout his public and private life inspires the hope that he will vote in at least one more election of consequence for the future of liberal democracy in America and abroad.
He has handed his public duties to a younger generation, exemplified by his grandson Jason, with joy and hope for the future. And together they remind us that democracies, whether in America or Africa, must commit to the pursuit of human equality as the only reliable route to freedom and dignity for all."
READ DASA Member John Stremlau's piece in the Daily Maverick
Asad el Malik's book Find Home Again: My Journey from the United States to South Africa, which will be available on November 1, 2024.
"This memoir is a deeply personal exploration of my experiences as a Black American, from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to the racial tension following George Floyd's death, and ultimately, how I found a new sense of belonging in South Africa. It is a reflection on the meaning of "home" in the face of environmental violence and racial struggles."
If you’d like to know when the book becomes available for purchase, please add your email to this list.
THANK YOU!
A very special thank you to member Stuart Carley who recently made a significant contribution by directly paying a comms agency to assist us in rolling out our ad campaigns and amplifying our outreach overall!
We also have grants for approximately $2500 approved from Democrats Abroad toward direct costs for digital advertising including Google Ads, Youtube, Meta, Johannesburg in Your Pocket and other digital ads including news sites such as Daily Maverick. Ads on Meta platforms are currently on hold due to concerns around suppression.
THANK YOU FOR DONATING TO DEMOCRATS ABROAD
Please consider donating directly to DASA
Financial reports show that more members from South Africa have recently donated to Democrats Abroad at the Global level. Thank you! Members around the world certainly benefit from contributions to Democrats Abroad, and we are proud to be part of the global body, but we don't have direct access to those funds locally.
We know everyone is asking these days, but as we're focussed locally, we ask you to support our work within South Africa.
Can you contribute $24, $240 or $2000 toward our voter mobilisation work in South Africa this year? We're a volunteer led organisation but still have expenses in getting out the vote. We'll greatly appreciate your support. Thank you!
Thank you - Let's each do our part in Getting Out The Vote and Winning This Election!
Democrats Abroad South Africa