Frankfurt, Germany—The following opinion piece is authored by Malaika Kusumi, a family member to several military veterans, and author and poet. Malaika is a California UOCAVA voter, resident of Germany, and member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus.
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One of the most important things we as activist volunteers can do is Get Out The Vote, or “GOTV.” This often means knocking on doors, calling voters, posting on social media, and setting up voter registration tables in high-traffic areas.
GOTV tabling is about more than registering voters. It is one of the few places where genuine dialogue still happens — face-to-face, across languages, ages, and backgrounds. At our GOVT tables in the Frankfurt area, strangers stop, talk, listen, and often surprise us with their stories, and we have a mutual understanding where “military” becomes a person, not just a word.
Some encounters stay with you: a passerby who helps raise a tent in the wind and becomes a friend for ten minutes; an older resident who shares hard-earned wisdom about protecting democracy; a mixed-nationality family eager to stay connected and informed. These moments remind us that civic engagement often begins with a simple conversation.
Today, tabling can feel more complicated than before. U.S. Citizens abroad sometimes worry about standing out or being drawn into discussions beyond our mission. Democrats Abroad volunteers are not there to represent government policy or debate international issues — we are there for one purpose: helping eligible U.S. Citizens exercise their right to vote.
That mission remains essential, especially in these uncertain times.
At the same time, volunteer safety and comfort come first. Tabling works best when done in teams, in suitable locations, in areas with a strong Internet connection, and with respect for individual limits. Not everyone needs to stand behind the table; supporting roles are just as valuable.
You also don’t need to be an extrovert. You only need sincerity, respect, and a willingness to engage — or simply to help others engage.
In a world that often feels polarized and impersonal, the GOTV table remains a small but powerful space for connection and civic participation. Whether you come across a U.S. service member, a military retiree, a veteran’s dependent turning 18 years old, or an ordinary U.S. expat – welcome them to your table, remind your fellow citizen you’re there to help them, and be that game-changer for that individual in assisting them in the voting process. Tabling is effective on base, off base, and everywhere in between, as U.S. Citizens live or travel in all parts of the globe and often need help understanding how to vote from abroad.
So, if you’ve ever considered trying it, know this: you won’t be alone, and your contribution matters.
A tabling we go — still.
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U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The Global VMF Caucus has over 1,400 members in dozens of countries and proudly consists of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, other national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.