Update: Please find below directions for members to cast their ballots in the election.
The Annual General Meeting of all DAP members will be held March 11, 2021 at 1900 virtually and the meeting shall address the need for Portugal with an extraordinary participation, to be an actual country committee (CC) participant of the Democratic Party. Ballots became available to DAP members on February 24, with a deadline of midnight, March 9, to submit valid ballots.
Voting is now open for the election of the Democrats Abroad Portugal Executive Committee for the 2021-2023 term.
Members of DAP can find links to candidate statements and a link to the ballot sent to their email address under the subject "Your ballot for DAP elections" and the Nominations and Elections Committee is available for help at [email protected]
Deadline: Submit your votes before midnight on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 4:00pm/16:00 (WET).
Results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, March 11, 2021, 7:00pm/19:00 WET.
Ballots are counted first for Chair, then Vice Chair, etc. If a candidate is running for more than one position, and is elected to one of the first positions counted, they will automatically be withdrawn from the following races.
In the event of a tie for any office, a coin toss will determine the winner.
Click HERE to access the online ballot. Please note that only members of DAP before February 24 may vote.
Newly elected officers will be announced at the Annual General Meeting Thursday, March 11, 2021. Additional business will be discussed at the meeting.
Below is information from the nomination process, as concluded February 14, 2021
Democrats Abroad Portugal seeks candidates to serve for a two-year term on our Executive Committee. Democrats Abroad Regional and Global officers are easily accessible for questions and support. Democrats Abroad have existing documents, every training, example document, and many easy-to-use resources and tools for officers. There is very little need to start from scratch or re-invent the wheel. Help and experienced answers are just an email away.
Interested members please visit this site from Democrats Abroad https://wiki.democratsabroad.org/display/ccBylaws/Country+Committee+Officer+Position+Descriptions
These positions include the following:
Chair – Democratic Party Committee Abroad (the official name of Democrats Abroad)
(DPCA) Voting Member
Useful skills: team & meeting management, leadership, diplomacy, organization, self-starter, collaboration and coordination.
Overall manager of Democrats Abroad Portugal, (DAP). Ensures DAP compliance with the Democratic Party, Democrats Abroad, (DA), Country Committee’s (CC) and Federal Election Commission (FEC) charters, bylaws and rules. Ensures Treasurer and Secretary core work is being done. Organizes and conducts Executive Committee meetings, including the annual general meeting. Organizes communication with members and regular meetings with CC membership. Helps raise funds for CC. Consults with Regional Vice Chair and attends monthly regional meetings by WebEx. Collaborates with regional CCs and DA leaders. Ensures CC responsibilities with Global DA are met. Regularly attends and votes at annual DA Global Meeting (in-person, online or by proxy).
Vice Chair – DPCA Voting Member
Useful skills: team & meeting management, leadership, diplomacy, project management, self-starter, communication, and teamwork.
Partners with Chair to take on some responsibilities of the Chair. Is prepared to step in for the Chair if necessary. Attends monthly regional meetings by WebEx. Regularly attends and votes at annual DA Global Meeting (in-person, online or by proxy).
Treasurer
Useful skills: organization, familiarity with basic technology, e.g., Google Docs, basic bookkeeping & budgeting, collaboration & teamwork.
Ensures compliance to financial regulations. Keeps financial records and manages bank account(s) if applicable. Pays CC bills. Establishes CC budget. Prepares and makes annual financial report. Makes financial records available on request for membership review.
Secretary
Useful skills: organization, familiarity with basic technology, e.g., Google Docs, email, simple databases, simple website revisions, writing, teamwork and collaboration.
Takes and archives minutes of CC ExCom meetings and annual general meeting. Maintains administrative files and records. Responsible for CC membership – if CC doesn’t have an appointed/unelected database manager, then Secretary takes/passes DA-required and provided database management training and certification. Manages database, assists Chair with annual membership certification, reviews/approves new member requests, sends welcome messages to new members. Submits CC information to International Secretary by appointed dates. Consults with global IT team as necessary.
Counsel
Useful skills: resourceful, knowledge of DPCA information or where to find it, collaborative & teamwork mentality.
Be available for consultation by CC ExCom on legal and procedural questions relating to the CC and its activities.
NOTE : All Democrats Abroad (DA) Country Committees (CC) have same/similar officers and roles, held by regular people with families, jobs, other activities.
Please be aware that the Democrats Abroad and the DNC bylaws require that the Chair and Vice-Chair be of different genders, male, female, or non-binary. A nominee must give their consent to stand for election.
Due to this structure, which encourages diversity, we encourage you to run for multiple positions. We kindly ask your openness to stand for other roles. This is possible as ballots for the Chairperson will be counted first to qualify or disqualify candidates for the position of Vice Chairperson.
We believe the ExCom will benefit from this approach as we form a new leadership team for DAP. Please email your nomination to: [email protected]
If you would like to offer your talents, time and energy in a leadership position in DAP, we welcome anyone to nominate themselves as candidates for the 2021-2023 Executive Committee. As an Executive Committee team of officers you will be expected to actively lead in the management of Democrats Abroad Portugal, and be willing and able to handle duties while adhering to the principles of the Democratic Party of the United States. Nominations open with the mailing sent January 18, 2021 and will close on February 14, 2021 at midnight.
Nominations must be submitted to the Nominations Committee by midnight on February 14, 2021. The Nominations Committee will email the Annual General Meeting invitation along with candidates and nomination information by Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
Ballot submission will take place via email before the Annual General Meeting, which will take place, March 11, 2021 at 1900. The ballot and a voter guide will be sent out by email by February 24, 2021. Ballots must be returned by midnight Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Everyone who is voting will have one vote per office. All current members of DAP are eligible to vote.
Any American who has moved to Portugal and would like to join Democrats Abroad Portugal has until February 24, 2021 to join and vote in the Annual General Meeting Executive Committee election. We encourage you to reach out to both new and longtime like-minded Americans in Portugal to register and be part of this election.
Serving on the Executive Committee of Democrats Abroad Portugal is a wonderful opportunity to be part of the American political process “at home”, in Portugal and with like-minded people, globally. We can all agree that there is much at stake given what is happening back in the United States. Though we celebrate the election of a Democrat to the White House in 2020, it is already time to begin preparing for the midterm elections. So go ahead and get involved!
How to Submit a Nomination
Submissions must include information and answers to the following questions, along with a brief Candidate Statement, and should be sent to the Nominations Committee at [email protected]
Nomination Requirements
First and last name, as you wish it to appear on the DAP website, on emails to members, and on the DAP election ballot.
Email address. (Your email address will not be shared without your permission.)
List of all positions for which you would be willing to stand.
Answers to these three questions:
- From what you know of Democrats Abroad Portugal, what are the two things you like best about it, and why?
- Why do you feel you’re qualified to be an officer in general and the nominated role, specifically. For example: experience, personal attributes, and technical competencies, etc.
- As an officer, how will you contribute to Democrats Abroad Portugal and help it grow?
Candidate Statement
A short personal statement of up to 250 words. Include any pertinent experience and skills not described above. Candidates may include links to their website, a profile such as Linkedin, or other appropriate online media. Be aware this statement will be publicly available to DA members.
All of the above information will be posted on the Democrats Abroad Portugal website and emailed to all DAP members.
Candidates will receive a confirmation email when their nomination submission is received.
If you have any questions about the positions or requirements, please email the Nominations Committee at [email protected] .
Timelines and Deadlines
Deadline to Submit DAP Officer Nomination: February 14, 2021 midnight
Deadline to join Democrats Abroad for Election Participation: February 24, 2021
DAP Ballot and Voter Guide Emailed to DAP Members: February 24, 2021
Deadline for Ballot Return: Midnight, March 9, 2021
Annual General Meeting (virtual) with Public Ballot Counting: March 11, 2021 1900
“Democrats are the party of inclusion…As Democrats we respect differences of perspective and belief, and pledge to work together to move this country forward, even when we disagree…we do not merely seek common ground-we strive to reach higher ground.”
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