September 

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Hurray the Ballots are (Almost) Here!

September 19th is BALLOT DROP DAY! Finally, it is in our hands to put the brakes on this out-of-control clown car of a regime. We want to celebrate getting our ballots for the midterms with FIREWORKS. Join us on Friday 25 September at a private residence with the best view in the city for watching the Pyronale International Fireworks Competition. The fun starts at 18:30. You can read about the Pyronale program here We are asking for a donation of $8.00 to cover drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Please RSVP to donate and receive the address closer to the date.

But before we party, we have some voting to do. We should all receive our voting materials by the 19th of September. We then need to print out our ballots, vote them and get them back to our local election offices as quickly as possible. 

Information about candidates and ballot measures
Many election offices send you information about the candidates and ballot measures when they send you your ballot. However, if you need additional information or want to do some more research, here are two websites that can help you: Blue Voter Guide and Ballotpedia. You can find additional endorsements on your state’s Democratic Party website.

Voting and sending back your ballot
So let’s get into it. Once you are ready to vote, following are some general guidelines for everyone. If your local election office has special directions, be sure to follow them. 

Ballots
Print out your ballots and follow the directions provided by your election office. Mark your ballots neatly in blue or black pen; don’t let your ballot be challenged because of a messy ink blotch or coffee stain.

Ballot Return
Some States allow for electronic or fax return. Other states require that you send your ballot back via postal mail.

• States allowing Electronic, Email or Fax ballot return:
  Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, DC, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.  Louisiana*, Nebraska*, New Jersey* have special requirements. Check your State’s rules.

• States requiring ballots be returned by postal mail:
  Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

Ballot Return by postal mail: Preparing your ballot package – you’ll need two envelopes

• Security or Privacy Envelope
  Again follow the instructions provided by your local election office (LEO). Place your voted ballot into a privacy envelope and seal it. Most LEOs require you to sign the outside of the privacy envelope and some states include a signature sheet but only the ballot goes into the privacy envelope.

• The Mailing Envelope
  The sealed privacy envelope (and a signature sheet or other documents where required) are placed inside the mailing envelope. It is usually easier if the mailing envelope is a larger size than the privacy envelope so that the first envelope fits inside the other one. Seal the mailing envelope

• Election Office Address and (US postage) template
  Usually your LEO will provide a template with the address of your election office for you to print out and paste or tape onto the mailing envelope. These templates also are “postage paid” but only within the United States. Since you must pay for postage from Germany to the US anyway, you can forgo the template and simply write the address of your election office on the mailing envelope. Some jurisdictions will want you to sign the outside of the mailing envelope too.

Ballot return by postal mail continued:  how to send your ballot back
You have three options for sending your ballot back to your election office. They are listed in the order of reliability and speed.

1. Courier Service – most reliable and fastest
   Firms such as FedEX, DHL, TNT, Jumingo etc. offer express delivery services. These services are far costlier than the post office, but speedier and generally much more reliable. All states that require postal mail return have confirmed they will accept ballots sent with such couriers. Look for the economy rates, which usually mean that the letter will take two-to-three days to get to its destination rather than overnight.

2. Deutsche Post
   Mail from Germany to a destination in the US is taking four to five weeks to get to an address in the US. If you must return your ballot by postal mail, send it as soon as possible.

The do's and don'ts of returning your ballot by postal mail:

• Use Deutsche Post only up until four weeks before the scheduled election this year that is around October 6th.
• Take your ballot to the post office / courier to ensure it receives the correct postage.
• Request a Sendungsnummer to track your ballot.
• Ask for a postmark or date stamp (Zeitstempel) for the outer envelope.
• Do NOT send your ballot as registered mail (Einschreiben), as this may prevent it from being delivered (ex. if your county clerk isn’t there to sign, your ballot could be sent back to you).

3. Diplomatic Pouch
   We do not recommend using the diplomatic pouch in Germany. Due to the unpredictable schedule of the diplomatic pouch, we discourage its use unless you have no other alternative. Moreover, once the pouch reaches the US, your ballot is put into the regular USPS mail. Therefore it must have the US Postage Template pasted onto the envelope.

IF RETURNING A BALLOT BY POSTAL MAIL. VOTE A BACKUP BALLOT TOO!
All voters abroad are urged to vote their ballot promptly and to return it right away. If your state requires that you return a ballot by postal mail, consider also voting a Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB). The Backup Ballot is available only to overseas voters — think of it as insurance for your vote! If both ballots arrive, only one will be counted. Please keep in mind that you must first have already sent in your FPCA – Ballot Request form. The information on your FPCA and FWAB must match, i.e. same signature, same name – not Alberta B. Collins on one and Alberta Betty Collins on another, etc.

Phuh – That was a lot of work. We really do deserve a party!  

Here is the link again for RSVP to Celebrate Drop Day with Fireworks Party!

Fundraising drive “Double your Impact” Thank you!
A big Thank you ! For those of you who contributed to the fall fundraiser”Double your impact”! We met our goal and the Berlin Chapter topped the leaderboard. Thanks to your help, we will be able to reach more US citizens to help them request and cast their ballots.

Online and Virtual Events

Webinar: US Banking Options for Americans Living Abroad
Democrats Abroad is now a group member of State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) . Get Information about joining the SDFCU. There are two webinars on Thursday, September 10. Both cover the same information at different times
Session 1 starts at 9:00 CET   RSVP for Session 1 – U.S. Banking for Democrats Abroad Members with the SDFCU 
Session 2 starts at 19:00 CET RSVP for Session 2 - U.S. Banking for Democrats Abroad Members with the SDFCU

Volunteering Opportunities: If you have talents you would like to share or want to be more involved, check out: our Volunteer with Democrats Abroad

Resist: If the No Kings Protest has not satisfied your desire for fighting back, check out:  DA Resists

Online live voter assistance training: Voter Assistance Training

Caucasus: Our caucasus have something for every interest: DA Caucasus

Voter Assistance in Person
This month we will be offering numerous voter assistance events. Many of these will be at schools and universities with a large number of US citizens, but we will also have two Saturdays at Kollwitzplatz Market. We are also trying to secure a place to offer voter registration help in other markets in Berlin and Potsdam. Check out our Voter Help Desk Blog item on our website for more information. We are continually updating this page.

If you would like some assistance requesting your ballot, here are our upcoming voter help desk events around Berlin in September. No appointment necessary. 

To request your ballot you will need to have handy the last four digits of your Social Security number as well as the address of the last place you lived in the States. We are here to help. Click here to find our Berlin Voter Assistance Events or 

If you don’t have time to show up in person, click here for Online Voter Assistance you can sign up for a scheduled Zoom meeting or make an appointment with one of our voting experts. 

Pankow-Weissensee-Prenzlauerberg

• Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 – 15:00 we will be at Kollwitzplatz Wochenmarkt, Kollwitzstraße south of Wörther Straße, 10405 (U2 Senefelderplatz or Tram M2 Marienburger Str.)

• Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 – 15:00 we will be at Kollwitzplatz Wochenmarkt, Kollwitzstraße south of Wörther Straße, 10405 (U2 Senefelderplatz or Tram M2 Marienburger Str.)

Check with our DA Berlin Events Page or the Berlin Voter Assistance Blog for new venues and dates. We are continuously updating Voter Helpdesk Outreach.  If you have a suggestion for a voter tabling event in your Kiez or at your organisation, drop our Berlin GOTV Coordinator, Alix Christie, an email. 

Volunteers! Dems Abroad Berlin wants you!
If you want to find out what volunteer opportunities are currently available head over to our  Volunteering with Dems in Berlin blog. We’re gearing up for a big season of community events and registering voters for the midterms. Please join us! Events with our members and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) actions are great ways to meet people and do something to lift your political spirits. We always need members to volunteer for our Voter Help Desk Events. Alix Christie our, Berlin GOTV Coordinator the person to contact. Or ask to join the Signal VfA Voter Helpdesk Volunteers Chat

Phonebanking
We really need phonebankers at this time. We are trying to reach as many members as possible to remind them to request their ballot or to assist members who need help. If you want to dip your toes into phonebanking, we are starting a new training group now. Phonebanking has great reach and once you know the ropes, you can help out at times that suit your schedule. If you would like more information – without commitment – send a request to join our phone banking chat Signal Phone Banking Dems (Berlin) 

Political Pub Night September 🍻🗳️🍻🗳️🍻🗳️🍻🗳️

Join Justin, and Stacy on Tuesday, September 15th to hoist a beer and discuss the exciting candidates running for office this cycle. Let’s strategize about helping Dems in Berlin to request their ballots for the mid-terms. If you have any questions about requesting your ballot, someone will be able to help. The fun starts at 17:00
When: Tuesday, September 15 at 17:00 – 19:00 CET (5:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
Where: Zenner Biergarten und Weingarten, Alt Treptow. 15, 12453 Berlin (Treptower Park S-Bahn Station and about a 15 minute stroll along the water or Bus 265 direct)
RSVP:  for Political Pub Night September

Kiez Events

Sunday Serenity Stroll
For anyone who’s feeling stressed, burnt out, or who just enjoys some down time in nature, we invite you to a gentle afternoon stroll in a loop along the Tegeler See and through the Jungfernheide forest (with Flughafensee) in Tegel-Süd. We will meet at Olivia’s starting at 15:00 and will leave on our way no later than 15:20. Before we set off, there is the possibility of using the toilet or filling a water bottle. There are no public toilets along the route. Dogs are very welcome! The forest is a Hundeauslaufgebiet (where dogs can run off-leash). We will stroll, even if it rains, so please take this into consideration when choosing your clothing.Paths are mostly a sandy dirt, and we will host this stroll Note: emphasis on *stroll*. This is NOT a hike.
Where: Tegel-Süd (Haltestelle: Kamener Weg) the exact meeting point will be sent to those who RSVP closer to the event.
When: Sunday 20 September, 15:00 to 17:00 CET (3:00PM to 5:00 PM)
RSVP for Sunday Serenity Stroll

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Become a Sustaining Donor

Democrats Abroad is a 100% volunteer-run organization. DA Germany is dependent on donations to ensure we can mobilize the many Americans living in Germany to vote in the vital mid-term election in 2026. Click to find out more about how you can make a one-time donation, become a sustaining monthly donor, or donate to be decked out in some awesome DA or Vote from Abroad merch. To see what is available contact Katie (merch) Bathgate .

Donations of any size for Democrats Abroad Germany or Democrats Abroad Global are greatly appreciated as we seek to boost our voter outreach efforts around the world. If you have questions about how we utilize donations, do not hesitate to ask us.

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Volunteer & Action Signal Group

Be the first to learn about new volunteer opportunities by joining our Signal Super Volunteer & Action group. Email  Stacy Hyer with your phone number or Signal name and the subject line "Please add me to the DA Super Vols Signal group." You will need to have the Signal App on your phone.