FAQs for the 2020 Global Presidential Primary
Don’t miss your chance to vote in person this presidential year! Join Americans around the world and participate in this year’s Global Presidential Primary through Democrats Abroad. Voting in the Primary gives you the chance to help determine the presidential candidates our delegates will vote for in the Democratic National Convention. Details below.
Who is eligible to participate?
Democrats Abroad has just a few requirements for voting in the primary:
- Reside abroad and be a U.S. citizen
- Be a member of Democrats Abroad
- Be 18 as of November 3, 2020
- Not have voted, or plan to vote, in any other 2020 state presidential primary
When can I vote?
Starting February 18th, you can download your ballot from the Democrats Abroad website and vote from over 197 countries! If you'd like to vote in person, our in-person events kick off on Super Tuesday - March 3rd - and run through March 10th.
What if I’m not a member of Democrats Abroad?
You can sign up today, or anytime up until you’re about to vote.
How can I vote in the Democrats Abroad primary?
You can vote in person or online. If you’d like to vote in person, visit our map of events here or check out our list of official events. We’re holding more than 220 events in 45 countries around the world March 3-10.
If you can’t join us in person, as long as you’re a member of Democrats Abroad, you can also vote remotely. Ballots were sent out on February 18, but you can also go directly to democratsabroad.org/primary to download your ballot and vote now.
Can I vote in the Global Presidential Primary and my home state's primary?
You can only vote one time in this year's presidential primary process. If you vote in the Global Primary, but also want to vote in your home state for the down-ballot primary races (such as for your congressperson), you can! Just don't vote for a presidential candidate on your state ballot.
Why should I participate in the global primary instead of voting in my state's presidential primary?
While tens of thousands of people will participate in the global primary this year, millions will vote in your home state. That means that your vote in the Global Presidential Primary is more powerful than if you were to vote in home state - in fact, it can be up to 4 times more powerful!
The Global Presidential Primary ballot asks for my member number, but I don't know what it is. What should I do?
You can leave this blank; the field is optional.
What should I do after voting my ballot to make sure its valid?
Review the attachment in your email and make sure you voted for your candidate, added info in all required fields, and signed your ballot. If you missed a step, fill it in fully and send it in again. We count your first valid ballot.
Where do I send my ballot after I've completed it?
The easiest way is to email it to [email protected].
Why are there candidates on the ballot who have suspended their campaigns?
The only way a candidate could be removed from the ballot is if they requested before February 18 that we do so. This was the case for Senators Cory Booker and Michael Bennet. Candidates who did not make this request or who suspended their campaigns after February 18 still appear on the ballot.
What if I voted for someone who has suspended their campaign, or who decides to suspend their campaign later?
It is possible for candidates who have suspended their campaigns to still earn delegates to take to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, if they earn more than 15% of the vote in our primary. Please note that once your ballot is cast, it cannot be changed.
Which candidates have formally withdrawn from the Global Presidential Primary?
Michael Bloomberg, Michael Bennet and Cory Booker.
I voted for a candidate who has suspended their campaign. Can I vote again?
Once a valid ballot is cast, it is counted. If you cast more than one valid ballot, the first is counted, and the rest are not. This includes if you first vote went to a candidate that has suspended their campaign or withdrawn.
If a candidate formally withdraws from our primary or shuts down their campaign before May 15 - which is when Democrats Abroad begins electing delegates at our global and regional meetings - any delegates they have been allocated will be assigned to other candidates who met the 15% threshold in our primary.
Will the Covid-19 coronavirus impact my voting location?
We're monitoring the situation closely in every city where we have planned voting centers. If a local event center has been changed or canceled, you should receive an email update, and a notice will be posted on the event listing on our site. Otherwise, you can expect that your polling station will still be open. But we encourage you to double check with the event page of your country committee if you are in an area that is heavily impacted.
Remember to use your best judgement, and that remote voting is always an option.
I have questions about voting abroad.
Please email [email protected] so we can help!
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