What to Do Wednesday
Your Weekly Guide to Staying Politically Active—From Abroad
Wednesday 23 September 2026
A DHL discount for returning your ballot, plus a quick way to help other voters.
This week we have two asks, and both are urgent.
1. Request your ballot now
If you haven't requested your 2026 ballot yet, please do it today. Election offices need time to process your request and send your ballot, and every day you wait gives you less time to get it back on time to be counted.
Go to VoteFromAbroad.org. It only takes a few minutes.
Already requested it? If you haven't received your ballot yet, please check with your local election office our overseas ballots were issued on September 19th.
Need help? Write to us at [email protected] we have voting assistant volunteers standing by to help you!
If your state lets you return your ballot electronically (email, online upload or fax): send it back as soon as it arrives. Don't hold onto it.
If your state only accepts ballots by mail: we have good news. Democrats Abroad Italy has arranged a 20% discount with DHL for US citizens sending back their ballots.
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Starting October 1, go to any DHL ServicePoint in Italy.
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Give them the promo code USA2026.
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Send your ballot early so it arrives before your state's deadline.
Please help us spread the word. Forward this email to American friends, family and colleagues in Italy, and share it in your WhatsApp groups and on social media.
2. We need phone bankers
To everyone who has been making calls this season: thank you. More voters are using Vote from Abroad this year, and your calls are a big part of why.
If you've never phone banked, or you haven't called yet this season, we need you now.
So far, 224 volunteers around the world have made more than 55,000 calls. There are still 115,000 calls to go. At our current pace we won't finish until November 5, which is too late. We need more callers.
New to calling, or need a refresher? Start with a training session. Click a link to RSVP:
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Oct. 4 Live Training: 17:00 CEST
It adds up fast. If everyone who gets this email made one hour of calls a week for the next four weeks, together we could make about 20,000 calls. That's a lot of votes in close races.
For more resources, visit the phone banking training page. You need to be logged in to see everything. If you have questions or need help, write to [email protected].
This week's to-do list
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Request your ballot at VoteFromAbroad.org if you haven't yet.
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Send your ballot back as soon as you get it: electronically if your state allows it, or by DHL with code USA2026 from October 1.
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Forward this email to at least one American you know in Italy.
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Sign up for a phone banking training and make your first hour of calls.
Keep Sharing Our Flyers
The three Vote From Abroad flyers linked here we shared last week are still powerful organizing tools.
- Post them on your personal social media accounts.
- Send them directly to American friends.
- Print copies and leave them where Americans are likely to see them.
- Take a photo of a flyer near a recognizable local landmark and share it online.
Most importantly, post the flyers on your own social media. Your friends trust you, and your reminder may be the one that gets someone to request and return a ballot.
Democrat Abroad Italy Events:
DNC Vice Chairs Are Coming to Italy! Inside the Fight for 2026: An Apericena for Action
Two Vice Chairs of the Democratic National Committee are coming to Italy this month, and DA Italy is hosting them for two evenings of food, drinks, bold ideas, and real conversation.
Malcolm Kenyatta, DNC Vice Chair and Pennsylvania state representative, and Shasti Conrad, DNC Vice Chair and Chair of the Washington State Democrats, will join us to talk about why the 2026 midterms matter, how we re-engage voters on the issues they care about, and how we turn Democratic values into action, both at home and from abroad. Come with your questions.
Be a part of the conversation! These are small, intentionally intimate gatherings: only 30 places are available at each event, so please reserve early. The precise address will be shared with ticketholders, and all donors will be asked to show a US passport or passport card at the door. Both events are co-sponsored by the AAPI, Youth, and Black Caucuses.
📍 Rome | Saturday 26 September @19:00, Testaccio — Reserve your spot
📍 Milan | Sunday 27 September @19:00, Municipio 7 — Reserve your spot
Other upcoming events:
Get together with us in Bologna for an aperitivo September 24 @6:00pm RSVP Here!
Be the reason a US Citizen is able to cast their ballots! Train to become a Voting Assistant or Phonebanking Volunteer!
Mark your Calendars! In Person Voter Registration Events Near You:
📍Milano - Every Saturday in September & October 3:00–6:00 PM In front of the American Bookstore Corner of Via Camperio & Largo Cairoli
🙋♀️Milano - Want to help us register voters on Saturday? Sign up here.
📍Bologna - Every Tuesday until election day at Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe Main Entrance Hall
📍Bologna - Every Wednesday until election day at ExDynamo La Velostazione Via dell’Indipendenza 71z
📍Florence - Every Wednesday from 10:00 - 12:00 and 17:00 - 19:00 at NAAB Firenze. Via Ventesette Aprile 28BR
📍Florence - Every Tuesday from 18:00 - 20:00 at Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls Firenze. Via del Presto di S. Martino 8R
📍Rome - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 - 19:00 at Centro Sportivo Vianello Via dell'Accademia Peloritana 26
Find all the details here
Are you Vote Ready?
Overseas Ballots have been Issued! Did you get yours?? Have you sent your ballot back yet?
Take two minutes today: click the button below to request your overseas ballot.
Need help? Click below to let us know, and one of our trained Voting Assistance volunteers will reach out to support you.
Already requested your ballot or voted but haven’t told us yet? Please click the button below so we can count you in!