Democrats recognize that 2006 will continue the trend of
very close elections in which each vote could be the one that makes
the difference. Democrats Abroad and their Honorary Chair, President
Jimmy Carter, are working to ensure that all American citizens living
outside the U.S. exercise their right to vote in the upcoming House
and Senate races. Through a new website developed this year,
http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org, citizens living abroad still have time
-- until September 30th -- to register to vote and request their
ballots and, potentially, make the difference in the upcoming
elections.
President Carter said, "It is imperative that every American
citizen living abroad join us in this movement to change the course of
our government by registering to vote and participating fully in the
electoral process. Democrats Abroad has made registering to vote and
requesting an absentee ballot quick and simple at
http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org. I invite you to use this website and
make a difference."
Unfortunately, many U.S. citizens living abroad do not know that
they retain their right to vote regardless of how long they have lived
outside of the United States (and even if they have never resided in
the U.S.). Citizens living abroad who have lived in the U.S. can vote
using their last residence before departing the U.S. If they never
lived in the U.S., most states allow citizens to vote using their
parent(s) last U.S. address. In order to vote in the November
elections, all citizens living abroad need to register and request
their ballots.
Democrats Abroad has made it easier for Americans living abroad to
exercise their right to vote. Using http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org,
citizens answer six customized screens of questions. The answers are
automatically added to the voter registration form, fax cover sheet,
and Federal Write-In Ballot, which are then downloaded, signed, and
mailed to the address of the local election official.
Many U.S. citizens living abroad may worry that it is too late to
receive their ballot. VoteFromAbroad.org solves this problem. It is
the only voter registration website where citizens receive a Federal
Write-In Ballot in addition to their voter registration form. The
Federal Write-In Ballot is a back-up ballot used by citizens living
abroad who register as voters outside the U.S. and who do not receive
their state ballot by October 1, 2006. This ballot is only valid if
mailed from outside the U.S. (except for military personnel). Using
this ballot, voters can write in votes for House and Senate candidates
or the political party they want to see hold the office.
Democrats Abroad recognizes that many U.S. citizens living abroad
speak Spanish as their primary language; http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org
is the only voter registration website for Americans living abroad
that is in both English and Spanish.
Democrats Abroad is the official arm of the Democratic Party for
American citizens living outside the United States. Democrats Abroad
holds seats on the DNC and sends a voting delegation to the
quadrennial convention to nominate our presidential candidate. Founded
in 1964, Democrats Abroad is active in over 70 countries.
