Democrats Abroad International is the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party for some 7 million US citizens living overseas. Over seventy countries throughout the world organize local events and activities to encourage participation in the American political process. They offer help and advice on registering to vote and getting absentee ballots via http://www.votefromabroad.org
This year, for the first time, DA is offering Democrats living overseas the opportunity to vote in their party’s 2008 Global Presidential Primary. The first ever online, worldwide U.S. election! Follow me below the fold.
Here's the basics:
From February 5 to 12, 2008, Democrats Abroad will hold a Democratic Global Presidential Primary by Internet, fax, mail and in-person at Voting Centers in 34 countries around the globe. This will be the FIRST global primary ever!
Who can vote? The Democratic Global Primary is open to any U.S. citizen living overseas who will be 18 years of age by November 4, 2008, and who is a registered member of Democrats Abroad.
Can I vote in my home state, too? U.S. voters living overseas may vote for a presidential candidate in either the Democratic Global Primary or their state primary back home. You may not vote for president in both. (When you receive your state primary ballot, you can vote for all offices other than President, but you must not vote for President on that ballot.)
Is it safe to vote by Internet? Secure Internet voting is powered by Everyone Counts, a leading expert in high-integrity online elections. We are using the same system the Michigan Democratic Party has used since 2004. Alternatively, you will have the option to vote by post, fax or in-person at Voting Centers in 34 countries around the world.
Democrats Abroad is recognized as a "state" Party by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and is represented on the DNC by eight voting members, as well as at the quadrennial Democratic National Convention. The governing body of the Democrats Abroad is the Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA). DPCA is comprised of elected international officers and the chair and vice chair of each Country Committee as well as the six representatives of Democrats Abroad to the DNC. (The remaining two members of the DNC from DA are the international chair and vice chair.)
My particular interest is the Democrats Abroad Mexico. In Mexico, in-person voting will be available in Ajijic, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Puerta Vallarta, and Mazatlan. Internet, mail, and fax voting also will be available. The Mexico chair is Howard Feldstein.
After that, members of Democrats Abroad worldwide will elect 22 voting delegates that will represent the "51st State," at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, next August.
Of some note: In the October 25-27 DA Americas Regional Meeting in Mexico City, two Democratic presidential candidates participated: Senator Hillary Clinton addressed the group via video, and Governor Bill Richardson took questions by telephone.
So if you are living overseas and didn't know about this VERY helpful organization, go to http://democratsabroad.org and get ready to vote! And don't forget to tell your friends!
Oops. Almost left out an important link for our expat friends in Mexico: http://www.mexicodemocrats.org/...