Get Out The Vote (GOTV) is the main function of Democrats Abroad.
Our main goal is to inform & allow all Americans to exercise their right to VOTE!
Voting from Abroad in 2021
FAQs: 2021 Voting From Abroad -VFA
Links for Phonebanking Volunteers
Contact: callhub-helpdesk@democratsabroad.org
Start by training here: www.democratsabroad.org/phonebanking_training
After, you’ll receive a link to sign up for Callhub account and gain access to practice campaigns!
FLORIDA - Federal Election Deadlines
Florida
Congressional District 20
CD 20 - Special Primary Election
November 2, 2021
CD 20 - Special General Election
January 11, 2022
Registration
Postmarked by October 4, 2021
Postmarked by December 13, 2021
Ballot Request
Request Mail Ballot: Received by October 23, 2021
Request Email/Online/Fax Ballot: Received by November 2, 2021
Request Mail Ballot: Received by January 1, 2022
Request Email/Online/Fax Ballot: Received byJanuary 11, 2022Ballot Return
Within the U.S. Return by Mail: Received by November 2, 2021
Outside the U.S. Return by Mail: Postmarked by* November 2, 2021
Outside the U.S. Return by Fax: Received by November 2, 2021
Within the U.S. Return by Mail: Received by January 11, 2022
Outside the U.S. Return by Mail: Postmarked by* January 11, 2022
Outside the U.S. Return by Fax: Received by January 11, 2022
*Ballot Return: Ballots must still be received by the 10th day after the election.
Registration: postal mail or online
Registration: Florida’s online voter registration system requires a state identification card
Ballot Request: email, fax or postal mail
Ballot Return: fax or postal mail
Find more information and register to vote in Florida here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/elections/FL
OHIO - Federal Election Deadlines
Ohio
Congressional Districts 11, 15
CD 11 - Special General Election
November 2, 2021
CD 15 - Special General Election
November 2, 2021
Registration
Ballot Request
Received by 12 PM, October 30, 2021
Received by 12 PM, October 30, 2021
Ballot Return
Sent by* 12:01 AM, November 2, 2021
Sent by* 12:01 AM, November 2, 2021
*Ballot Return: Ballots must still be received by the 10th day after the election.
Who can vote: All overseas voters with a voting address in either Ohio's 11th or 15th Congressional Districts. Enter your address to find your Congressional District: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Registration: email, fax, postal mail, or online
Registration: Ohio’s online voter registration system requires a state identification card
Ballot Request: email, fax or postal mail
Ballot Return: postal mail
Ballot Return: Ohio has a different ballot return deadline if the ballot is delivered by courier (for example, FedEX, DHL, etc.)
Find more information and register to vote in Ohio here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/states/OH
NEW JERSEY - State Election Deadlines
New Jersey
Governor, Lt Governor, State Senate, & State Assembly
State General Election
November 2, 2021
Registration
Register to Vote by Email, Fax, or Mail
Received by October 3, 2021 - ballots sent by Mail
Received by October 12, 2021 - ballots sent by Email or Fax
Ballot Request
Request Ballots sent by Email, Fax, or Mail or Fax
Received by October 3, 2021 - ballots sent by Mail
Received by October 29, 2021 - ballots sent by Email or Fax
Ballot Return
Received by November 2, 2021
Return Ballots by Email, Fax, or Mail. If returned by Email or Fax, voters must also mail the original ballot.
Voters from Abroad must select “intend to return” to be eligible to vote in this election.
Find more information and register to vote in New Jersey here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/elections/NJ
VIRGINIA - State Election Deadlines
Virginia
Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, & House of Delegates
State General Election
November 2, 2021
Registration
Overseas Voters by October 12 at 5PM
Service Members & Families by November 2, 2021
Ballot Request
Ballot Return
Overseas Voters Return by Mail: Postmarked by November 2, 2021 at 7PM
Service Members & Families Return by Mail: Postmarked by November 2, 2021 at 7PM
ALL: Ballots Received by November 5, 2021
Register to Vote and Request Your Ballot TODAY
--> Many Overseas Voter Are Eligible to Vote <--
If you “intend to return” you may vote in Virginia state elections.
*Please note: Selecting “intend to return” may contribute towards establishing yourself as a tax resident in Virginia. Because the legal requirements to establish “residence” or “domicile” for tax purposes are determined by state law and the specific facts of your life, before you note that you intend to return on your form, you may consider seeking advice on these matters from a tax professional.If your “return is uncertain” you may vote in Virginia state elections IF you provide the name of an employer for yourself or your spouse or your parent (if you are a dependent).
Votefromabroad.org will prompt you where to provide this information.If you’ve “never resided” in Virginia, or if your return is uncertain and you cannot provide an employer's name, you will not be able to vote in this state election.
** But you will be eligible to vote in the November 2022 federal elections for U.S. House of Representatives.**
If you are an absent military or overseas citizen eligible to vote in state and local elections, you may register to vote and submit an absentee ballot application electronically for a specific election or any elections up through the next year using the Department of Elections voter registration portal.
Please note that a driver’s license or identification card issued by the Virginia DMV is required to complete the process paperlessly. If you do not have a DMV-issued ID, you may also apply by using the federal postcard application (FPCA), available at www.fvap.gov.
You can submit your FPCA by scanned email attachment to info@elections.virginia.gov or via fax to (804) 371-0194. Detailed instructions are provided in the Virginia Voting Assistance Guide. FPCA’s are valid for all elections in the calendar year in which they are submitted and must be renewed annually.
If you do not receive your state ballot in time, you may vote using a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available at www.fvap.gov. You can identify all of the state, local offices and, if applicable, ballot measures that, as of this date, are expected to be on the ballot by visiting the Candidate Lists and visit ELECT's Citizen Portal to view your voter registration status.
CALIFORNIA - Recall Election
BLUE WAVE VICTORY!
On September 14, 2021, Democrats out registered Republicans by a margin of nearly 2 to 1!
Governor Newsom will remain in office.
Get Out The Vote (GOTV) is the main function of Democrats Abroad.
Our main goal is to inform & enable all Americans to exercise their right to VOTE!
Register! |
👉 http://www.votefromabroad.org 👈 |
Remind! |
Making phone calls is our tried-and-true, most effective Get Out The Vote method! Want to make a difference? Train and join DA call-a-thons to overseas voters. We need you BEFORE 2024!!! Contact: callhub-helpdesk@democratsabroad.org Get Certified: www.democratsabroad.org/phonebanking_training |
Assist! |
Members need assistance returning their ballots. Each state has different rules, and having someone answering questions is reassuring to voters. It also ensures ballots are submitted correctly. Please join as we use Intercom and roll out a blue wave in 2023!!! Get Certified: https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Intercom |
Vote! |
REGISTER TO VOTE & REQUEST YOUR 2023 MIDTERMS BALLOT - DO IT NOW!UPDATED: STATE DEADLINES HAVE COME!Still need to register or request your overseas absentee ballot? Go to VoteFromAbroad.org – just answer the questions to fill out your registration form/ballot request (FPCA). Follow directions for returning it to your local election officials right away. Ask to receive your ballot by EMAIL/ONLINE — this is the best way to make sure you receive your ballot in time! Once you have your ballot, follow instructions on how to vote it and return it immediately! BALLOT RETURN INFORMATIONIF YOU STILL DON'T HAVE YOUR BALLOT:
BALLOT RETURN BY POSTAL MAIL REQUIREDThe following states require ballots to be returned by postal mail. States with * may allow alternate return methods by email/online, or fax — click on your state or contact your Local Election Official for details. AL*, AR, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA*, KY, LA*, MD, MI, MN, MO*, NE*, NH, NJ*, NY, OH, PA, SD, TN, TX*, VA, VT, WI, WY RECOMMENDED: All UOCAVA voters returning a ballot by postal mail should also vote and return a FWAB (Federal Write In Absentee Ballot). This is a backup ballot used only by UOCAVA voters (those who have sent in an FPCA). You can vote and return both the FWAB and also your state-issued ballot — if both arrive in time, only one will be counted. To vote the FWAB, go to FVAP.gov/FWAB. For more information about the FWAB, including resources for what is on your ballot, check out www.VoteFromAbroad.org/FWAB EMAIL or ONLINE BALLOT RETURN ALLOWEDThe following states allow ballots to be returned by EMAIL or an ONLINE method, in addition to postal mail return. States with * have special requirements — click on your state or contact your Local Election Official for details. AL*, AZ, CO, DC, DE, HI, IN, KS, MA, ME, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE*, NJ*, NM, NV, OR, RI, SC, UT, WA, WV RECOMMENDED: All UOCAVA voters from the above states are recommended to return a ballot by EMAIL or ONLINE as allowed by their local election officials. If you decide to return a ballot by postal mail then you should also vote and return a FWAB (Federal Write In Absentee Ballot). This is a backup ballot used only by UOCAVA voters (those who have sent in an FPCA). You can vote and return both the FWAB and then also your state-issued ballot — if both arrive in time, only one will be counted. To vote the FWAB, go to FVAP.gov/FWAB. For more information about the FWAB, including resources for what is on your ballot, check out www.VoteFromAbroad.org/FWAB FAX BALLOT RETURN ALLOWEDThese states allow ballots to be returned by fax. States with * have special requirements — click on your state or contact your Local Election Official for details. RECOMMENDED: All UOCAVA voters from the above states are recommended to return a ballot by FAX (or via an email-to-fax service - see below) as allowed by their local election officials. If you decide to return a ballot by postal mail then you should also vote and return a FWAB (Federal Write In Absentee Ballot). This is a backup ballot used only by UOCAVA voters (those who have sent in an FPCA). You can vote and return both the FWAB and then also your state-issued ballot — if both arrive in time, only one will be counted. To vote the FWAB, go to FVAP.gov/FWAB. For more information about the FWAB, including resources for what is on your ballot, check out www.VoteFromAbroad.org/FWAB EMAIL TO FAX SERVICESFor Alaska (AK), California (CA), Florida (FL), Louisiana (LA), Oklahoma (OK) voters without access to a fax machine, please consider an email-to-fax service. FVAP.gov offers a free email-to-fax service for US voters abroad to return election materials to their election officials. Additionally, there are a number of free or inexpensive email to fax services available such as HelloFax (eFax, FaxZero, Faxplus, etc). NEED HELP?!CONTACT US!
HAPPY VOTING! |
Timeline of the Absentee Voting Process | ||
STEP | WHAT | WHEN |
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1 | Register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) | January of each year |
2 | Receive your absentee ballot from your state election office | 45-30 days before the election |
3A | Return your state absentee ballot to your state | As soon as you receive it |
3B | If you do not receive your state absentee ballot, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) | As soon as you receive it |
NOTE: If you are at sea or at other overseas locations without access to the military postal system you should send your voted ballots to your election office - 35 days before the election NOTE: If you are at an overseas military installation with access to the military postal system you should send your voted ballots to your election office - 30 days before the election The following states have teams set up within DA, as well as special ballot return instructions:
Voter Protection Issues Running into difficulty? If you have any questions about voting, contact info@democratsabroad.org! | ||
2023 ELECTIONS BY STATE |
Election Deadlines |
OHIO Election Deadlines |
OH Special Election | Email/Online/Fax | |
|---|---|---|
Registration | July 10, 2023 | |
Ballot Request | August 1, 2023 | |
Ballot Return Received | By Courier: August 8, 2023 By Postal Mail: August 12, 2023 | |
How to vote in Ohio from abroad:
Find out more here: https://www.votefromabroad.org and here: DemocratsAbroad.org/OH-USA | ||
(State) Special Election Deadlines |
Special Election | Online | |
|---|---|---|
Registration | ||
Ballot Request | ||
Ballot Return | Postmarked by: Received by: | |
Find more information and register to vote here: https://www.votefromabroad.org | ||
GET OUT THE VOTE GUIDES |
ONBOARDING |
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China-Specific Volunteer Resources
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DA Vote From Abroad Training - July 11, 2020 | |||||
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DA Vote from Abroad Training - June 13, 2020 | |
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CHINA SPECIFIC RESOURCES (Last Updated 2020.08.29)
How to Mail or Fax back your ballot?
2020.08.29_VFA_INSTRUCTIONS.pdfMaterials for Businesses to Support GOTV
Voter Logistics A3 (PNG)
State Logistics A3 (PNG)
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Vote From Abroad! (2021)https://www.votefromabroad.org/Register and explore voter info by state!https://www.votefromabroad.org/states |
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Donate to DACN!COUNTRY COMMITTEE SUPPORTHelp sponsor the voting materials DA China needs to reach out and make an impact locally as they get out the vote for the Presidential elections next year. Please consider DONATING to Democrats Abroad. Visit the “Give to Win” page and select “Country Committee Support.” In the message box, write that you’d like your donations to help finance DACN’s GOTV efforts. Your generosity ensures that Americans living in China can vote and make a difference in U.S. elections. |
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Important Files from FVAP for 2020:Envelopes for Ballot Request (FPCA) only.If your state requires you to return your FPCA by postal mail, you can use these postage-paid envelops to send it via U.S. Postal Mail by dropping off at your nearest consulate or the embassy. Your ballot request will be sent to your Local Elections Official using the Diplomatic Pouch. Current advice from FVAP is to send your request by August 1, 2020. Please see your state rules for deadlines and other requirements. Envelopes for Ballot Return (FWAB and Official Ballots) only.If your state requires you to return your ballot by postal mail, you can use these postage-paid envelopes to send it via U.S. Postal Mail by dropping off at your nearest consulate or the embassy. Your voted ballot will be sent to your Local Elections Official using the Diplomatic Pouch. If you have successfully submitted your ballot request (FPCA) in time, your ballot should be emailed to you 45 days before the election. For the 2020 General Election, that means you should receive your ballot by Saturday, September 19. Please see your state rules for deadlines and other requirements.
If your state requires you to return your ballot request (FPCA) and/or voted ballot (FWAB or Official Ballot) by fax, you can use this free email-to-fax service. Just send your voting material and the coversheet as email attachments to fax@fvap.gov and they will be faxed on your behalf to your Local Elections Official. Please contact your Local Elections Official to confirm receipt. Please see your state rules for deadlines and other requirements. |
GOTV Resources on Wiki
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TERMS TO KNOWFPCA FPCA stands for Federal Post Card Application. Use the FPCA to register to vote and request an absentee ballot simultaneously. Filing an FPCA will update your contact information.FWAB FWAB stands for Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. This is an emergency backup ballot for voters who did not receive an absentee ballot from their state in time to participate in the election.LEO LEO stands for Local Election Official. These are County-level officials who accept FPCA applications and send Ballots to voters.VAG Voter Assistance Guide (VAG) contains Federal and State rules for Overseas Voters.VFA VoteFromAbroad.org is also known as VFA. It is DA’s preferred website for voter registration, as it is clear, concise, offers all content in Spanish, Voter Registration and FPCAs can be submitted online, and there is a chat box for assistance.FVAP FVAP refers to the Federal Voter Assistance Program. This is a U.S. government program designed to assist overseas voters. Visit FVAP.gov. |
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FVAP Return GuidanceE-Mail or FAXIf your state allows you to email or fax your FPCA, Ballot, or FWAB, be sure to use the official FVAP coversheet. No fax machine? No problem! Use FVAP’s free email-to-fax service!
You can mail your FPCA, ballot or FWAB postage-free using these return envelopes. Be sure to use the security envelope to seal in your completed ballot or FWAB inside of the mailing envelope. Using these templates, print directly on a blank envelope or print and affix to an envelope. Find your election office's mailing address. Standard U.S. Envelope Size (#10)
Standard Europe Envelope Size (C4)
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FVAP has translated the FPCA and FWAB forms as well as some key fact sheets to help you be able to vote from China. |
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US Embassy and Consulate ContactsU.S. embassies and consulates can provide American citizens with voting forms and information about absentee voting, and can mail voter registration and absentee ballot request forms, and voted ballots back to the United States. Embassies and consulates can also advise voters on local mailing options and estimated mail transit times. In addition, the embassy or consulate can notarize or witness voting materials (if required by the state) free of charge. American citizens cannot vote in person at U.S. embassies or consulates, nor can embassies or consulates receive mail or blank ballots on behalf of voters. |
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2022 Election Dates |
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DACN Guides and Graphics 2022 |
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DACN created fliers for 2021Send out to voters near you! Fliers are shared Volunteers create GOTV graphics and content to promote voting on DACN’s social media accounts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WeChat!, Twitter, and WeChat! Want to do more? Share our messaging to expand our reach and join the Communications Committee to create inspiring content. |
Success Stories: Why We Register & Vote! CALIFORNIA - Recall Election 2021 |
BLUE WAVE VICTORY!On September 14, 2021, Democrats out registered Republicans by a margin of nearly 2 to 1! Governor Newsom will remain in office.  |