Get Out The Vote: Voting & Volunteering
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! |
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 November!!! Contact: callhub-helpdesk@democratsabroad.org Get Certified: https://www.democratsabroad.org/voter_assistance_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 CallHub and Intercom and roll out a blue wave in 2024!!! Get Certified: |
Vote! |
REGISTER TO VOTE & REQUEST YOUR 2024 BALLOTS - DO IT NOW!UPDATED: Oct 6, 2024 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. New state guidance can be found at VoteFromAbroad.org/States. 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 REQUIREDhttps://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/x/dAGeygE As of October 5, 2024, voters can only reliably return ballots by courier service. Ballots sent by any other method will not reach the U.S. in time to be counted on November 5, 2024. The 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 Democrats Abroad has State Teams: DemocratsAbroad.org/State_Teams. Please visit the state team page for information on voting and to join. DACN has several specific voter assistance groups on WeChat in 2024. These include Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. There are several chat groups for voters from every state as well. Connect with Liz Blackbourn on WeChat, user ID: Lizconsin.
Voter and Voter Protection Issues Running into difficulty? If you have any questions about voting, contact gotv@democratsabroad.org! |
2024 ELECTIONS BY STATE |
Election Deadlines |
OHIO Election Deadlines |
OH Special Election | Email/Online/Fax | |
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Registration | October 7, 2024 |
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Ballot Request | October 29, 2024 |
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Ballot Return Received |
| Postal Mail
Courier: received by 7:30 PM on November 5 |
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 | |
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Registration |
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Ballot Request |
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Ballot Return |
| Postmarked by: Received by: |
Find more information and register to vote here: https://www.votefromabroad.org |
GET OUT THE VOTE Guides |
Onboarding Volunteers in 2024 |
From the Archive: Volunteer Resources
Please use the search bar and visit DemocratsAbroad.org/Volunteer for updated voter assistance and volunteer trainings.
GOTV Handbook 👈👈👈
NEW! FAQs: 2022 Voting From Abroad -VFA
GOTV - Voter Turn-Out Resourcesarchived
Level 1: Module 1 - Registering and Requesting Ballots
Voter Assistance Training: Level 1
Voter Assistance Training: Level 2
https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/gotv2021/pages/6957498372
https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/StudyAbroad
https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/gotv2021/pages/6849855712
https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/snip/pages/6984728607
https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CallHub/pages/6968311809
https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/gotv2020/pages/6265275056
From the Archive: 2020 Ballot Return Guides
How to return Ballots by Mail or Fax:
2020.08.29_VFA_INSTRUCTIONS.pdfLogistics Guidance:
DA Vote From Abroad Training - July 11, 2020 | |
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DA Vote from Abroad Training - June 13, 2020 | |
TERMS TO KNOW
FPCA
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. Here are two places to complete the FPCA:
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. In your state, a LEO may be referred to by a specific title, such as a municipal clerk.
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. Vote From Abroad provides a resource guide for study abroad students and 24/7 voter assistance. VoteFromAbroad.org is safe and secure, no data is stored nor shared with third parties.
FVAP
FVAP refers to the Federal Voter Assistance Program. This is a U.S. government program designed to assist overseas voters. Visit FVAP.gov.
FVAP Return Guidance
E-Mail or FAX
If 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!
Print and complete a Fax, Email-to-Fax Coversheet.pdf
Add your completed FPCA/FWAB/Ballot
E-mail all attachments to fax@fvap.gov
Contact your LEO to confirm receipt
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)
FPCA Postage-Paid Return Envelope
Ballot Return and FWAB Postage-Paid Return Envelope
Ballot Return and FWAB Security Envelope
Standard Europe Envelope Size (C4)
FPCA Postage-Paid Return Envelope
Ballot Return and FWAB Postage-Paid Return Envelope
FVAP has translated the FPCA and FWAB forms as well as some key fact sheets to help you be able to vote from China.
US Embassy and Consulate Contacts
U.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.
Thank you for voting!
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DACN Guides and Graphics Archive
DACN created fliers for 2021
Volunteers create GOTV graphics and content to promote voting on DACN’s social media accounts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WeChat! Want to do more? Share our messaging to expand our reach and join the Communications Committee to create inspiring content.