Democrats Abroad Munich - U.S. politics

Thanks Eurovol.

Just out of interest, do you know how many registered Republicans there are in Germany compared to the number of Democrats?

Not a clue. I am not even sure that the numbers of US Citizens living in Germany (the ones we are allowed to know about) are any where near correct.

Recent articles have said that 210,000 live in Germany and 5,225 live in Munich. I think the numbers are higher and substantially so.

You may want to vote in PBS' online poll regarding whether Palin is qualified to be VP. Currently 50% say "qualified," and 48% say "unqualified." Looks like you can vote more than once, so it isn't exactly scientific. But I see that this poll is getting a lot of attention on the internet.

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

Registration time is dwindling down. In fact, if you are not registered, you are pushing the limits!

Our next meeting will be all about the "ballot". We will begin to offer emergency ballot services to anyone and everyone that is eligible to vote. If you haven't gotten your ballot by the time this meeting takes place, come on down and we will help you fill out an emergency ballot. I have got a thousand of them (official GOV types) and will print more if need be.

This service will continue until the election! If you need an emergency ballot, we will get you one. Just less us know! Don't wait until the last minute. It takes about 6 days for the post to arrive back home.

LET'S TALK ENERGY...


Teleconference with Chris Hansen of the Obama-Biden International Energy Group

Where exactly do the candidates stand on:

* oil drilling?

* global warming?

* automobile efficiency?

* oil price relief?

* renewable energy?

Chris Hansen is a graduate of MIT and Oxford, a member of the Obama-Biden campaign's International Energy Group, and a Democrat Abroad living in Dubai. Call-in to get the insider's view on everything energy related.

WHEN
Sunday 5 October

08:00 Mexico City
09:00 Toronto
14:00 London
15:00 Brussels
16:00 Istanbul
17:00 Dubai
18:30 Delhi
21:00 Shanghai
22:00 Tokyo

RSVP

Please RSVP by October 3 to receive the call-in number.
everyvotecounts@democratsabroad.org

SUPPORT OBAMA'S ENERGY PLAN!

As we will hear from Chris in detail, Obama offers a far more aggressive plan on renewable energy, automobile efficiency, and emissions control and a much more responsible position on offshore drilling. To support his plan, help get out the vote by donating

25 USD or more to Democrats Abroad! Please go to https://secure.democratsabroad.org/contribute/ now to add your energy to electing Obama.

Democrats Abroad
430 S. Capitol Street, SE
Washington, 20003

Emergency Ballots – for any and all eligible US voters!

Wednesday October 8th @ 7pm (with our regular meeting), EineWeltHaus

Wednesday October 15th@ 7:30-9pm, EineWeltHaus

Wednesday October 22th@ 7:30-9pm, EineWeltHaus

If you have not received your ballot by today (6th of October, 2008), then you need to fill out an emergency ballot as soon as possible and send it in. We will be at the EineWeltHaus every Wednesday from 7:30-9pm to offer this service to anyone that wants to vote.

Alternatively, you can use the http://www.votefromabroad.org website and fill out the form as if you were registering and print it out. The first few pages will be your registration (which hopefully you have already done) and the last few pages will be your emergency ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB for short). Follow the instructions carefully and mail the FWAB in today. Remember, your ballot must go into a separate envelope called a security envelope. Do not write your name or anything on the security envelope and put nothing in it except your ballot!

Filling out the FWAB ballot: You can write in the office and candidate name you wish to vote for. If you do not know this information, then you can simply write in which Party you would like to vote for as a straight ticket. For example, if you write “Democratic Party”, then you will vote for all Democratic Party offices up for vote.

BE SURE TO WRITE LEGIBLY (US style, ie a German 1 looks like a US 7)! This is one of the major reasons absentee ballots and FWABs are rejected!

For information on offices and candidates, visit Project Vote Smart at http://www.votesmart.org/voter_county_election_offices.php

If and when your Official Ballot does finally arrive, then simply fill it out as instructed and return it as well. Don’t worry, you are not voting twice. Your election official will know to replace your FWAB (which is a provisional ballot) with your Official Ballot.

FAQs: http://www.votefromabroad.org/faq.php?adid=KDAW9990001071701

For voting help or questions, contact:

help@VoteFromAbroad.org or votercentral@democratsabroad.org or come to the EineWeltHaus on the coming Wednesdays!

DO NOT PUT THIS OFF TO THE LAST MINUTE!

Joe Biden Counts on Americans Living Abroad To Vote For Obama
October 6, 2008
obama-biden
Statement from Joe Biden -

WASHINGTON,(RUSHPRNEWS)10/06/2008–I've traveled around the world, and I've seen my share of presidential campaigns. But I have never seen one in which Americans living abroad have had a bigger impact.

Barack and I know we have support from Americans all over the globe — and we appreciate all that Democrats Abroad has been doing to grow this movement for change.
But the time for you to make your voice heard is quickly passing. Voter registration and vote by mail deadlines are approaching.
Some states close their rolls as early as today, October 5th.

Find your state, get registered, and get your absentee ballot today: http://www.votefromabroad.org

Eight disastrous years of George Bush20policies have jeopardized our security, tarnished our international reputation, and sunk us into the most profound economic crisis we have seen since the Great Depression. Now, John McCain wants to continue down the same path.

Don't imagine for a second that your vote doesn't matter in this election.

Register today and request your absentee ballot, and make sure your voice is heard: http://www.votefromabroad.org

Thank you,
Joe Biden

http://www.rushprnews.com/2008/10/06/joe-b...vote-for-obama/

State specific voter information that is being sent out to those that registered via Vote From Abroad

California voters:

Los Angeles:

Please be aware that ballots being sent from Los Angeles may well appear to be Sample Ballots. However, the instructions will tell you that, if the "Sample" is the only ballot your receive, you should vote it and return it. It will be counted.

San Francisco:

A witness needs to sign on the envelope supplied with the state ballot (if an address is required, use your voting address). If using the FWAB, the witness signs on the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation form.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Massachusetts voters:

Massachusetts ballots are being mailed late! If you have slow mail service in your country, vote the FWAB and send it in. If you subsequently receive your state (town) ballot, vote it as well and send it in — your local election official will replace the FWAB with the state (town) ballot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pennsylvania voters:

Please note that you must sign the oath when returning your voted state ballot. If using the FWAB, sign the oath on the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation form.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arizona voters:

If this is your first time registering to vote in Arizona, your voter registration form must also include proof of citizenship or the form will be rejected. Only one acceptable form of proof is needed to register to vote. The following is a list of acceptable documents to establish your citizenship:
- A legible photocopy of a birth certificate that verifies citizenship and supporting legal documentation (i.e. marriage certificate) if the name on the birth certificate is not the same as your current legal name
- A legible photocopy of pertinent pages of a United States passport identifying the applicant
- The applicant's Bureau of Indian Affairs Card Number, Tribal Treaty Card Number, or Tribal Enrollment Number in box 16 on the front of the voter registration form
- A legible photocopy of a driver license or non-operating identification from another state within the United States if the license indicates that the applicant has provided satisfactory proof of citizenship
- A legible photocopy of a Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood or Tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississippi voters:

The state ballot or FWAB must be notarized by anyone authorized to administer oaths (consular officer or lawyer)if using the FWAB, on the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation form.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louisiana voters:

A witness needs to sign on the envelope supplied with the state ballot or, if using the FWAB, on the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation form.

Further instructions (boiled down) on filling out emergency ballots. Notice that LA. voters must have 2 witnesses actually sign the security envelope!

· Alabama: 2 witnesses OR Notary (must be over the age of 18)

· Alaska: 1 witness (dated and signed)

· Arizona: Proof of Citizenship (copy of passport or birth certificate)

· Louisiana: 2 witnesses (must sign security envelope)

· North Carolina: 2 witnesses (must be over 18 sign and include address)

· South Carolina: 1 witness – No signature necessary

· Virginia: 1 witness – No signature necessary

· Wisconsin: 1 witness (include date of birth of witness – must be a U.S. Citizen)

Find out if you are registered to vote!

Are there gonna be any events like during last election circle? Like with Kerry's sister or Madam Albright?
But well, I guess his Kenyan half-brothers aren't exactly in campaigning mood, eh

Was hoping to have something in a few days, but scheduling fell through.

Breaking information!

New York and Massachusetts voters: ballots are being mailed late for many. You need to use an emergency ballot called a FWAB. We will have them at the EineWeltHaus tomorrow night and every Wednesday from now till the election (7:30-9pm).

We will also have them for the next two Saturdays-
Oct 18: somewhere on Rindermarkt
Oct 25: somewhere on Schuetzenstrasse, in the Fussgaengerzone between Hauptbahnhof and Stachus.

Alternatively, you can go to VoteFromAbroad and print it out (answer the questions as if registering) and follow the instructions given.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
Step-by-Step Voter Check-List

The FWAB is a back-up ballot that you can vote TODAY. If you subsequently receive your state ballot, vote that, too. The FWAB is only counted if your state ballot is not received by your state by the ballot return deadline. Click here for deadlines http://www.democratsabroad.org/registration_dates.

Get the FWAB: Go to http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org. Simply answer the six screens of questions and download and print the nine page document. You will receive (1) Instructions (where you will find the address to send the FWAB), (2) Electronic Transmission Sheet and Federal Postcard Application which you do NOT need; (3) The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot which includes a Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation, the Ballot and Instructions.

Sign and Date the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation: When you use VoteFromAbroad.org, the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation will be filled in based upon your voting state's requirements and the information you provided. You just need to review the information, sign and date it. Check the following list to see if you need a witness or additional documentation.
• Alabama: 2 witnesses OR Notary (must be over the age of 18)
• Alaska: 1 witness (dated and signed)
• Arizona: Proof of Citizenship (copy of passport or birth certificate)
• Louisiana: 2 witnesses (sign on voter’s declaration form)
• Minnesota: Self Certification by putting passport number or last 4 digits of SSN on ballot return envelope
• North Carolina: 2 witnesses (must be over 18 sign and include address)
• South Carolina: 1 witness – No signature necessary
• Virginia: 1 witness – No signature necessary
• Wisconsin: 1 witness (both voter and witness must sign security envelope– witness must be a U.S. Citizen, over 18)
•

Vote the FWAB: You can either write in the candidate's name or the word Democrat. (It is unlikely that you will need the second page of the ballot).
To find out who the Democratic candidates are for House and Senate, please click here http://democratsabroad.org/node/6884. To find your Congressional District, click here http://www.votesmart.org/, enter your voting zip code and then click on "current election."

Seal the Ballot Envelope: Put your voted FWAB ONLY in a plain white envelope and seal it. Write on the outside of the envelope “Security Envelope.”

In the Mailing Envelope: Put the sealed “Security Envelope” and the Signed and Dated Voter's Declaration/Affirmation in a mailing envelope.

Enter Return Address: Write your name and current mailing address in the upper left hand corner of the mailing envelope.

Address the Envelope: Write the address of your Local Election Office on the mailing envelope. The address of your Local Election Office is provided on your customized information sheet.

Double Check: Double check that you have completed everything.

Ensure evidence of mailing from outside the US:

• Foreign Postmark: Affix the appropriate postage. All states will accept a foreign postmark as evidence of submission from outside the U.S.
• Consular Stamp: All states have been informed by the U.S. State Department that they should accept a consular stamp as evidence of submission from outside the U.S. Using the consular service results in your mailing envelope being placed in the US postal system. Affix a $.42 U.S. Postage Stamp.
• Commercial Courier: Some states will also accept a commercial courier service waybill as evidence of submission from outside the U.S. Using a courier service should be a last resort. Alabama explicitly refuses to accept materials sent to them by commercial couriers, such as Federal Express and DHL. If using a courier, please staple a copy of the air waybill to the ballot envelope prior to sealing the courier envelope.

Seal the addressed envelope – and Mail your FWAB Today!

For Questions: help@votefromabroad.org

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWABs), aka emergency ballots, available tonight at EineWeltHaus, Schwanthalerstraße 80. Take U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese - one stop beyond Hauptbahnhof.

We will be there from 7:30-9pm to help you vote using the FWAB!

For those living in Nuremberg:

Deutsch Amerikanisches Institut ( http://www.dai-nuernberg.de )

America Votes – We Party: Presidential Election Party

Live-Music, Live Video Streaming and Live Talks

Tuesday, 4 November starting at 20:00

Foyer – University Erlangen in Nürnberg,

Findelgasse 9 - Nürnberg

Free Entrance

For an invite to the breakfast sponsored by the Deutsch Amerikanisches Institüt and Rödl & Partner at 8:00 am on the 5th, they should call Kathleen Röber, the managing administrator at 0911 230 6912.

Emergency ballots - tonight at EineWeltHaus! 7:30-9pm

Poll closing times and comment from Wednesday Wire:

6PM (ET): Indiana, Kentucky

12:00 CET

Note: First indication of a landslide if Obama takes Indiana

7PM: Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia

0100 CET

Note: First indication of a problem if McCain wins NH or first indication of Obama victory if Obama takes Virginia

7:30PM: North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia

0130 CET

Note: All three key to understanding what is happening across the country; if Obama takes all three, it's over; if McCain takes all three, it could be a long night.

8:00PM: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee

0200 CET

Note: The witching hour for Florida, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

8:30PM: Arkansas

0230 CET

9:00PM: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming

0300 CET

Note: Colorado, New Mexico key here

10:00PM: Iowa, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah

0400 CET

Note: If not decided yet, Nevada, Montana or North Dakota could decide it.

11:00PM: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

0500 CET

12:00AM: Alaska

0600 CET

If you are in the boonies or just want to see what other party's are doing for election night, we are streaming ours starting on the 4th and going till the sun rising on the 5th.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/munich-election-night-party

From circa 7pm CET till 11:30pm CET will be live music:

7-9 PM American Oldies and Musical Greats with:

Rita Loving - piano and voice: (Bavarian State Opera)
Joan Campbell - voice: (Bavarian State Opera)
Jason Alexander Smith - voice (Bavarian State Opera)
Sarah Yorke- voice (Musical Academy, Munich)

9-10 PM Jazz classics with:
Steve Hooks- saxophone
John Paiva- guitar

10:30- 11:30 PM
Roberta Kelly

You might notice a few names that you recognize (try google or youtube). There will be a special song for Obama (written and sung for this party), plus a World Premiere Video.

That will be followed by election returns and people having a good time.

Check it out if you want and if you plan something similar let me know cause we will be beaming onto the screen parties from Berlin and elsewhere.

Thank you for the information. I'm registered in New York and I've been freaking out that I haven't received my ballot yet. I followed your instructions and was able to get the FWAB- relief!

Where will people be watching the results come in? Where will the Democrats Abroad party take place and is it open? Many thanks.

We are 36 hours away from this election being over -- but we still have not won this thing yet! As overseas Americans who cast their votes weeks ago, we may feel somewhat disconnected from what is going on tomorrow in the U.S. There are nevertheless a number of ways we can still be involved! Here's a list of 5 easy ideas:

1) Have you sent in your ballot?
> If you have not, you may still FAX in your ballot before polls close on Nov 4th to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, HI, ID (emergency only), IN, KS, LA, ME (emergency only), MO (Federal employees and military only), MT (by county!), NV, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OK (emergency only), RI, SC, TX (military only), UT, VT, VI, and WV.
> You may FAX your ballot by Nov 3rd to MS.
> You may EMAIL back your ballot to IN, NJ, NM, ND, SC, and WV (by county!).
> You may POSTMARK your ballot by the 3rd to: AL (received by 4 Nov), IL (rec'd 18 Nov), IA (rec'd 10 Nov), NY (rec'd 11 Nov), ND, PA (rec'd 11 Nov), and UT (rec'd 18 Nov).
> You may POSTMARK your ballot by the 4th to: AK (received by 19 Nov), AR (rec'd 14 Nov) DC (rec'd 14 Nov), GA (rec'd 7 Nov), IN (rec'd 14 Nov), MD (rec'd 14 Nov), MA (rec'd 14 Nov), OH (rec'd 14 Nov), TX (rec'd 10 Nov), VI (rec'd 14 Nov), WA (rec'd 25 Nov), and WV (rec'd 10 Nov).
> If you live in one of the above states, never received your ballot and have not yet done so, please send in a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot. You can download the forms and instructions for your state at http://www.fvap.gov/shortcuts/get-backup-f...lot/index.html/ .

> If you have sent in your ballot, give your county elections office a call to make sure it's arrived. You can look up the phone number of your county's office here: https://obama.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/eod.htm/ . If there are any issues, you may still have time to fax, email or post a replacement.

2) Have your overseas American friends sent in their ballots?
> Call up, email or otherwise check up with 5 American friends living overseas and make sure they have received and returned their absentee ballots. If they have not, use the information above to help them cast a vote if there's still time!

3) Will your American friends and relatives be headed to the polls tomorrow?
> Call up, email or otherwise check in with 5 American friends or family members living in the U.S. and encourage them to head to the polls tomorrow. Take a couple minutes to tell them why you support Barack Obama and why we're counting on their vote.

4) Will other Americans -- those in key swing states -- be headed to the polls tomorrow?
> The campaign has set up an online tool called Neighbor to Neighbor, which allows you to make calls to registered voters in crucial areas, providing them with information about their polling locations and encouraging them to vote for Barack Obama. You can pick the state you'd like to call here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap/ . You can find answers to commonly-asked questions here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/votercontactfaq/ . (Don't forget to calculate the time difference.)
> If you do not have a way to make cheap or free phone calls from your land line to the U.S., try using your computer to make calls. You can get 5 free hours of calling from Internet Calls: http://www.internetcalls.com/en/index.html/ ; another inexpensive option is to create and use a Skype account -- calls to the U.S. are just 2 cents/minute: http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/callphones/ .
> If you do have a telephone flatrate, consider inviting friends over tonight and tomorrow to make these calls from your home. Polls do not begin closing in the U.S. until midnight CET, so there is plenty of time to make calls after work!

5) Are there other ways to assist Democrats and Obama supporters in your area?
> If you live near a major city, it is likely that a Democrats Abroad chapter or Americans Abroad for Obama group will be sponsoring an Election Watch party. You can find a big list of events here: http://www.democratsabroad.org/article/200...and-watch-elec/ . You can also track down events using myBO; search for your area on this page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_simple/ . Volunteers may still be needed for these events! Contact the event's organizer and let them know you're willing to help. (If you are turned away because they have plenty of volunteers, then they will have plenty of volunteers to feed! Show your support and bake or take snacks and other goodies for those staffing the event.)

Americans abroad can still have an impact on this election -- please take a couple hours over the next 1.5 days to ensure that a brighter day in American politics dawns on Nov. 5th!

Call a swing state: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap

Click on a state to call and fill out the requested information.

Put in your street address here or back home or make one up (ie 44th President Obama Street).

The site does not like to deal with overseas phone numbers, so just make one up (ie. ???-111-1111 where the area code can be found here: http://www.nanpa.com/area_code_maps/ac_map_static.html).

It also doesn't like overseas zip codes, so just use one in the neighborhood of the state you want to call. To find zip codes, go to http://maps.huge.info/zip.htm and click on the swing state and find one you like.

You will then be given the option of getting a list to call. DO IT!

The first one is the hardest. Just do it. Call your list and just tell them how important this election is and they need to vote to make sure the country is put back on the right track.

Don't do negative, don't mention McCain, just tell them how important you think it is for them to go vote for Barack Obama. There is even a script to follow to help you out.

You can do this tonight, tomorrow and even tomorrow night. We are 6 hours ahead of the east coast you know.

In addition, use your email list NOW! Send everyone on your list the importance of this election tomorrow and why you want them to vote for Obama. Tell them that if they haven't voted early, to get out there tomorrow and do so with pride!

Make the pledge to contact 5, 10, 25, 50 people or more, but do it now! Time is of the essence.

Go into tomorrow night knowing you did your part! Whether you are coming to our DA/Obama party or heading to another, go there knowing you did all you could to help elect Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States of America!

Be a part of history, don't just watch it on TV!

Yes We Can and YES WE DID!

Next meeting is November 12, 2008.

We will be showing the documentary The Clinton 12 and of course celebrating yesterday's historic event.