Americans, be sure to register at www.democratsabroad.org. If you're on Facebook, join our group at www.groups.to/democratsabroadtaiwan.
BREAKING NEWS: At this morning's (Wash DC time) meeting of all the DA groups from around the world, DA Taiwan has been voted in as a full voting committee. Congratulations to all those who put in lots of hard work to make our submission to the DPCA a success!
Americans, be sure to register at www.democratsabroad.org. If you're on Facebook, join our group at www.groups.to/democratsabroadtaiwan.
WHO: Democrats Abroad Executive Committee Members, Democratic National Committee Members, Democrats Abroad Country Committee Leadership, along with Democrats Abroad Members
Democrats Abroad is the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party. With members in more than 160 countries around the globe, Democrats Abroad holds eight positions on the Democratic National Committee and sends a voting delegation to the Democratic National Convention to select our presidential candidate.
WHAT: Executive Committee Members and Democrats Abroad members travel to Washington, DC to lobby the U.S. Congress on issues affecting Americans living overseas, including voting rights issues, health care, taxes, the United Family Act and encouraging members to join the Americans Abroad Caucus. They will also meet with officials from the U.S. State Department.
WHEN: April 27-29, 2009
WHERE: Executive Committee members are available for interviews with the media to discuss their meetings with Congress and President Obama’s successes in restoring the U.S. image abroad.
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www.democratsabroad.org
Americans, be sure to register at www.democratsabroad.org. If you're on Facebook, join our group at www.groups.to/democratsabroadtaiwan.
Dear Fellow DA Taiwan Members,
Great News! We've just gotten word that all the hard work on getting the DA Taiwan country committee upgraded to a "voting" status is about to pay off. We submitted all our details (bylaws, vote results, efforts to publicize our election meeting, etc.) to the DA regional- and international-level officers, and the word back is that DA Taiwan will be brought back up into the "full" "voting" status.
Request for DA Taiwan Members' ARCs: As part of our compliance with Taiwan's Civil Associations Act (TCAA), we need to submit 30 DA Taiwan member ARCs as part of our application for approval. We have collected many ARCs at the March 17th "St. Patrick's Day" DA Taiwan event, but we do need more! Please scan and send a copy of your ARC to tammylturner@gmail.com with a cc to DA Taiwan Counsel David Bell at dat.counsel@gmail.com. We appreciate very much your help with this essential step on ensuring compliance with the TCAA.
We have many excellent events in the works for the coming months, so please stay tuned. We'll have information on these events up at this blog, the Facebook group page, as well as the Democrats Abroad group page.
Americans, be sure to register at www.democratsabroad.org. If you're on Facebook, join our group at www.groups.to/democratsabroadtaiwan.
DEMOCRATS ABROAD TO HOST
OVERSEAS VOTING REFORM SYMPOSIUM
Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) to be Keynote Speaker
Washington, DC— Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) will be the keynote speaker for the first Democrats Abroad Overseas Voting Reform Symposium on April 24, 2009 from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. The symposium is hosted by Democrats Abroad, which is the official arm of the Democratic Party for Americans living outside of the United States
Democrats Abroad will present the results of a recently-completed global survey of members in more than 160 countries and territories. Major study recommendations include standardizing overseas absentee registration and voting standards and procedures across all States, and strengthening outreach and education to those new to voting—and to voting from outside the United States.
Democrats Abroad International Chair Christine Marques will chair the symposium. The voter survey results will be presented by a panel of Democrats Abroad members including Colorado voter Gary Suwannarat who lives abroad in Thailand and New Jersey voter Joe Green, who lives abroad in Canada.
A second panel will focus on issues faced by States and localities in managing overseas absentee voting. Participants include representatives of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the Department of State and State Board of Elections.
The Overseas Voting Reform Symposium precedes the Democrats Abroad Spring Meeting also held at the Washington Court Hotel, April 25-26. For more information, please contact Jody Couser at pressofficer@democratsabroad.org
Americans, be sure to register at www.democratsabroad.org. If you're on Facebook, join our group at www.groups.to/democratsabroadtaiwan.
Statement For Immediate Release (April 22, 2009)
DEMOCRATS ABROAD INTERNATIONAL CHAIR RELEASES STATEMENT CELEBRATING EARTH DAY
Geneva, Switzerland— As millions of people across the globe celebrate the 39th annual Earth Day today, Christine Schon Marques, International Chair of Democrats Abroad, issued the following statement:
“Nearly four decades ago, the first Earth Day marked the birth of a new national environmental consciousness paving the way for landmark policies that protect public health and preserve our environment for future generations.
“We have made important gains. But for too long Washington has been held captive by the special interests and has turned a blind eye to the energy crises and the gathering threat of climate change that is affecting all Americans.
“President Obama has given us a new reason to celebrate this Earth Day: his Administration has committed to a comprehensive energy plan that will generate millions of new clean energy jobs, create energy independence, reduce deadly pollution and finally tackle global warming and its potentially catastrophic effects.
“Democrats have been leaders on these issues, and they continue to push for change in Washington.
“April 22nd will always be a day to recommit ourselves to a healthier, cleaner planet; but this year, in the throes of some very difficult economic times, Earth Day has a renewed sense of purpose. President Obama and his team have made plain the direct connection between repairing our economy and making the bold investments in renewable energy sources that are healthier for our planet. Today is a reminder of the opportunity we have to make the United States a leader in the global energy industry, and increase our energy independence.”
Americans, be sure to register at www.democratsabroad.org. If you're on Facebook, join our group at www.groups.to/democratsabroadtaiwan.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, there will be a special primary election in the 32nd Congressional District of California to determine the political parties’ candidates to appear on the ballot for a special general election to be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, to fill the seat vacated by Representative Hilda Solis.
If one candidate receives a majority of the votes (50% + 1) in the special primary election, no special general election will be held. To determine if your legal residence is in the 32nd Congressional District, click HERE then click “United States House of Representatives.”
REGISTERING TO VOTE AND REQUESTING A BALLOT:
Voters who are California residents within the 32nd District, who requested and received a ballot for the federal General Election on November 4, 2008, will automatically receive a special election ballot, and need not take any further action.
All members of the U.S. Uniformed Services, their family members and citizens residing outside the U.S. who are California residents within the 32nd District should request a ballot for this special election by completing and submitting a registration and ballot request, Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, by May 12, 2009, if you have not done so already in calendar year 2009.
To complete your application for your ballot click HERE
The FPCA may be submitted by fax or email in addition to regular mail if you or your family members are members of the US Uniformed Services. After faxing, submit the original FPCA by mail. The faxed FPCA should include a Transmittal Cover Sheet, which may be found HERE (Note: if by chance this link doesn't open the cover sheet, ex: in Firefox, go to the following page , scroll to the FAX section and save the file: http://www.fvap.gov/overseas-citizens/request-registration-absentee-ballot/states/ca/index.html.)
To send the FPCA directly by fax or email send to:
Los Angeles County Fax: (562) 929-4790
Email: militaryoverseasav@rrcc.lacounty.gov
Your county elections official must receive the request for an absentee ballot NOT LATER THAN Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
RETURNING YOUR BALLOT:
California allows overseas Uniformed Service Members and overseas citizens to return ballots by mail or fax, so long as they sign an oath to acknowledge they are waiving their right to cast their ballots secretly. If returning the marked ballot by fax, you must complete and sign the Transmittal Cover Sheet found HERE. When returned, your ballot will be counted if it is returned by close of polls on May 19, 2009. (Note: if by chance this link doesn't open the cover sheet, ex: in Firefox, go to the following page , scroll to the FAX section and save the file: http://www.fvap.gov/overseas-citizens/request-registration-absentee-ballot/states/ca/index.html.)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the California Secretary of State’s website at:
www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_mov.htm.
This information was provided by your friends at Democrats Abroad.
