Voter Registration
CELEBRATION of the 90 ANNIVERSARY of the 19th AMENDMENT: WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE with VOTER REGISTRATION at TULLY’S COFFEE on SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010, 11 AM TO 1 PM
Tully’s Coffee, Götgatan 42, Stockholm – Medborgarplatsen
This month we are celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment: Women’s Suffrage. Honor the women who fought for the right to vote! Come on down and request your ballot for your state primary and/or the General Election on November 2, 2010.
Even if you have already voted in your state primary, the Military Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) requires you to register/request your absentee ballot for the November 2 General Election.
The MOVE Act directly affects how YOU exercise your right to vote. Signed into law by President Obama in October 2009, MOVE takes effect after your state’s primary and before the election in November.
MOVE both expands your rights as an Overseas Voter and requires you to request your ballots more often.
Here is what Democrats Abroad wants you to know about this important legislation that we lobbied Congress for years to pass:
1. The MOVE Act requires ALL states to provide voter registration applications online.
2. For the November 2010 General Election, ALL states must provide for the electronic transmission of a blank ballot 45 days prior to the election.
3. This means YOU should submit your Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) again, making certain to mark the “electronic” option for receipt of the ballot and include your email address, even if you are registered in a state that has not allowed electronic transmission of voting material in the past, such as New York. Please indicate that you are requesting your ballot for the November 2 General Election in # 6 of the FPCA. If you have not yet requested your ballot for your state primary, you must make a separate
application and indicate “state primary” in #6 of the FPCA.
4. The MOVE Act eliminated all notary requirements.
5. The MOVE Act expands the opportunities for use of the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) in all Federal Elections, including primaries and special elections.
6. The MOVE Act provides for the electronic transmission of a blank ballot 45 days before the election:
a) By email
b) By fax
c) By blank ballot which can be downloaded from the state’s website.
Most states will have decided how they are to implement the MOVE ACT by August 2010, and some will not be able to send ballots on time, such as those with primaries on September 14. In that case, the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) may be used.
It is important to request a ballot for every election, even if your Local Election Official usually sends it to you. There must be a valid request on file in case the results of an election are contested.
You can go to www.votefromabroad.org to fill in and print out your FPCA, or you can attend our in-person Voter Registration events held throughout Sweden. If you have any questions about voting, please contact me at secretary@democratsabroad.se. Democrats Abroad has made a difference in several races in recent elections, so your vote is very important.
We will be sending updates about voting throughout the year. You may also visit our Voting Action Center at www.democratsabroad.org and get the latest news, as well as state-specific and local information.
Here is the Democrats Abroad Sweden Voter Registration Plan for 2010 all over Sweden:
August 28, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
September 4, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
September 4, 2010 Phone-banking at English School North, Stockholm, 3-6 pm
September 5, 2010 Phone-banking at English School North, Stockholm, 3-6 pm
September 11, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
September 15, 2010 Voter Registration and Fall Mingle, Scandic Anglais, Bar 101, Stockholm, 6-9 pm
September 18, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
September 23, 2010 Voter Registration at ABF Huset, Stockholm, 6-7 pm, before the Steven Hill Lecture (information to follow)
September 25, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
October 2, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
October 3, 2010 Voter Registration at Pizza Hut, Gothenburg, 4 pm
October 9, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
October 14, 2010 FWAB Evening at English School North, Stockholm, 6-9 pm
October 16, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
October 23, 2010 Voter Registration at Tully’s, Stockholm, 11 am -1 pm
November 2, 2010 General Elections
Our local chapters are in the midst of planning their Voter Registration events for the Fall and will be sending updates.
Why Vote in 2010?
What the Midterm Elections Mean to You:
The Democratic majorities in Congress are in jeopardy. On November 2, all 435 seats in the House and more than a third of the seats in the Senate are at stake. President Obama and Congress have already accomplished so much; your vote in 2010 will help them continue to effect positive change for us all.
There are lots of crucial Senate races: CA, CT, CO, FL, DE, NV, NC, LA, and more. And there are numerous tough House races too. You can make the difference!
THE BIG ISSUES: REAL CHANGE IN JUST 18 MONTHS!
Not since FDR has a president done so much to transform our country.
Health Insurance Reform Bill
Stopped abusive practices of the insurance industry; covers 32 million more Americans.
Recovery Act (Stimulus)
Will save or create 3.5 million jobs; tax cuts for 95% of Americans; $100B for infrastructure.
Nuclear Treaty with Russia (START)
Works towards a world free of nuclear weapons;reduces nuke stockpiles in U.S. & Russia by 30%.
Supreme Court Nominees
Justice Sotomayor, the first Latina; and now Justice Kagan make the Court 1/3 female for the first time in history.
Energy Policy for the Future
Reducing dependence on (foreign) oil; enhances national security; prevents environmental disaster.
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Equal pay for equal work; helping eliminate pay disparity in the workplace.
Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Expands Federal statutes to crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation,, gender, or disability.
Environmental Progress
Invested $80B in clean energy; conservation projects; restoring/renewing ecosystems.
WHY VOTE DEMOCRAT?
Just imagine these important issues being tackled by
a Republican-controlled Congress:
• Civil Rights, LGBT Equality • Energy Independence
• Immigration Reform • Campaign Finance Reform
• Investment in Education • Lobbying Reform
• Regulating the Financial Industry • Climate Change, Clean Energy
Obviously, there is still so much that needs to be done!
VOTE DEMOCRCAT IN NOVEMBER!
KEEP REAL CHANGE COMING!
Regards,
Sandy Mansson
Democrats Abroad Sweden Secretary and Voter Registration Chair
The 2010 Midterm Election
The Midterm election in 2010 is just around the corner, and it is just as important as the Presidential Election, if not more so. We must win back all the Democratic seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, and more so. We must try to elect Democratic state Governors, as well.
As you know, Democrats Abroad is recognized as a state party by the Democratic National Committee, and as such we play a pivotal role in delivering overseas votes for Democrats.
Starting in January we are going to be holding voter registration drives across the country. In Stockholm, we will be holding Voter Registration Assistance every last holiday-free Saturday of the month at Tully’s, Götgatan 42, T-Medborgarplatsen, 11 am to 1 pm, starting on Saturday, January 30, 2010. From September 2010 up until Election Day, the Voter Registration Committee will be at Tully’s every Saturday to help you. We will also have an evening Voter Registration Kickoff and Mingle Event on January 27, 2010, as well as an Emergency Write-in Absentee Ballot evening in October, 2010.
Illinois has its primary on February 2, 2010,and Texas, on March 2, 2010, so those of you who are registered in those states need to request your absentee ballots as soon as possible.
In order to request your ballot please go to www.votefromabroad.org and fill out your application. For state-specfic information, go to www.fvap.gov .
If you have any questions about your voting, do not hesitate to contact me at secretary@democratsabroad.se .
Regards,
Sandy Mansson
DASweden Secretary and Head of Voter Registration
