Democrats Abroad: Americans Living Abroad May Cast Deciding Votes in November Midterm Elections.

LONDON -- Democrats recognize that 2006 will continue the trend of very close elections in which each vote could be the one that makes the difference. Democrats Abroad and their Honorary Chair, President Jimmy Carter, are working to ensure that all American citizens living outside the U.S. exercise their right to vote in the upcoming House and Senate races. Through a new website developed this year, http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org, citizens living abroad still have time -- until September 30th -- to register to vote and request their ballots and, potentially, make the difference in the upcoming elections.

President Carter said, "It is imperative that every American citizen living abroad join us in this movement to change the course of our government by registering to vote and participating fully in the electoral process. Democrats Abroad has made registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot quick and simple at http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org. I invite you to use this website and make a difference."

Unfortunately, many U.S. citizens living abroad do not know that they retain their right to vote regardless of how long they have lived outside of the United States (and even if they have never resided in the U.S.). Citizens living abroad who have lived in the U.S. can vote using their last residence before departing the U.S. If they never lived in the U.S., most states allow citizens to vote using their parent(s) last U.S. address. In order to vote in the November elections, all citizens living abroad need to register and request their ballots.

Democrats Abroad has made it easier for Americans living abroad to exercise their right to vote. Using http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org, citizens answer six customized screens of questions. The answers are automatically added to the voter registration form, fax cover sheet, and Federal Write-In Ballot, which are then downloaded, signed, and mailed to the address of the local election official.

Many U.S. citizens living abroad may worry that it is too late to receive their ballot. VoteFromAbroad.org solves this problem. It is the only voter registration website where citizens receive a Federal Write-In Ballot in addition to their voter registration form. The Federal Write-In Ballot is a back-up ballot used by citizens living abroad who register as voters outside the U.S. and who do not receive their state ballot by October 1, 2006. This ballot is only valid if mailed from outside the U.S. (except for military personnel). Using this ballot, voters can write in votes for House and Senate candidates or the political party they want to see hold the office.

Democrats Abroad recognizes that many U.S. citizens living abroad speak Spanish as their primary language; http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org is the only voter registration website for Americans living abroad that is in both English and Spanish.

Democrats Abroad is the official arm of the Democratic Party for American citizens living outside the United States. Democrats Abroad holds seats on the DNC and sends a voting delegation to the quadrennial convention to nominate our presidential candidate. Founded in 1964, Democrats Abroad is active in over 70 countries.