30/11/2016
MESSAGE FROM KATIE SOLON, DA INTERNATIONAL CHAIR:
We are disappointed. We are disheartened. We are distressed by the election results. But we must carry on. We must resist the policy agenda of our President-elect and his appointees. We must fight to retain rights which for a generation we have assumed to be unassailable.
We must also learn from our 2016 experience -- so that we can begin planning now for the next elections and to more effectively advocate for issues of importance to Americans overseas and to all Americans. If Mr. Trump really does impose his agenda on the majority of Americans who voted against him, we are likely to see a wave election in 2018 that will sweep Republicans from their majority in Congress and elect Democrats as state legislators and governors -- the people who will determine the redistricting which will shape American politics for the next decade.
Voters from overseas will play an important role in that sea change, but more Americans from overseas need to vote. To be effective, we need to know what worked and what didn’t work in 2016. You can help by filling in a brief survey about your voting experience in 2016. It’s easy, it’s anonymous (unless you want to give your email address) and it should take less than 5 minutes. So while your memories are fresh…..
PLEASE FILL IN THE DEMOCRATS ABROAD 2016 VOTER SURVEY https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScd_hv4sYxpOOB4mJias18YRy-PvJ3FBEoNZU50EBPKpOzh6w/viewform?c=0&w=1
This survey will help us in two ways. It will help us estimate more accurately the size of the overseas vote. Second, it will help us identify and quantify voting problems facing overseas voters so that we can work to resolve them.
Based on preliminary data, we strongly believe that the overseas vote increased by at least 50% in 2016, compared with 2012. Your responses will help us to confirm that number and improve on it in the future.
We will be addressing issues of importance in the weeks and months (and years) to come – look for more messages soon on how you can help fight back and to ask for your input in setting the priorities of Democrats Abroad.
Together we will make a difference.
Thank you for taking the time to fill in the survey!
Regards,
Katie Solon
International Chair
Democrats Abroad
http://www.democratsabroad.org/
Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party arm for the millions of Americans living outside the United States. We strive to provide Americans abroad a Democratic voice in our government and elect Democratic candidates by mobilizing the overseas vote.
