To become a member of Democrats Abroad, you must be a US citizen, at least 18 years old (or who will be such before the next Federal election), and are residing outside of the United States -> sign up here.

Requesting your absentee ballot every year is important because the availability and eligibility requirements for absentee voting can vary from year to year, and from state to state. In many states, you need to submit a new request for an absentee ballot for each election, including primary, general, and special elections.

Even if you have voted absentee in the past, it's important to request a ballot for each election to ensure that your vote is counted. Some states may also require you to provide updated information, such as your current address, in order to receive your ballot.

Additionally, by requesting your absentee ballot every year, you can stay informed about important election dates and deadlines and can help to ensure that you have plenty of time to receive, complete, and return your ballot before the election.

Overall, requesting your absentee ballot every year is an important step in ensuring that your voice is heard and that your vote is counted in every election.

Request your ballot here!

In recent months, there has been an unprecedented increase in legislation targeting transgender people, with a particular focus on banning support for trans youth and restrictions on gender-affirming medical care. 

Over the past two years, state lawmakers introduced well over 300 bills targeting trans people, more than in any previous period. 

More than 85% of this legislation focuses on trans youth. 

These proposed laws are riding on a surge of misinformation about the nature and outcomes of gender-affirming care for youth, and make inaccurate assertions about how often transgender people regret transitioning (which is extremely rare) when the concern should be focused on rising rates of distress, depression and suicide in youth prevented from transitioning.

In addition to bills banning necessary medical care, legislation continues to be introduced that restrict what can be taught in schools, and exclude trans people from participation in sports, as well as restricting their access to bathrooms.

Demand your state representatives protect our transgender community members from oppressive and anti-science laws by opposing any legislation that restricts their freedoms and human rights.

Note: You can find the status of anti-transgender legislation in your state at The Trans Legislation Tracker. To make more impactful calls, give specific bill numbers when calling your legislators.

Call Your Senator or Representative!

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].

I'm calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to oppose any and all anti-transgender legislation including any bills restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth, banning trans athletes from participating in sports based on their gender, or preventing transgender people from using bathrooms as they see fit.

[OPTIONAL: You can find the status of anti-transgender legislation in your state at The Trans Legislation Tracker and give specific bill numbers to oppose.]

Thank you for your time and consideration.

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

In 2004, the National Rifle Association (NRA) successfully pressured the Republican-controlled government into preventing the renewal of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. The ban had been working to protect lives; after it expired the number of gun massacre deaths, which had decreased over 40% during the ban, jumped nearly 2.5 fold.

Gun violence experts are now renewing their calls for a nationwide ban on these types of weapons - and Americans agree - recent surveys show a majority of Americans support a nationwide assault weapons ban.

To reinstate an assault weapons ban, Senate Democrats have introduced [S.25, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023] (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/25), which would ban future sales of military-style assault weapons, including the AR-15 used in many recent gun massacres.

Specifically, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 would:

• Ban the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of 205 military-style assault weapons by name;

• Ban any assault weapon with the capacity to use a magazine that is not a fixed ammunition magazine and has one or more military characteristics including a pistol grip, a forward grip, a barrel shroud, a threaded barrel, or a folding or telescoping stock;

• Ban magazines and other ammunition feeding devices that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, which allow shooters to quickly fire many rounds without needing to reload;

• Require a background check on any future sale, trade, or gifting of an assault weapon permitted by the bill;

• Prohibit the transfer of high-capacity ammunition magazines; and

• Ban bump-fire stocks and other devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at fully automatic rates; however

• The bill includes a grandfather clause that exempts all weapons lawfully possessed at the date of enactment.

• Legislators must act now before any more lives are lost. Demand they support S. 25 to ban the military-grade weapons flooding our communities.

Call Your Senator or Representative!

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, STATE].

I’m calling today to ask [REP/SEN NAME] to support S. 25, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023. We cannot afford to wait any longer to protect innocent lives from gun massacres.

Thank you for all your hard work answering phones.

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave full street address to ensure call is tallied.

The United States has more guns per capita than any other peer nation; Americans constitute about 4% of the world’s population but own 42% of all civilian firearms. On average, there is a mass shooting almost every day of the year in the United States, and the nation has far higher rates of gun homicides than any other developed nation. 

Firearm suicides in the US are also dismally common, with suicides actually comprising the majority of gun-related deaths. However, thanks to continued lobbying by the National Rifle Association (NRA), Congress has repeatedly failed to take meaningful action and curb gun violence.

Gun violence prevention experts have recommended a number of policy approaches to reduce gun violence:

• Congress can close legal loopholes that allow people to buy guns without background checks from private sellers, websites, or gun shows. A move that over 80% of gun owners support.

• Congress can institute universal background checks for both gun and ammo purchasers and require gun licenses, all measures supported by the vast majority of Americans.

• Congress can adequately fund community-based interventions such as the nearly 20-year-old Ceasefire program, an underfunded effort that has helped to reduce gun violence in cities through education and public health crisis strategies.

• Congress can reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, or pass new legislation banning the purchase of high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons.

America’s disproportionately high rates of gun-related deaths are both tragic and shameful. Congress can save lives by passing common-sense legislation to reduce gun violence.

Call Your Senator or Representative!

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].

I'm calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] take action to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in the United States by ...

[CHOOSE 1-3 POLICIES BELOW]

• Closing the loophole that lets people buy guns at shows and through private sellers without background checks

• Instituting universal background checks for ammo and gun buyers, a measure 80% of gun owners support

• Funding evidence-based community anti-violence programs, like Ceasefire, which have been shown to reduce shootings

• Reinstating a federal ban on the purchase of high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons, which is supported by at least 65% of Americans.

Thank you for your time and attention.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Residents of Washington, D.C. pay federal taxes, but don’t have Senators or a Representative to vote on issues affecting them. Local laws that voters support can be overruled by Congress without the protective rights of a state. D.C. has a larger population than both Vermont and Wyoming, but less say in our government than either. In 2016, 86% of Washington, D.C. voted for statehood over the unjust status quo.

Given recent events, lawmakers should prioritize making the District of Columbia a state and ensure that every American has fair and equal representation in the federal government. Demand that your Members of Congress support  H.R. 51 and S. 51 to finally grant statehood to the District of Columbia.

Call Your Senator or Representative!

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].

I'm calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] support [House: H.R. 51/Senate: S. 51] to make the District of Columbia the 51st state in the union. The over 690,000 residents of the District of Columbia deserve self-determination and full voting representation in Congress.

Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.