do more!

Great! You’ve completed the quick wins. now do more!

People are more likely to do something when they receive a personal request from someone they know, they are reminded at the right time, and finally when they feel they are part of wider collective action. Turnout is higher when everyone around you is voting and you are nudged along at every step of the process by people you know. Voting from abroad can be a lonely project – and you can be instrumental in making your VFA network feel like part of a movement.

There are 2 main sets of activities you can do help achieve this:

    • Build your network & recruit 3 contacts to be VFA Champions too

    • Organize a Monthly Activity with your network

Build your network & recruit 3 VfA voting Champions

Contact all of your overseas acquaintances by email, text or phone with 2 questions:

  1. Have they applied for their absentee ballot?

  2. Would they like to help you to spread the word and ensure other overseas voters vote?

With the responses to these questions, you will be able to identify your fellow VFA Voting Champions (aim for 3 or more) to help you organize your own voter registration activities each month. Ideas for Monthly Activities can be found below...

ORGANIZE MONTHLY ACTions

Monthly Actions are suggested activities for each month so you can reinforce a key part of the overseas voting process...

  1. JULY: Register to vote and Request the absentee ballot

  2. AUGUST: Check that you are ready to vote. Contact your local election official (LEO) if necessary

  3. SEPTEMBER: Receive the blank ballot by email and Return the completed ballot by post, fax or other electronic means

  4. OCTOBER: Check with the local election official (LEO) to ensure the completed ballot has been received

month by month ideas - FOR DETAILS click arrow TO THE RIGHT

June: Get organized

    • Plan your July kickoff – email/text your friends to invite them to your July activities and identify your 3 VfA Voting Champions

July: Kickoff & register/request ballot

    • Video call (alternative 4th of July gathering) with your network to show them how to apply for their absentee ballots on VotefromAbroad.org – you can’t cookout, so let’s turnout!

August: Check with your Local Election Official

    • Video call with your network to check that they are ready to vote. Show them how to contact their LEO, if they haven't received a primary ballot or confirmation that their federal postcard application (FPCA) has been received. You can simultaneously call your LEOs for those who need to confirm

September: Complete and return ballots

    • September 19 – Ballot Day – email/text alert: have you received your ballot? Check your junk mail! Fill in your ballot and send it in right away! Share VfA posts on social media

    • September 21 - Send Back Your Ballot Day - join the #IVotedFromAbroad challenge - post a photo of yourself once you've voted, tag us, use the # , and tag 5 friends

    • w/c September 21st – Host a video call with your network: "have you received your ballot" check-in". Direct friends to live Voter Help sessions via Zoom for any questions!

October: Confirm ballots and follow-up

    • Video call with your network to simultaneously call your LEOs to make sure your completed ballot has been received

    • Rest of October: last minute texting/following up with your network to make sure their ballots have been sent in and received

November: Election Day

    • November 3rd – Hold a VfA Champion Hopeful Vigil virtual event if you can't meet in person

    • November 4th – Let’s hope we can celebrate massive turnout!