Democrat in China? Here's How You Can Vote in the Global Primary

No matter where you fall on the left side of America’s political spectrum, you can still make your voice heard from Beijing, even through all of the COVID-19 madness.

Democrats Abroad has been forced to cancel their in-person voting drive in Beijing, which was originally scheduled for Mar 15, but you can still vote in their Global Presidential Primary (GPP) via email or mail.

While American citizens living abroad may choose to cast an absentee ballot in their own state, director of communications for Democrats Abroad China, Elaine Chow, tells us that this is the easiest way to vote away from home. (Note: you cannot vote for a presidential candidate in both your home state and the GPP, though you may vote down-ballot in your state after voting in the GPP.)

Not only that, but your vote could also carry more weight in the GPP than in your home state. “Democrats Abroad has the same representation as a regular US State,” says Chow, “which means that if you come from a big blue state like New York, New Jersey, or California, your vote is about four times weightier. And if you come from a deep red state, you should know that Democrats Abroad sends more delegates to the DNC.”

She also points out that Americans who live abroad often have different interests that those who stay Stateside and might want their delegates to reflect that. “We have a much different view of how healthcare can be, what foreign policy should look like and how taxes should work,” she says.

How to vote

The GPP is already open and you will be able to send in your vote until Mar 10. To vote via email, click here to register and cast a ballot.

Democrats Abroad does not recommend voting through traditional mail at the moment, as mail leaving China is currently at risk of being stopped. However, if you really want to leave a paper trail, print out the ballot here and send it to the following address:

Aaron Kruse
北京市朝阳区望京街道宝星国际二期109号楼10单元206号

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Image: Yu Fan via Sohu