Local expats ready to vote in US Election
Posted Oct 20, 2016 08:56:37 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
56 Americans in Waterloo Region cast ballots in the US Primaries back in April. For Kitchener’s Democrats Abroad chapter, that’s one of their biggest turn outs yet.
Local lawyer Tim Flannery is the Head of the Region’s chapter, he also holds a dual-citizenship. He tells 570 News most Americans living here work in the tech and education sectors. “We have world-renown universities, colleges, and of course all the tech start-ups and companies. Americans come here for those opportunities and come November, we’ll be making sure our voices are heard too.”
Flannery says this election is the most important yet, and adds the US has done a good job making sure expats are included in the conversation. “They’ve focused in on us, they’ve asked us to register more than I’ve ever before seen in any other election, and it’s quite clear that everyone sees our participation to be pretty important.”
Most states are well represent in the region, but the majority come from states that border Canada like Wisconsin, Michigan and New York.
The voting is simple. Show up to an official office where the primary voting happens. Then, register with the last US jurisdiction you left. Once you register, you receive an email with your official ballot. You vote, and send the ballot back to the jurisdiction where it’s cast. The only thing Americans have to watch out for is the deadline to register in vote, as it varies in each jurisdiction.
Democrats Abroad offices across Canada will be holding viewing parties for the election on November 8th. Flannery is hoping to host one at his downtown Kitchener office.
