Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Many US citizens live abroad, some one million said to reside here in Mexico alone. Most of us care about the wellbeing of our country and want to stay involved in its political process.

While Democrats Abroad - considered the 51st state of the union by the Democratic National Committee and the 17th largest in terms of the number of US citizens involved - has several objectives, it exists primarily to help Americans register and vote from abroad.

For example, it's vital to know that since the introduction of The Move Act in 2010, anyone wanting to vote online must re-register for every federal election. So we tell you how. Time is passing, and now is the time to register for the upcoming November election! To re-register, go to VoteFromAbroad.org and follow the instructions.

We also provide information about US issues and policies, while providing a place for like-minded people to get together to discuss not only those that affect American citizens living in Mexico, but our friends and family back in the States.

We write resolutions, and once approved by the Democratic National Convention, they become part of the Democratic platform for each election.

And yes, we are still working on trying to get Medicare coverage for US citizens in Mexico. While this issue has been put on hold, we are not giving up! And when the time is right, we will revisit it.

We also host a wide range of events, from both election night and inaugural parties to bringing in speakers on issues ranging from finance to foreign affairs to showing movies that touch on important social and political issues.

Some of our most recent events include a party at Lake Chapala celebrating Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 130th birthday. Recognized as the most progressive and liberal of our past presidents, FDR set down many Democratic policies that remain in effect today.

And to kick off our 2012 Presidential Campaign, well-known media personality and political activist Jim Hightower presented "Citizens United and the Rise of Super PACS: Their Impact on the US Democracy" in San Miguel de Allende. In conjunction with that event we introduced our new and exciting All Americas Online Auction, which begins April 26th.

Formed in Mexico four decades ago, Democrats Abroad now has five active chapters where US citizens are concentrated - Mexico City, Costa Banderas, San Miguel de Allende, Lake Chapala, and Mazatlan. We are in the process of setting up chapters in Merida, Morelia/Patzcuaro, and Baja California. The country's first chapter was formed in Lake Chapala, long a popular retirement spot for Americans.