Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – U.S. citizens, your right to vote is under attack! Democracy depends on every eligible voter “having the freedom to participate without intimidation, interference, or barriers.”
This statement is prominently displayed on the NoKings.org website, which warns that “Efforts to undermine trust in our elections and make it harder for people to be heard are happening across the country right now.”
The purpose of the fourth No Kings events, planned for October 17, is to sound the alarm about efforts to suppress voting rights and encourage one effective response: VOTE EARLY. Take advantage of the more flexible dates and locations available for early in-person voting, as well as electronic and mail-in voting options.
U.S. citizens living abroad already face a number of challenges when exercising their right to vote. Some can return to the United States to vote during the early voting period or on November 3. Fortunately, other options are available, and Vote From Abroad can help.
In solidarity with the No Kings movement and Indivisible Abroad, Vote From Abroad is setting up an in-person help center on Saturday, October 17, to assist U.S. citizens overseas with voting from Puerto Vallarta. Time is running out, especially for voters in states that require ballots to be returned by mail.
Get voting assistance from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Let’s Phò Restaurant, Lázaro Cárdenas 179, Zona Romántica, near Parque Lázaro Cárdenas.
No Kings: Vote Early
The No Kings movement, supported by a network of progressive and nonpartisan organizations, including the 50501 Movement, Indivisible, and many local groups, has organized three previous national and international events protesting the actions and policies of the second Trump administration.
Millions of concerned people have gathered to send a clear message opposing fascism in the United States and declaring that power does not belong to billionaires, strongmen, or politicians who believe they are above accountability.
The fourth event, “No Kings Day: Vote Early,” scheduled for Saturday, October 17, is the next step in reclaiming power for the people. It will be a day of community, voter participation, and mutual support, helping ensure that every eligible voter knows the available options and has a plan to vote.
The stakes have never been higher. Whether people vote or stay home can have enormous, long-term consequences.
The focus on early voting is intended to reduce the impact of circumstances and actions that could interfere with your ability to vote. Benefits include:
- Taking advantage of more flexible voting schedules and locations.
- Avoiding the risk that severe weather could make travel difficult on November 3.
- Identifying registration problems or changes to precincts and polling locations early enough to address them.
- Reducing opportunities for groups or individuals to disrupt voting through inadequate supplies or voter intimidation.
Voting early can also help your chosen candidates’ campaigns organize their outreach. Once you confirm that you have voted, campaign workers can focus on reaching other voters rather than following up with you.
No Kings encourages all voters to check their voter status as early as possible. Confirm your registration through your county election office’s website, which is generally the best place to start, or through your Secretary of State’s website. You can also use the National Association of Secretaries of State’s voter registration status resource.
Visit Voteriders.org to learn about voter identification requirements in your state.
Know your rights, too. The U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws protect important rights for voters and other members of the public. Learn what those rights are, how to exercise them, and what to do if they are violated through the ACLU’s Know Your Rights resource.
Discovering a registration or identification problem on November 3 could leave an eligible voter with limited options, beyond requesting a provisional ballot.
Vote From Abroad
Rallies can be invigorating. They inspire people to use their voices and make themselves heard. This is especially true in the United States, where the Constitution protects the rights to assemble and exercise free speech. Although Mexico also permits public demonstrations, restrictions apply to foreign nationals participating in Mexican political affairs. Even so, rallies are short lived and do not in themselves change the balance of power. Changing the elected members of the U.S. Congress and Senate does.
For U.S. citizens, however, one of the most powerful ways to make their voices heard is through their votes.
For the October 17 event, Indivisible Abroad-Vallarta is focusing on voter support, particularly for U.S. citizens living overseas. Elections are administered by individual states, and voting procedures vary. Some states make absentee voting relatively straightforward, while others present more significant challenges.
For example, 22 states require ballots to be returned by mail (unless originating from an active war zone). This can be especially burdensome for voters in Mexico, where sending election materials internationally can be expensive and require substantial lead time.
As Election Day approaches, available options may become more limited, sometimes leaving costly courier services as the remaining choice. These services can cost $80 or more. Voters may also need to follow specific instructions, such as leaving an outer envelope unsealed until it can be inspected, using a physical address rather than a post office box, or confirming signature requirements. Election offices generally cannot sign on a voter’s behalf.
In solidarity with the No Kings: Vote Early effort, Vote From Abroad will staff an in-person help center on Saturday, October 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Let’s Phò Restaurant at Lázaro Cárdenas 179 in Colonia Emiliano Zapata, on the north side of Parque Lázaro Cárdenas.
Trained and certified voter assistants will help overseas voters with registration and ballot requests. They will also provide information about deadlines, registration lookups, local election office contact details, and early voting dates for those planning to vote in person in the U.S.
U.S. citizens living abroad who are comfortable using online services are encouraged to visit VoteFromAbroad.org to check their state’s rules, register, and request ballots. Some deadlines may already have passed, depending on the state.
Those who need assistance but cannot attend the in-person help center can seek support through Zoom The Vote, which offers special Zoom sessions for October 17. Use this link to register.
You can also email Costa Banderas at votefromabroad.cb(at)gmail.com with questions or to arrange an appointment in the Costa Banderas area.
We know that hard-working families across the United States are struggling to afford groceries, gasoline, electricity, and the everyday costs of living because of decisions made by those in power. No Kings: Vote Early is a global reminder that U.S. citizens can reclaim their voices and their power and make their lives better.
Your vote is your voice. Your vote is your power.
Let us hear your voice! Know your options and confirm your plan to vote.
Do it as early as you can!
Paid for by the Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad. With country committees and local chapters in over 80 countries around the world, Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party organization for the millions of Americans living outside the United States. For more information about the Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad, click HERE or contact Chapter-Chair Clint Harris at Info-MX-CostaBanderas@democratsabroad.org.
