Ο επικεφαλής του ελληνικού τμήματος της οργάνωσης «Democrats Abroad» (Δημοκρατικοί του Εξωτερικού), Άλκμαν Γρανίτσας. Φωτογραφία: LINKEDIN
The head of the Greek chapter of Democrats Abroad, Alkman Granitsas. Photo: LINKEDIN
ATHENS. A significant increase in interest among American citizens living in Greece in participating in Tuesday, November 3, midterm elections has been recorded by Democrats Abroad Greece, the official overseas arm of the Democratic Party in the country. As the organization’s president, Alkman Granitsas, told The National Herald, voter mobilization has been “particularly strong,” with members seeking to secure access to absentee ballots in time.
“We are seeing very strong interest. This reflects what we are observing in America as well, where participation among Democrats has increased by about 50%,” Granitsas said, adding that Greece has seen “a 60% increase in interest among American citizens in obtaining ballots.”
Democrats Abroad is the Democratic Party’s official organizational arm overseas. It is recognized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and represented within its governing bodies. In Greece, it has approximately 1,300 members, with a presence in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other parts of the country.
“We have about 1,300 members, and we are growing. We are seeing interest not only in the elections but also in the organization more broadly. We are one of the growing Democrats Abroad chapters,” Granitsas noted.
Regarding the process of voting from Greece, he pointed out that requirements and deadlines vary depending on the state in which each voter is registered.
“Every state in the U.S. has its own procedures, and voters need to be aware of the specific requirements. That is exactly where we help,” he explained, directing voters to the federal government’s FVAP.gov website and VoteFromAbroad.org, which is operated by Democrats Abroad.
He stressed that those wishing to vote should act immediately, as deadlines have already passed in some states, while voting options remain available in others.
“The point is to request your ballot, preferably by email, so that you receive it more quickly. You can then return it by mail or electronically, if your state allows it. Anyone interested should act immediately, meaning today,” he emphasized.
As for the election outcome, the president of Democrats Abroad Greece expressed optimism about his party’s prospects, linking his assessment to public dissatisfaction with the administration of Donald Trump.
“We Democrats are optimistic because it is clear that there is not much support for the Trump administration. According to polls, his approval rating is at historically low levels, around 30% to 35%. There are several issues with which American voters are dissatisfied,” he said.
His assessment is consistent with findings from a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, which put the U.S. President’s approval rating at 32% on October 26, while Democrats led Republicans by 47% to 36% in congressional voting preferences.
“What we expect is for Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives. According to prediction markets, there is about a 90% chance of that happening. In the Senate, the likelihood of Democrats gaining control is estimated at around 60%,” he said, clarifying that these are projections rather than certain outcomes.
Finally, Granitsas said the organization is planning an election-night watch gathering on Wednesday, November 4, at around noon, potentially at the James Joyce Pub in Monastiraki.
“It will probably be a small gathering. Anyone can come, whether or not they are a member of the organization, and they do not even have to be American,” he said. He explained that the time difference with the United States and the later closing of polls in western states are expected to delay a clear picture of the results.
“We do not expect to have clear results before Wednesday morning or even midday,” he concluded.
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