MADRID – Today, Democrats Abroad announced that Senator Barack Obama has won the organisation’s Global Primary.  The results were certified by the International Chair in Geneva, Switzerland.  
 
Senator Obama received 65.6 percent of the vote in the global primary, compared to 32.7 percent for Senator Clinton. Other candidates Biden, Edwards, Kucinch and Richardson each received less than a percentage point of the vote.

The global results determine the allocation of 4.5 delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention.  Senator Obama won 2.5 delegate votes, and Senator Clinton 2 delegate votes.  A further 2.5 votes will be determined at the Democrats Abroad Global Convention in April.  In addition, Democrats Abroad holds 4 superdelegate votes.
 
The Democrats Abroad Global Primary was conducted 5-12 February 2008.  Balloting took place at voting centres in over 30 countries, by mail and fax, and for the first time, on the internet through a secure online voting system.  Online ballots were cast from 164 countries and territories, from Antarctica to Zambia.
 
For the first-time ever, online voting enabled Democrats in every corner of the world to take part — including Adam Lutchansky, a researcher at the US scientific mission at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.  "The online Democrats Abroad Global Primary expanded the frontier of voting opportunities, and it works easily, even from the harshest continent on Earth,” says Lutchansky.
 
The U.S. Presidential Election will take place on 4 November 2008. Deadlines for requesting overseas absentee ballots vary per state.  To vote in the U.S. Presidential Election in November, overseas voters must request a ballot from local voting authorities in the place where they last resided in the U.S., also possible at www.VoteFromAbroad.org
 
For a complete look at the Global Primary results broken down by country committee, please visit www.democratsabroad.org.

[Copyright Expatica News / Democrats Abroad 2008]