ATHENS – In 1975 the United States Congress passed the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act. President Gerald Ford signed this legislation into law giving United States citizens abroad the right to vote in federal elections, Republicans Abroad Greece says in its press release.

“Based upon this Legislation, Republicans Abroad International (RAI) was established in 1978 and formed Republicans Abroad (RA) Chapters worldwide to organize American constituents abroad. Republicans Abroad Greece (RAG) was formed in l978.

“In January 2013 Republicans Abroad International closed its offices in Washington, D.C. leaving its Chapters to continue as independently operated organizations, i.e.:

–continuing a role in coordinating American voters living abroad;
–continuing to keep Americans informed on issues in the U.S.;
–advocating the Republican platform and principles;
–assisting Americans to register in their U.S. home state thus enabling them to receive and vote their Absentee Ballot;
–engaging with the media;
–promoting Hellenic-American relations; and
–hosting local events including American National Holidays.

“Outlined above is what we Republicans Abroad Greece (RAG) do. We do not politic outside the U.S. as is announced at each of our events.

“On March 29, 2019, RAG announced the opening of a new RAG Chapter: Republicans Abroad Greece-Thessaloniki and Northern Greece (RAG-TNG) and presented its Chairman Mr. Ioannis Kottas, a Thessaloniki businessman, at the reception in his honor.

“We Republicans Abroad Greece (RAG) are continuing what we began in 1978 and look forward to the continued participation of our “Members” and of our “Friends of Republicans”.

“As a clarification: Republicans Overseas (RO) was founded in 2013 as a political organization, their purpose is “political advocacy” – the difference in the two organizations.”