It might sound like the start of a bad joke, but 28 Americans walked into a bar in Wellington, New Zealand, early Monday morning (or just after midnight Tuesday local time) and cast the first votes in the Democrats Abroad Global Primary, an official contest on the Democratic presidential primary calendar.
The results: Bernie Sanders, 21 votes; Hillary Clinton, six votes. One ballot was spoiled, perhaps a result of the voting having taken place at the Public Bar and Eatery in Wellington in the middle of the night.
Democrats Abroad is the international arm of the Democratic National Committee and gives American Democrats living overseas the opportunity to participate in the presidential nomination process.
The group was officially created during the 1964 presidential election by Americans living in London and Paris. In 1976 the organization held its initial global primary and sent its first voting delegation to the Democratic National Convention. More than 23,000 votes were cast in the 2008 Democrats Abroad Primary, where Barack Obama defeated Clinton, 66% to 33%.
In 2016, the Democrats Abroad Primary is held in 39 countries with a total of 13 delegate votes at stake. Voting concludes March 8, with final results expected March 21.
“Tonight’s opportunity for U.S. Democrats living in New Zealand to cast the first votes on Super Tuesday was a great success,” said Democrats Abroad New Zealand chairman Kat Allikian in a written statement. “Our turnout was small, but like our fellow Americans in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, we’ve made our voices heard about the issues that matter to us.”
