**Democrats Mobilize in Canada to Sway U.S. Election**

In the wake of former President Donald Trump's recent unfounded claims that Democrats were planning to cheat by mailing ballots to overseas voters, Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada under President Barack Obama, saw a unique opportunity. Now leading efforts to galvanize American voters in Canada for the Democratic Party, Heyman believes these expatriates could shift the tide in a close election. "There's zero chance Donald Trump used that language himself," Heyman stated, interpreting Trump's outburst as a sign of recognition from the Republican campaign of the significance of American voters abroad.

Heyman and his team have ramped up their canvassing efforts across Canada, focusing on border cities like Windsor, Ontario, which shares significant socio-economic ties with Detroit, Michigan. Volunteers have been knocking on doors since late September, aiming to mobilize American voters in critical battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The Michigan Democratic Party, along with Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, have also thrown their support behind this initiative.

The drive extends beyond traditional campaigning methods. Heyman has been engaging with American students and expatriates through talks at Canadian universities and online events, emphasizing the impact of U.S. policies on their lives abroad. With approximately 605,697 voting-age Americans in Canada, according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the potential influence of this demographic is considerable.

Democrats Abroad, a recognized arm of the Democratic National Committee, has been placing significant emphasis on this effort. An ad campaign worth about C$50,000 has been launched to encourage voter participation, featuring practical information on how to vote from abroad without overt partisan messages. Erin Kotecki Vest, the Democrats Abroad country chair for Canada, explained that the ads are strategically placed at key border crossings to maximize visibility.

Heyman, who has been convinced of the importance of the overseas vote since the 2016 election, notes that the expat vote increased by 73 percent from 2016 to 2020, with nearly 900,000 votes cast. He points to crucial races like the 2020 Georgia contest, where overseas votes helped secure President Joe Biden's narrow victory.

Political experts like Richard Johnston of the University of British Columbia support the idea that expatriate voters, who are likely to lean Democrat, could play a decisive role in close elections. The true challenge lies in translating this potential into actual votes, amid uncertainties around voter turnout and the distribution of expats' states of residence.

As the election approaches, Heyman and his team remain committed to their mission. "We're talking about small numbers of total votes that will be at the margin," Heyman said, underscoring the critical importance of every single vote in a deeply divided America.