US primary polls still open in Sweden

US voters living in Sweden still have time to cast their ballot in the 2008 Presidential Primary—if they are registered Democrats, that is.

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And depending on which state they call home, registered Republicans may have time as well.

Tully’s Cafe on Södermalm’s Götgatan will once again serve as a drop-in Voting Center on Saturday as a part of a “global primary” organized by Democrats Abroad, the overseas arm of the Democratic Party.

The café served as a voting center earlier in the week and was bustling with Super Tuesday voters, Swedish media, and Semlor-bun-seeking Swedes.

"I heard someone say jokingly that, at one point in the evening, there were more journalists than voters at Tully's on Super Tuesday," said Brian Owens, a spokesperson for Democrats Abroad Sweden.

Traditionally, Americans living overseas have been required to send away for an absentee ballot from their home state in order to cast a vote in primary elections.

Deadlines for submitting ballots vary from state to state.

While the absentee method remains the only option for registered Republicans, registered Democrats living overseas can now cast their ballot via the internet, fax or mail, as well as at voting centers like Tully's.

The expanded options are a part of the Democrats’ first ever “global primary”, the results of which will determine the allocation of Democrats Abroad’s 22 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

“In the past, overseas voting could be a complicated affair,” said Bill Borden, chair of Democrats Abroad Sweden. “In 2008, we intend to change all that and make sure that Democrats in Sweden have a clear say in who our candidate will be.”

For its part, Tully’s is hoping for brisk business on what it expects to be a very busy day.

“We are expecting a lot of people Saturday,” said Madeleine Hammar from Tully’s Café. “It will definitely be busier than a normal Saturday.”