What to Do Wednesday
Your Weekly Guide to Staying Politically Active—From Abroad
Wednesday 26 August 2026
Let’s begin with the most important news for Americans living abroad:
The Supreme Court's decision on Monday did not change the rules for mail voting — not for overseas voters, and not for anyone else.
Nothing has been decided. Monday's Supreme Court order was procedural, not a ruling on whether the executive order is legal. The Court said the states sued too early, before there was a final rule, and specifically invited them to sue again now that there is one. The litigation is very much still live.
The Postal Service rule is NOT in effect. A separate nationwide court order from August 11 still blocks USPS from implementing it for the November 3 election, and the Supreme Court did not touch that order. USPS has said in writing that it will not implement the rule for the 2026 election unless that block is lifted.
And importantly for us, UOCAVA voters are exempt. The rule (if it is ever enacted) explicitly carves out ballots covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. One important caveat: the UOCAVA protections are not automatic! They only apply if you complete and send in the one page Federal Post Card Application to your local election office. Voting on an ordinary state absentee ballot does not grant you the privileges of an overseas voter, and you may not be covered by that carve-out.
This is one more reason to file your FPCA today at https://votefromabroad.org. It takes just minutes! Be sure to request that your ballot is sent to you by email.
Bottom line, the litigation is not over. Nothing in Monday’s decision prevents eligible overseas Americans from requesting, receiving, or returning their ballots.
Take Action Now
The single most useful thing we can do is make certain that every overseas American in our orbit files a Federal Post Card Application.
Our overseas ballots will begin going out on September 19. Filing an FPCA now registers you and requests your overseas absentee ballot in one step.
Then help one more person do the same.
Think of a friend, colleague, spouse, neighbor, parent at your child’s school, or fellow club member who has been meaning to vote but has not yet acted. Contact that person today and help them complete the process.
Request your ballot at VoteFromAbroad.org.
We cannot control what a court may decide in the future. We can control whether we request our overseas ballots, whether we return our ballots promptly, and whether we help the Americans around us participate.
Pick one person today. Help them request their ballot.
Democracy is a shared right, but it is also a personal responsibility.
In solidarity,
Leyani Redditi
Chair
Democrats Abroad Italy
Democrats Abroad Italy Events
Join us in Venice for an in-person aperitivo September 9 @5:00pm RSVP today!
Join our DA Italy leadership team at our DA Italy Monthly Country Committee Meeting September 11 @09:00
Be the reason a US Citizen is able to cast their ballots! Train to become a Voting Assistant Volunteer!
- Module 2: Ballot Receipt & Return Saturday 5 September @10:00
- Module 2: Ballot Receipt & Return Wednesday 9 September @18:00
Mark your Calendars! In Person Voter Registration Events Near You:
📍 Milano - Every Saturday in September & October 3:00–6:00 PM In front of the American Bookstore Corner of Via Camperio & Largo Cairoli
📍Venice - See you at the Santa Lucia Train Station 10 September 10:00 - 12:00
📍Florence - Every Wednesday from 10:00 - 12:00 at NAAB Firenze 10:00 - 12:00. Via Ventesette Aprile 28BR
📍Florence - Every Tuesday from 18:00 - 20:00 at Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls Firenze. Via del Presto di S. Martino 8R
Are you Vote Ready?
Ballots drop for overseas voters on 19 September. If your request isn't already in, now is the moment — not September. Take two minutes today, click the button below and request your overseas ballot. Need help? Let us know click below and we'll have one of our trained voting assistants reach out to help. Already requested you ballot and haven't let us know yet? Please click the button below so that we can count you in!