In this issue:
- Take Action — How to Vote, Where to Get Help
- Upcoming Events
- Volunteer Spotlight — Martha Le Cars
- In Focus — Featured Article
- How to Volunteer
- The Lighter Side
Take Action Yes. You. Can.
Request your ballot 2026.
In celebrating 250 years of American democracy, the US Vote Foundation published 250 reasons to vote. Starting with 50 personal reasons to vote, expanding to 50 reasons for family and community to vote, continuing with 75 state and national reasons to vote, then 50 reasons built on our national history and ending in 25 final reasons to vote. They start close to home. They radiate outward. Some will make you smile. Some will make you remember and some will make you think.
https://www.usvotefoundation.org/post/250-reasons-to-vote
A personal favorite is #241 —
“Democracy doesn’t run on ceremony. It runs on participation.”
Participation doesn't happen unless you have requested your 2026 ballot. You must request your ballot each year as an overseas voter. Make sure you are registered and haven’t been purged. You can do both at Vote From Abroad. In light of the Trump administration use of the U.S. Postal Service to disrupt ballot delivery, it is strongly recommended that you use your unique right as an overseas voter to request your ballot by email.
There are still several primary elections and primary runoff elections in August and September. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware are a few of the states with primaries coming up soon. You still have time to complete the FPCA to request your ballot by email and vote before the primary deadline.
If you have any questions about voting from France, this recently updated site is an excellent resource to answer common questions —
https://www.democratsabroad.org/voting_in_us_elections_from_france
Everything you need to know about registering to vote, requesting your ballot, verifying the receipt of your ballot, mailing back your ballot if your state requires postal return, phone numbers and on-line help line contact information, it’s all there.
HELP BRING IN THE VOTE FROM ABROAD: If you are affiliated with a Brittany-Loire-based organization, university, or business that serves Americans, we'd love to partner with you this fall to help Americans register and vote. Please contact Brittany Chapter GOTV Coordinator Martha Le Cars at [email protected] for more information.
You can also contact Martha with any voting questions you may have.
Upcoming Events
You can always find our in-person and online events on the Democrats Abroad Brittany events page
September Events
🍺 September 9 | Angers | Take Back Power Happy Hour, Midterm Elections
Wednesday at 7 PM
Location: Downtown Angers — RSVP for location
On the agenda: It's time to Take Back Power for the midterms. Learn how to request your ballot, send it in, and send in a backup ballot. Don't miss out on this fantastic chance to connect, have fun, and exercise your rights! Drinks and food available for purchase.
September 16 | Nantes | La Lutte Pour les Droits des Femmes aux États-Unis : Hier et Aujourd'hui
Wednesday at 6 PM
Location: La Maison des États-Unis
RSVP: Eric Beaty [email protected]
🗳️ September 18 and 19 | Rennes | Voter Help
Friday 10:30 AM - Noon and Saturday 3 - 6:30 PM
Location: Franco-American Institute
Help fellow Americans register and vote.
Contact Carolyn Campbell to volunteer or for more information.
📣 September | Rennes | Student Outreach (date and time TBD)
University of Rennes
Outreach and engagement with American students. 👀 More information provided on September 8.
Between now and December, gatherings like this help us stay connected, informed, and ready to act—together.
👉 See details for October and November Upcoming Community Events
RECENT EVENTS
July 4 — Picnic and Potluck Brings Our Community Together
Our Fourth of July Picnic was our largest event ever, with people, activities, volunteers, and laughter than we've ever enjoyed at any single event. See our July newsletter archive for more information.
Meet Our Volunteers — Martha Le Cars
Getting to know the volunteers & members who make our chapter strong.
Martha Le Cars — Complacency Is Silent Approval
Martha first joined Democrats Abroad in 2015 and was one of the founding members of the Brittany Chapter established in 2017. After the surprising results of the 2016 presidential election and actions of the administration at the time, she felt like she had to step up and do something about what was happening.
👉 Learn more about Martha and her work
In Focus — Featured Article
Trump and American Education
by Gregory Sadlek
From the very beginning of the Republic, Americans of every political persuasion have viewed education as a crucial national investment.
Unfortunately, this long tradition is no longer being honored during the second term of President Donald Trump. Instead, we’ve seen the attempted implementation of many of the policies of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Among these goals are the dismantling of the Department of Education, the elimination of funding for Head Start, and the rescinding of civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ students. In addition, we have seen vicious attacks on a number of universities, on American research funding, and on visa programs for visiting international students. The president is, metaphorically speaking, sawing off one of the most important branches upon which our national preeminence sits.
This is the first of three articles highlighting several of Trump’s most destructive educational policies and then considering what Democrats should do about them.
Let's begin with the unprecedented attacks on America's universities—and why they matter to all of us.
[Read the full article...] → 👉 Trump and American Education
How to Volunteer
There are countless ways to help and every volunteer strengthens our community. If you’d like to help Americans abroad stay engaged, informed, and ready to vote, we invite you to join us. No prior experience is required — we provide training and guidance, and you can contribute in whatever way fits your schedule.
To get involved, e-mail our Chapter Volunteer Coordinator or fill out the DA France Volunteer Form.
For more information about new Brittany—Loire West volunteer opportunities see our Chapter and Subchapter Volunteer Opportunities 👈🏼
The Lighter Side 😁 Keeping Our Cool
as Things Are Heating Up...
The past few weeks have been hot across France, and many of us have discovered new ways to survive the heat. Before September brings us back to volunteer activities, voter outreach, and another busy election season, we thought we'd kick back and laugh together a bit.
With Thanks to Our Contributors
This issue was created with the help of volunteers across Brittany and beyond. 👉 See who contributed for August
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