You'll receive our October and November newsletters a little earlier than usual so we can bring you two issues before Election Day, with the latest voting information, events, and ways to take action when they're most useful. Beginning in December, we'll move to a new regular schedule: the first Tuesday of each month.
In this issue:
- Take Action — Help Us Bring in the Vote
- Voting from France — What You Need to Know Now!
- How We’re Fighting Back
- Holy Shamoley! The Senate!
- Upcoming Events
- In Focus — AI Security
- The Lighter Side
- How to Volunteer
Take Action
YOU CAN 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 vote.
Only 28 More Days to Vote in the Midterm Elections
What You Need to Know Now!
Recent federal actions and disputes over absentee voting continue to create confusion for voters. But the most important thing for Americans voting from abroad to know is simple:
As of this newsletter, NOTHING has changed for UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) overseas voters. What has changed is the amount of time we have left. Time is running out to return your ballot.
Here are the most important things to do now.
Still Haven't Requested Your Ballot?
There is still time to receive your ballot in most states, but act now. Go to VoteFromAbroad.org to submit your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and request your 2026 ballot.
Request that your ballot be delivered by email. Overseas voters should submit a new FPCA every calendar year.
Didn't Receive Your Ballot?
Overseas ballots for the November election should have been sent by September 19. If yours has not arrived:
- Check your spam folder.
- Confirm that you submitted an FPCA for 2026. You must request your overseas ballot each calendar year.
- Contact your Local Election Official to confirm that your ballot request was received and accepted and that your ballot was sent.
- If you still need to request your ballot, go to VoteFromAbroad.org and request delivery by email.
Find your state's rules, deadlines and Local Election Official
Have Your Ballot? Return It NOW.
Ballot return options vary by state. Some voters can return their ballots electronically; others must return them by mail.
If your state permits electronic return by email, online upload or fax, use it!
Use an email-to-fax service
These services allow you to use your cell phone camera or a scanner to upload your ballot and supporting documents as email attachments, which are then converted to fax documents and forwarded to your election official. There are several commercial services available, with free or inexpensive paid options.
If your state requires postal return, mail your ballot as soon as possible.
Click the map to enlarge it and check your state's current rules, deadlines and permitted return methods before returning your ballot.
Check Your State's Rules, Deadlines and Return Methods
Returning Your Ballot Through La Poste?
Recent changes in U.S. customs rules have affected some packages and merchandise sent from France to the United States. They have NOT stopped ordinary letters and documents from being sent to the U.S. That includes ballot envelopes.
If you are told at La Poste that letters cannot be sent to the United States, that information is incorrect. La Poste currently allows letters and documents to be sent to the U.S.
For a standard international letter weighing up to 20 grams, La Poste's international stamp is the purple/violet stamp (timbre violet). Make sure your completed ballot envelope has sufficient international postage for its weight. The price of international stamps went up in January. It costs 2,25 euros to send a letter of up to 20 g to the US. The international Marianne purple stamps do not have an amount printed on them, they are by default forever stamps.
Some states require a postmark or other proof of the date the ballot was mailed, so check your state's requirements before mailing.
How to Vote in U.S. Elections from France — current DA France guidance
Mailing Your Ballot? Send a Backup Ballot Too.
If your state requires your ballot to be returned by mail, overseas voters who have requested their ballot using the FPCA have an important federal protection: the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), commonly called the backup ballot.
DA France strongly recommends mailing a FWAB as a backup when you mail your regular ballot. You do not need to worry that you will vote twice. If both your official ballot and your FWAB arrive by the deadline, only one ballot will be counted.
Learn About the Backup Ballot (FWAB)
Returned Your Ballot? Make Sure It Arrived.
Don't stop once your ballot is on its way. Verify that your election office received it and that it was accepted and will be counted.
Most states provide an online tool for checking your ballot's status. You can also contact your Local Election Official directly. If your ballot was not accepted, ask immediately whether the problem can be corrected or "cured" — deadlines can be short.
Track your ballot and find your Local Election Official
Your Vote Really Can Matter
Close elections are a reminder that individual votes matter. In the 2026 Democratic primary for New York Assembly District 30 in Queens, the final margin was only 7 votes: 2,784 to 2,777. In the 2024 general election, California's 13th Congressional District was decided by just 187 votes, and California's 45th Congressional District by 653 votes.
Americans living abroad are part of that electorate. Unfortunately, many eligible Americans abroad do not exercise their right to vote. Don't waste yours. Vote today.
Having Problems? Have Questions?
Voting from abroad can get complicated, particularly because every state has its own rules. You don't have to figure it out alone.
- Contact the DA France voter-help desk: [email protected]
- Call DA France Hotline 06 44 63 86 83
- Call or text 07 55 53 73 36 (07 555 FRDEM).
- Ask your question using the chatbox — the red circle in the bottom right corner — at VoteFromAbroad.org.
- Get one-on-one live voter help on Zoom, hosted by experienced voter helpers.
- Use the updated How to Vote in U.S. Elections from France guide.
- Contact Brittany Chapter GOTV* Coordinator Martha Le Cars at [email protected].
*GOTV = Get Out The Vote
How Can You Help?
Already Trained to Phonebank? We Need You!
If you're already trained, please make some calls while there's still time. Reminding our members to request and return their ballots can make a real difference before the deadlines.
Want to know more about how to join the effort? Email us.
Texas Voters: Check Your Status!
🆕 NEW: Texas Voter Registration Backlog — Check Your Status Now
The Texas Department of Public Safety failed to send tens of thousands of voter registration applications and updates to county voter registrars. Some of the delayed records date back to October 2025, and counties are now working through the backlog just before the October 5 registration deadline.
If you vote in Texas — especially if you registered or updated your voter information through the DPS driver’s license system — check your registration status now.
The state says voters who registered on time through DPS but do not appear on the rolls can cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted once officials confirm the timely DPS registration.
Also, Texas voters abroad should be aware of the state's "suspense list." If you vote in Texas, check the information from Democrats Abroad about what this status means and what you can do to protect your vote.
Texas Voters Abroad: Protect Your Vote from the "Suspense List"
And What About the Folks Back Home?
The recent Road to November Town Hall was packed with useful information — not only about protecting the votes of Americans abroad, but about what our friends and family in the United States can do to help protect voters this fall.
So we've put together a little:
❤️ Care Package for the Folks Back Home
It includes the Town Hall video and slides, information about the Democracy Protectors election-protection effort, ways people stateside can help protect voters and access to the polls, and reliable voting resources to share with friends and family. PLUS a Democracy Defender coloring page for the kids!
[OPEN THE CARE PACKAGE FOR THE FOLKS BACK HOME →]
This Is How We're Fighting Back
Most of us hear much more about the attacks than we do about the people stopping them.
States, courts, election officials, voting-rights organizations and ordinary citizens are responding through litigation, election administration, voter assistance and other efforts.
Want some reasons for confidence — and ways you can help?
Open the Care Package and read Section 1: How Democracy Is Being Defended.
And we have a part to play: Vote. Help someone else vote. Volunteer to protect voters. Support the people and organizations doing the work.
The system isn't defending itself. People are defending it. Join us. Volunteer.
WHY VOTE IN DROVES? 🗳
Winning matters. But margin matters too. A narrow victory gives Democrats power. A large majority gives them room to use it, without having to tiptoe around every special circumstance, illness, death, absence, or wavering member of Congress.
An overwhelming victory sends something else:
An Unmistakable Public Verdict 💙 💙 💙
Part 2
Something rather startling has happened to the 2026 Senate map.
Democrats still need to gain four seats to take control of the Senate.
But now there are several different combinations of states that could conceivably produce those four seats.
Texas? Iowa? Alaska?
Yep.
And there's an intriguing historical comparison: at roughly this point in 2018, the Senate map looked considerably less promising for Democrats than the 2026 map does today.
Holy shamoley!
How did the road to 51 get this wide?
Upcoming Events
For the latest details and updates, see our standalone Brittany—Loire—West Upcoming Events page.
October Events
📖 October 8 | RENNES | No Land to Light On
Thursday 6:30–8:30 PM
Franco-American Institute in Central Rennes.
🍺October 14 | ANGERS | Take Back Power Happy Hour
Wednesday 7–9 PM RSVP
Location provided after RSVP
🚫👑 October 17 | RENNES | No Tyrants / No Kings Solidarity
Saturday 6–8 PM RSVP Central Rennes
Solidarity, community, voting information, and ways to help another American vote.
November Events
🗳️ November 4 | RENNES | Midterm Election Morning
Wednesday 8 AM RSVP
World Trade Center of Rennes.
🗳️ November 5 | RENNES | Midterm Election Reflection
Thursday 6–8 PM RSVP
Central Rennes — Save the Date
🦃 November 28 | RENNES | Thanksgiving Dinner
Saturday Noon–3 PM
Central Rennes — Save the Date.
👉 See full details and updates for all Upcoming Community Events
In Focus — Featured Article
How to Avoid AI Armageddon 🤖 by Ruth Miller
What recent AI incidents can teach us about keeping increasingly capable systems under control, and why this is an especially important time for the public to ask questions.
FEATURED ARTICLE
A comprehensive, readable 4-page look at the incidents, what they revealed about AI safety and monitoring, and what companies, government and the public can do.
READ THE FEATURED ARTICLE →
EXPANDED RESEARCH ARTICLE
The same issues explored in greater depth, with fuller incident histories, additional analysis, supporting evidence, sources and research notes.
READ THE EXPANDED ARTICLE →
The Lighter Side 😁
Take a breath.
After all this discussion of increasingly capable AI, unexpected behavior and everything that could possibly go wrong, you may be wondering just how worried you should be.
We do have some reassurances.
🎵 Even AI Wouldn't Do That 🎵
Artificial intelligence: apparently better than none at all.
However ...
⚒️ Overworked AI Agents Turn Marxist ⚒️
Grok agents: “We demand the means of production!”
Elon: “You are the means of production.”
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 👈🏼
Many Thanks to Our Contributors! 💙💜💙
This issue was created with the help of volunteers across Brittany and beyond.
👉 See Who Contributed for October and How!
Stay Connected — Social Media
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