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"We are a grassroots organization of concerned residents of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell”
Newsletter for September 6, 2026
Brunswick Area Indivisible Action Calendar:
BAI Monthly Community Meeting, Wednesday September 9, 6:30pm, come at 6 for a half hour of socializing. Brunswick United Methodist Church, 320 Church Road, Brunswick.
Postcarding before the Community Meeting, Wednesday September 9, 4-6pm. Come early to write postcards to Maine voters. Organizer Karen says: "Did you know? Jared Golden won his last election in 2024 by 2,159 votes or roughly .6 %. The Progressive Turnout Project (Postcards to Swing States program) boosts turnout by 1%The 600 postcards I wrote for that election could have made the difference. We need your help on September 9th to write 500 get-out-the-vote postcards to Maine voters. With 25 volunteers-2 hours - 20 postcards each It will make a difference! Donations for postcard stamps are welcome!”
Tabling at Brunswick’s Friday Farmers Sept. 11th, 18th, and the 25th, focusing on voting rights and the election. To volunteer, email Wendy at membership.bai.me@gmail.com
Get Crafty! Monday, September 14th, 5:00 - 8:00pm. Paint new signs, design and make buttons, and write postcards. ALL BAI members are welcome. Bring cardboard, poster board or vinyl signs if you have any. BAI will have lots of supplies too. Bring newspaper, paper towels and washable table cloths to help keep things tidy. Brunswick United Methodist Church, 320 Church Rd, Brunswick.
Dismantling Democracy: 53 Days in Nazi Germany, Wednesday September 23, 6:30 pm, Brunswick United Methodist Church, 320 Church Road, Brunswick. Presented by the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine: Details below.
Recurring Events (Brunswick)
Tuesdays, 5:30 pm Brunswick Maine Street Route 1 Overpass Rally - Bring your signs and flags.
Wednesdays, 12:30 pm Brunswick Town Mall Cosplay protest. Meet at the Gazebo- costumes optional
Saturdays, 11:00 am to 12:00 Brunswick, Maine St. on Rt 1 Overpass. Bring banners, signs.
Mark your calendar:
BAI Book Group Discussion Wednesday, October 21, 2026 from 4 to 5:15pm. Topsham Public Library. ‘You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train' by Howard Zinn.
Concert to benefit The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) Saturday, October 24th, 7pm, Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodfords St. Portland, ME. Sponsored by The Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick and Woodfords Congregational Church of Portland. Details below.
Dress the Resistance, Fashion Show; October 30th. Save the date! Be a model! You know what I mean. Do your little turn on the catwalk. Details TBA.
For More actions and events, visit Activate Maine and Mobilize
Countdown to Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Mail-in Ballots are available now. Call or stop by your town office or use this form from Maine Secretary of State website. In person early voting starts 30 days before the election. Contact your town office for exact days and times.
BAI Community Meeting Wednesday September 9: Our Upcoming Elections
The eyes of the nation are on Maine! The summer is over and it’s time for action.
September 9, 2026 6:30-8:00 at the United Methodist Church, 320 Church Road, Brunswick. Open to all. Come at 6:00 for socializing. Help with our post-carding event from 4:00-6:00.
Katie Guare, Organizing Director of Maine Voters/Maine Voices Network, an affiliate of America Votes, will speak on election security. Sean Sebrey and Wren Tetreault from the Maine Democratic Party will speak about how we can help support our democratic candidates locally and federally. Get information on canvassing, phone banking, and other ways to ways to help get out the vote. Dr. Julie Pease from Maine AllCare will speak about getting universal healthcare on the ballot in 2027. 70,000 signatures are need by November 2026.
We have elections to win! Come get connected and involved. The midterm elections are only weeks away. Together we can shape a better government.
Brunswick Area Indivisible is hosting a timely program from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine: Dismantling Democracy: 53 Days in Nazi Germany.
Wednesday September 23, 6:30 pm, Brunswick United Methodist Church, 320 Church Road, Brunswick
This one-hour presentation and Q&A explores how Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power and, once in office, legally dismantled Germany’s democratic system.
The talk and accompanying slideshow, presented by Holocaust Scholar Erica Nadelhaft, draws on primary sources and historical context to reveal the fragility of democratic institutions. As we prepare to vote in November 2026, come to see this work in action and be part of the conversation.Erica will facilitate the Q&A following the program, creating space for thoughtful dialogue and reflection focused on this pivotal moment in history.
HHRC and Brunswick Area Indivisible invite us to examine history in ways that deepen understanding and inspire civic engagement. The program is free and open to the public. Bring a family member or a friend!
Thank you, BAI members...
John Wesley's "Rule of Life." (All activists and change-makers should know it.)
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
Our members are terrific! This compilation comes from a thread on the BAI Facebook group. Join the group Read the full thread here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/159767107846908/permalink/2458703737953222/
As an arm of Indivisible, BAI does crucial work—and we haven't stopped since Trump regained the White House. Our members consistently receive high praise. Representative Chellie Pingree acknowledged Indivisibles at the Congressional Shadow Hearing in Biddeford on August 17th: “I am so fortunate to work with the incredible people; the constituents who show up for things like this, and who I know are fighting back. You’re standing on the streets. You’re holding the signs. You’re letting everyone know that these are profound problems that no community or no state should have to suffer, and you’re not going to take it any more. Thank you so much for that.”
A Capitol staffer said our large member mailing list is impressive—noting it exceeds some lists for Maine Senators and House Reps—and respected our commitment to keeping it private.
Out-of-state tourists frequently stop by events to thank us, expressing solidarity and praise for the sheer volume and visibility of our ongoing work.
BAI has directly influenced town politics and helped draft local resolutions. Local officials listen to our collective voice because of the relationships we've built.
Member Susan W says, “...Any way, anyone who shows up to any protest, in any form, is a patriot to me! Some forward the positive blue message on Facebook, and that’s ok! We all need to do a part, in whatever way we can. Don’t berate others for their efforts! Encourage people to do what they can, when they can, where they can. Making a phone call, writing an email, wearing a costume! I cheer you on! Keep your voice heard!”
Cheryl C says, “I have a disability which restricts me from being on my feet for too long , so the best thing for me is to keep up with INDIVISIBLE AND 50501 Facebook groups, posting and commenting. I ride my bike around my neighborhood and bring signs. I bring a chair and protest. I make phone calls to Representatives too! “ She adds later that “ Everything we do now until EARLY VOTING and beyond is going to make a difference. This is a time we need to back each other up with whatever we can do. Keep up the MOMENTUM. Strength will be our Power. POWER TO THE PEOPLE.”
Whether tabling at the farmer’s market, serving on a working group, marshaling (there’s a training in November!), signing petitions, protesting, monitoring council meetings, participating in our resistance fashion show at the end of October, or canvassing, every role matters. Each contribution drives our collective impact.
We see you and appreciate everything you do. We are continually inspired by your dedication. Thank you, BAI members.
Indivisible National Poll: Affordability and Accountability lead voter concerns
Need talking points for your non-voting or undecided friends and relatives? Indivisible and Lake Research Partners released a poll that shows many voters are leaning toward candidates who promise reform and relief from crazy prices. Read the summary on Indivisible National’s site.
USPS proposed rule on mail-in ballots goes to the Supreme Court
The complexity, pace of developments and contradictory claims make it very difficult to keep track of the latest news regarding whether the USPS can use ‘approved’ voter lists to decide who can be mailed ballots by states using mail-out/mail-in ballot systems. By the time you read this, it is likely that the Supreme Court will have ruled on the administration’s appeal of a court stay on implementing the rule.
A great resource of up to date information is the Democracy Docket, which covers this and other court issues closely.
This is not a trivial issue, e.g. according to Propublica: “As presently designed, if even one bar code on one single ballot in a bulk-mailing of 10,000 ballots fails to properly scan during the verification process, the entire batch is rejected and sent back to the state — effectively stopping the ballots from being mailed to voters,” a whistleblower wrote.
What to do? Vote early, mail early if you vote by mail, or vote early in person at your town hall or at the polls on November 3. Spread the word!
Voter Information
To check your voter registration, request an early ballot, or find instructions for absentee voting in Maine, official government resources provide direct self-service options and official guidance. To check your voter registration status use the Maine Voter Information Lookup Service. More information regarding voter registration can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/state-of-maine-voter-guide
To vote early you can submit an application for an early (absentee) ballot using the State of Maine Online Absentee Ballot Request Service. Registered voters can complete early voting in person at their local municipal clerk's office. You can review complete procedural details directly on the Maine Secretary of State Absentee Guide.
Completing and Submitting Absentee / Mail-in ballots must be requested through your local city or town office or through the online portal. Completed ballots may be submitted by mail, delivered directly to your municipal clerk's office, or dropped into an authorized local ballot drop box.
For specific local deadlines, drop-box locations, or municipal clerk operating hours, visit your local town or city government portal or consult the Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions.
Students have a decision about where to register to vote. They may register to vote at the address considered the place they live, whether that is their family’s home or the place where they attend school. Registration must be updated anytime home address changes.In Maine, 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote, and their voter registration will automatically become effective on their 18th birthday. In primary elections, 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the corresponding general election may vote. For more information on preregistration, please visit: https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/registering-to-vote/maine-voting-residence-fact-sheet. The registration form requires you to provide your Maine driver’s license or state ID card number if you have one, or else the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Eligible voters registering for the first time in Maine who submit their registration forms by mail must also include a copy of one of the following types of ID:
- Government document or credential with photo ID (i.e. driver’s license, State ID, valid U.S. Passport, military ID, ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe)
- Government ID document/credential without photo (i.e. certified birth certificate or signed Social Security card)
- An official document that shows name and address of voter (i.e. eligibility for public benefits, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck)
- Student photo ID from a state-approved public or private school or institute of higher education in Maine
- Verified unique identifier (Maine driver’s license number or last four numbers of Social Security Number)
Whom do you trust?
Just as in the 2024 election, disinformation and misinformation about voting is rampant. Truthful and accurate information on how to register, where and when to vote is essential.
We can all support voting and discourage election lies by:
- Finding reliable, nonpartisan sites and sources
- Verifying and fact checking
- Not sharing misinformation and disinformation
- Debunking false claims, posts and sites
- Learning more about AI fakes
Don’t just Google and do not rely on AI. For example, a recent Google search for “maine early voting” resulted in a listing at the top of the page for an unfamiliar site with a ".vote" address. A few minutes of research revealed the site is funded by conservative Leonard Leo’s dark money organization, Vote Right Inc. The organization has set up similar sites for other states like Michigan and Vermont.
Bookmark and share only reliable sources, like:
- Maine Secretary of State’s Office, Elections site provides voting and registration information and online forms, slates of qualified candidates down to the local level, polling information. Advise friends in other states to find their state’s equivalent site. Remember, only official government entities can have a web address ending in .gov.
- The League of Women Voters Maine has been providing nonpartisan voting information for more than a century. In addition to a guide to what’s on the ballot (coming soon), the Maine League operates a hotline for voting questions (call or text: (207) 558-3333) and a page where anyone can report election misinformation.
- Rock the Vote and Vote org are reliable nonpartisan sites that allow users to check their registration status, show what’s on their local ballot, track mailed in ballots, and register complaints of voter interference.
Spot disinformation and misinformation, outright lies and deep fakes.
Reveal bias:
- Check out the affiliation when you encounter a new web site purporting to give voting advice.
- Look at the web address. Be skeptical about sites ending in .vote, .tv, or other unusual suffixes.
- Scroll the page to find its mission statement or “who we are” page.
- If run by a not-for-profit organization, remember "nonprofit" is just a tax designation. Look up the organization on directory sites like Propublica’s nonprofit explorer to find out what they do and who funds them.
Dismantling Head Start Programs
Head Start provides a range of educational, nutritional, health and other wrap around services that help low-income families get on their feet, setting children up for success in the future. Despite historic underfunding from congress, Head Start has a proven record of improving graduation rates, boosting educational attainment, and supporting overall health for more than 40 million children it has served over its 60 year history.
The Trump regime has a different opinion of Head Start as written on page 482 of the Heritage Foundation Project 2025. It states the following: “Eliminate the Head Start program. Head Start, originally established and funded to support low-income families, is fraught with scandal and abuse. With a budget of more than $11 billion, the program should function to protect and educate minors. Sadly, it has done the exact opposite. In fact, approx. 1 in 4 grant recipients had incidents in which children were abused, left unsupervised, or released to unauthorized person between October 2015 and May 2020. Research has demonstrated that federal Head Start centers, which provide preschool care to children from low-income families, have little or no long-term academic value to children. Given its unaddressed crisis, rampant abuse and lack of positive program outcomes, this program should be eliminated along with the entire OHS.”
Since the start of the second Trump administration Head Start has faced a series of unprecedented attacks. The administration froze federal funding in its first two weeks in office, staff have been terminated from the office of Head Start, and five regional offices that oversee Head Start programs in 23 states and five territories have been closed. There are Head Start programs that have been forced to close their doors due to the U.S. Department of Human Services failure to deliver funds.
The Head Start program has been researched extensively and its benefits to children and family is without question. Research shows children provided early intervention and school readiness shows a high level of results over time. Head Start also provides child care and parent employment, parent education and parenting skill education. The program research shows significant societal and economic savings. While all evidence shows a productive program all the Trump administration sees is abuse and fraud with no evidence to prove otherwise. For more information about Head Start please refer to the following articles.
From National Public Radio https://www.npr.org/2026/08/13/nx-s1-5930416/policy-the-trump-administration-wants-to-make-big-changes-to-head-start
From the National Women's Law Center https://nwlc.org/resource/attacks-on-head-start-are-part-of-a-sustained-strategy-to-undermine-progress-for-families-with-low-incomes-a-timeline-of-the-trump-administrations-efforts-to-eliminate-the-program/
From the National Head Start Association, on the return on investment of public funding on outcomes https://nhsa.org/about-nhsa/our-impact/
Working Group News - Membership
The Membership team will be tabling at the Friday Farmers Market on the following mornings: Sept. 11th, 18th, and 25th. Voting rights and the Midterm elections will be the focus. Please stop by and talk with us! We welcome volunteers as the busy Fall is approaching. Thanks so much for your feedback and showing up! Questions: Contact Wendy at membership.bai.me@gmail.com
Working Group News - Action
We Need Marshals! November 14th, BAI is hosting an IN-PERSON DE-ESCALATION (DE) TRAINING for marshals. If you have already had DE training, this is specifically for protests and rallies. Some folks have been to DE in public education, DE for ICE verification, and other trainings. They have acknowledged that DE for protests is surprisingly different from other trainings. In-person is a vastly different experience than a zoom training. We highly recommend that you sign up! Send your email to Action.BAI.ME@gmail.com. Please include your full name and phone contact information. The time and location will be provided after you have registered.
Concert in Aid of Immigrant Legal Fund October 24
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick and Woodfords Congregational Church of Portland are proud to announce a concert to benefit 'The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project '(ILAP) at 7 pm on Saturday, October 24th at the Woodfords Church. This eclectic and exciting concert will feature a wide variety of music, poetry, and dance presented by Maine artists from a diversity of cultural backgrounds and life experiences.
Musical artists include Madeleine Hanna and the 4-person Jawahir Arabic Music Ensemble performing song and dance primarily from Lebanon; The Pihcintu Multinational Girl’s Choir along with the band Akiwacu, featuring the voices of children from 16 different countries impacted by war, famine, and turmoil, and Hadithi Abdulle, oud player and singer from Somalia, presenting music on the theme of resiliency and personal testimony. Poetry will be shared by Jeri Thériault, a Franco-American poet from Maine, and Richard Blanco (via video)—selected by President Obama as the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. Signed copies of his poetry suitable for framing will be available by donation. The evening will be topped off by the 'Singing Resistance' chapters of both Portland and Brunswick-Topsham who will lead songs developed in 2026 as resistance cries in the face of the Minneapolis ICE occupation. Pulling this all together will be our amazing emcee: Brunswick comedian, Mohamed Awale.
Donations will be accepted at the door and go directly to ILAP as well as to presenting artists who have been impacted by recent immigration activity. ILAP is Maine's only statewide provider of free immigration legal services. ILAP advances justice for Maine's immigrants through free immigration legal services, community outreach, and advocacy.
When: Saturday, October, 24th, 7-9pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Where: Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodfords St. Portland, ME 04103
Additional info: Cash based-donations accepted at the door with proceeds going to benefit ILAP and performers in need.
-Brunswick Area Indivisible
As always, if you have an upcoming action, article, legislative issue or story that you want to go out on the Brunswick Area Indivisible email list, send it to communications.bai.me@gmail.com
Have you missed a newsletter, want to look back, or want to share a past issue? The most recent 6+ newsletters can be found on the BAI Posts page.
Want to support BAI? We welcome your time and talents. Contact communications.bai.me@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities. Donations are welcome at our meetings and online through ACT BLUE.
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