Residents of Trignac, a small commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, are preparing for a second mayoral election on September 27, less than six months after the original March vote. The initial election results were overturned in early June by the administrative court in Nantes due to a technical issue involving the size of the ballots used. This problem arose when the outgoing mayor, Claude Aufort, was declared the winner in March, but his opponent, Gilbert Lemestre, challenged the results, citing the improper ballot size. According to France’s Electoral Code, ballots must be printed in A5 format, but the list supporting Aufort used A4-sized ballots instead. This discrepancy in size led to confusion during the vote counting process. Some voters reportedly began counting the ballots themselves due to the varying thickness of the envelopes, which made it difficult to determine which ballots were valid. The court ruled that these irregularities invalidated the election, necessitating a new campaign and vote. This situation is rare in France, with only a few other communes—such as Bazancourt in Oise, Lupstein in Bas-Rhin, and Servoz in Haute-Savoie—having faced similar issues. Both candidates are concerned about voter turnout, as the March election saw an abstention rate of 50.25%, which is relatively high. The upcoming election is occurring just months before the 2027 presidential and legislative elections, which may lead to voter fatigue. Some residents have expressed frustration over repeated calls to vote, while others have noted a greater level of engagement in the current campaign. The outgoing mayor, now replaced by a temporary administrative delegation, has reported that 116 new voters have registered since the start of the summer. This increase could potentially influence the outcome of the second election. Despite the challenges, the campaign is moving forward, with both candidates seeking to rally support ahead of the September 27 vote.