On Sunday, September 27, 2026, half of the members of the French Senate will be elected through a system known as indirect universal suffrage. This means that instead of voters directly choosing the senators, a group of elected officials will cast their votes on behalf of the public. In total, 63 departments in France, along with six senators representing French citizens abroad, will see their senatorial seats renewed. In the department of Charente-Maritime, three senatorial seats are up for election, and the voting process will follow a proportional system, ensuring that the number of seats each candidate or list receives reflects the number of votes they get. The election process in Charente-Maritime involves a college of 172,600 electors, composed of deputies, senators, regional and departmental councilors, and mayors and deputies of municipal councils. These individuals are responsible for electing the senators. Because there are three seats to fill, the proportional system is used, which allows for a more accurate representation of the electorate's preferences compared to a majority system. Candidates must register on a list that includes as many names as there are seats to be filled, with two additional names in case of replacements. In Charente-Maritime, five different lists are running for the senatorial elections. Among them are Corinne Imbert (Les Républicains) and Mickaël Vallet (Socialist, Ecologist, and Republican), both of whom are seeking re-election. Daniel Laurent (Les Républicains) is not running again after three terms. The other candidates include Abdelouahed Tatou, an independent, Pascal Markowsky from the Rassemblement National, and Christophe Plassard from the center-right, who is running under the list "17 au cœur." This diversity of political representation reflects the broader political landscape in the region. The results of the senatorial elections will be published on the website of the Ministry of the Interior, which will provide an interactive map showing the outcomes for all affected departments. The number of voters varies by department, with mayors and municipal council deputies making up 95% of the electors. Voting is mandatory, and those who do not vote may be fined 100 euros. This system ensures that the process remains active and representative, even though it is not conducted by the general public directly.