Civil rights groups sue to prevent Trump admin from sending federal agents to intimidate voters

• The coalition, led by the NAACP and including labor unions, argued in a lawsuit filed today that the Trump administration has already created an atmosphere of intimidation around voting.
  
  
• They are asking for a court order to prevent the administration “from deploying agents in a manner that unlawfully intimidates voters or anyone urging or aiding voters.”
  
  
• The plaintiffs allege the “chilling” conduct violates Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, which bars anyone — including law enforcement — from attempting to “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” voters.
  
  
• Marc is going live at 6:30 p.m. ET on YouTube to answer any questions you have about this major lawsuit.

➤ How the Trump administration’s “chilling” conduct led to the lawsuit

Exclusive: Senate Dems demand watchdog probe into new DHS whistleblower allegations

• Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) were among several Democrats who urged the DHS inspector general to “immediately” open an investigation into a whistleblower’s claims that the agency unlawfully accessed state voting records as part of the Trump administration’s escalating attempts to obtain voter data.
  
  
• “All these claims require a thorough and objective investigation, including whether authority exists to collect and use all relevant data, free of interference by agency leadership,” the senators said.

➤ Read the Democrats’ letter

Virginia early voting started today. Here’s what we’re watching

• After redistricting confusion this spring — which culminated in the Virginia Supreme Court throwing out the results of a special election in which voters approved a new map proposed by Democrats — the state will use the same congressional map as in years past.
  
  
• Voters will also have the chance to weigh in on major ballot measures. One of which would amend the state constitution to allow people who’ve served their time for felonies to have their voting rights automatically restored upon release.

➤ This is what you need to know

Join 800,000 other pro-democracy viewers on YouTube

• Democracy Docket’s YouTube channel hit a major milestone this week: We passed 800,000 subscribers. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the latest analysis and news as the midterms get even closer.

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Do you have any pro-democracy events to share?

• Democracy Docket members have flooded our newly launched Bulletin Board with ways for folks to get involved ahead of the upcoming election. 
  
  

• Upgrade to access the board and see events like postcard writing groups, protests, and major events happening nation wide.

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Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to revive mail voting restrictions ahead of midterms

• In a huge win for voters, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to reinstate its mail voting restrictions ahead of the midterm elections.

➤ Read reactions from voting advocates

DOJ is 0-24 in its voter roll grab after Vermont demand rejected

• It was yet another bruising defeat for the DOJ in its crusade to collect states’ private voter data.

➤ Read about the DOJ’s latest loss