Judge leaves Wisconsin mail voters at the mercy of USPS

Thursday, October 8

By Sally Holtgrieve · Senior Editor, News and Operations

Hi, pro-democracy readers. Remember: For all the justified concern about Trump administration voter suppression, states run elections, and they do the most to determine how easy or hard it is to vote. Below we highlight concerns about mail voting in Wisconsin; student IDs in New Hampshire; access barriers in Montana and a lot more.

Thanks for tracking it all right alongside us. Let’s do it again tomorrow.

Wisconsin judge won’t allow provisional ballots for voters fearing Postal Service delays

In a blow to Wisconsin voters, a state court for now will leave voters without an option to cast an in-person provisional ballot on Election Day if they are concerned their mail ballot may not arrive in time.

➤ What no accommodation for mail delays could mean

RNC renews bid to block expanded ballot access in Georgia’s second-largest county

A day after a Georgia judge threw out its challenge to Gwinnett County’s expanded mail ballot return policy, the GOP is pressing ahead with its effort to block the practice before early voting begins next week.

➤ Why the RNC is determined to block ballot access

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New Hampshire asks appeals court to make sure students can’t use IDs to vote

New Hampshire’s GOP officials asked an appeals court to overturn a lower court’s ruling that barred the state from fully enforcing a prohibition on election officials accepting student IDs for voting.
Voting advocates argue the ban burdens students, especially those who are low-income or lack transportation.

➤ How the GOP is trying to suppress student voting in the Granite State

ICE at the polls? Even after FOIA lawsuit, agency refuses to give a straight answer

The Trump administration refuses to say whether it'll send ICE to voting sites, but a FOIA lawsuit forced it to disclose 166 pages of documents about its plans.
While the records contain talking points and value statements, they leave the main question unaddressed…

➤ Will ICE be at the polls?

Trump hit with second lawsuit over taxpayer-funded propaganda ads promoting him ahead of the midterms

The new challenge says the Department of Homeland Security diverted $20 million meant for border-security commemorations to pay for the spots.

➤ More on the lawsuit

Kentucky’s largest county offers drive-through voting for the first time

Voting for some Kentucky residents got easier after Jefferson County announced plans for a vote center with a drive-through option.
“This initiative will expand accessibility for residents with disabilities who may struggle to vote at traditional polling locations,” the county clerk said.

➤ Read the full story

Montana voters head to the polls with increased access — for some

Early voting opened Monday, and mail ballots will start flowing to voters Friday. The state is a battleground for fights over voter access.
Just this week, Montana saw big wins for voters with disabilities and for direct democracy. But other groups, including student voters, still face significant access barriers.

➤ Deep dive into Montana’s voting issues

A loss for Minnesota voters

A federal appeals court declined to rehear Minnesota's defense of its law seeking to combat election misinformation, voter intimidation and harassment.
The denial comes after a panel of appeals judges ordered the lower court to block enforcement of the law.

➤ More about the case

DHS officials discuss deporting up to 400 noncitizens in New Jersey who voted in elections after being accidentally registered by the state

The exchange, unearthed from government documents, comes after New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) disclosed in July that a software failure incorrectly registered over 6,000 noncitizens to vote.

➤ Here’s what to know

Here we share noteworthy briefs on all things voting rights and democracy. Have a footnote for us? Send it to newsletters@democracydocket.com.

Former DOJ trial attorney J. Christian Adams stormed out of an interview when asked for evidence over his claims of voter fraud. Welp.
When SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act, Republicans across the South launched a campaign to erase Black voting power. But the region is changing — and Southern organizers and Democrats should see it as a chance to secure fair representation, Fair Fight says in this call-to-action read.

Today's newsletter was edited by Zachary Roth and Dave O’Brien, and produced by Leila Fusenig. Learn more about our staff here.