Hello, pro-democracy readers.

I’ve edited a lot of stories on a lot of hearings. I’ve read SO MANY quotes from Republicans. But I have never had the privilege of witnessing the phrases “albino unicorn” and “the Papa was a Rolling Stone standard” make it into a news story on a lawsuit about voter eligibility. Until today.

Meanwhile, reporter Jim Saksa and graphic designer Megan Lee put a ton of work into a new data story on the hundreds of thousands of mail ballots from legal voters that get rejected for dubious reasons. The figures they uncovered dwarf the tiny number of illegal votes — but we rarely hear anything about it.

In more good news, the Department of Justice is now 0-26 in voter roll grab cases.

This and so much more is below. Thanks for reading; see you tomorrow.

DHS has failed to provide records to prove Trump’s allegations of noncitizen voting, watchdog says

• A nonpartisan government watchdog asked a federal court to force the Trump administration to hand over records on its claims that tens of thousands of noncitizens are registered to vote in various blue states.
  
  
• The request comes after Trump alleged, without evidence, that his administration found 278,000 noncitizens on the rolls.

➤ What else the lawsuit demands

GOP lawyer seeks to disenfranchise ‘albino unicorn’ overseas voters

• Republicans argued in court that U.S. citizens living abroad should not be allowed to vote in Nebraska...because the right to vote is "precious." It’s part of a broader GOP effort to disenfranchise overseas Americans.
  
  
• One GOP lawyer tried to downplay the impact, claiming such voters are as rare as "an albino unicorn of some kind." Yeah, that’s a real quote.

➤ But wait, there’s more

GOP voter ID bill falls short in Senate

• In a 53-47 vote, Senate Republicans failed to advance an anti-voting measure that would have required voters to provide photo ID to cast ballots.
  
  
• The vote follows repeated failures by the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, an anti-voting bill Trump has called his “No. 1 priority.”

➤More on the win for voters

South Carolina voters with disabilities lose key mail voting challenge

• In a loss for South Carolina voters, a federal judge rejected a challenge to three state laws that restrict voter assistance weeks before the midterms.
  
  
• While the decision could affect the nearly 15% of South Carolinians who identify as having a disability, the judge left the door open for a future challenge.

➤ More on the lack of access

Pro-voting group prepares hundreds of volunteers to monitor Texas voting

• As Texans face their large share of hurdles in this year's midterms, one pro-voting group is preparing more election protection volunteers than ever before, with over 400 already trained, the state's program manager said.

➤ What the Lone Star State is gearing up for

Could Trump take over voting by declaring a ‘national emergency’?

• A growing MAGA chorus has been pushing for Trump to declare a national emergency so he can seize control over elections from states.
  
  
• Voting rights advocates say doing so would be blatantly unconstitutional — but worry that such an order could suppress voting nonetheless.

➤ What you need to know

Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear case on expanded voting hours during Election Day disruptions

• Wisconsin’s highest court will hear a case brought by the DNC that could allow courts to extend polling hours when Election Day disruptions threaten voting access. Disclosure: The Elias Law Group (ELG) represents the Democratic National Committee. ELG Firm Chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.

• The ruling won’t come before the midterms.
  

➤ Why it still matters

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