Hello, pro-democracy readers! President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a new court filing it will start using passport records as it hunts for noncitizens on voter registration rolls. Meanwhile, as we await a U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling on Missouri’s gerrymandered map, the scope of the map’s impact is becoming clear: 1.4 million people would change congressional districts. We break down the latest Missouri news below.
Also, the DOJ is using delay tactics to stymie a lawsuit seeking information about how they may seize election materials in this fall’s election.
All that and more is on the docket today. Programming note: I’m taking a few days off, so Sally will guide you through the news while I’m out. I’ll see you again next week!
Trump administration will use passport data for voter citizenship checks, DOJ court filing reveals
The move would dramatically expand the administration’s efforts to marshal federal data as it attempts to exert control over elections. The information shared with unnamed federal agencies would include private identifiable data of everyone who has ever applied for a U.S. passport.
DOJ delay tactics aim to advance Trump’s voter suppression schemes
Democrats sued the Trump administration this summer for any records detailing plans to seize ballots, voting machines or other election materials during the midterms. Over a month later, the DOJ hasn’t formally responded to the suit.
In fact, the DOJ just asked a federal judge for more time to respond, which would be just a week before Election Day.
Lawyers for the Democratic National Committee allege the department may be attempting to run out the clock, potentially to avoid disclosing possible preparation to interfere in elections.
The latest in Missouri: Republicans make final plea to Supreme Court to revive gerrymandered map while they admit 1 in 3 voters statewide will change districts
Missouri referendum proponents asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling requiring the state to use its 2025 GOP congressional gerrymander in the November midterms.
In briefs to SCOTUS today, Missouri officials and Republican candidates for office who stand to benefit from the map highlighted the fact that more than 1.4 million people — or roughly one in three voters statewide — would shift from their original districts to the map’s gerrymandered districts.
Republicans and GOP-led states are asking courts to push the Purcell principle in a consequential new direction. The principle is intended to limit federal court intervention creating disruption close to an election, but their argument has echoes of the dangerous independent state legislature theory, which would give state lawmakers nearly total power over election rules.
Exclusive: EAC commissioner communicated with Cleta Mitchell’s group on proof of citizenship, emails show
If you don’t read our weekly newsletter Eye on the Right — and if you don’t, you should — you may have missed our exclusive report.
New emails shared with Democracy Docket revealed that one of the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) then-commissioners last year communicated with a top anti-voting group to try to boost Trump’s plan to require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Experts warned that Trump’s attack on mail voting would create confusion and mistrust in the U.S. Postal Service, and that appears to be the case. Another new poll found his baseless claims about widespread fraud has decreased trust in the agency, but mostly amongst Republicans.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a new federal lawsuit against the state, once again seeking voter roll records just two months after a judge dismissed its previous case for lack of standing.
For the 25th consecutive time, Trump's DOJ lost a case attempting to access sensitive voter data. In a new video, Marc explains why free and fair elections are the biggest threat to Trump's authoritarian goals.
Here we share noteworthy briefs on all things voting rights and democracy. Have a footnote for us? Send it to newsletters@democracydocket.com.
Seriously, what is Trump’s obsession with renaming things? Members of his administration are reportedly circulating a list of government sites that could have his name on them. Among the most prominent places is the Ford Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
Time for some traffic problems in America? (Please get that joke, y’all). Chris Christie, the former Republican New Jersey governor who became infamous for “Bridgegate” and has since tried to rebrand himself as a Trump critic, is teasing a third presidential run. I’m sure it will go as well as his other attempts.
Today's newsletter was edited by Sally Holtgrieve and Dave O'Brien, and produced by Leila Fusenig. Learn more about our staff here.
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