Federal judge shuts down Trump DOJ’s nationwide voter roll crusade, even in states that cooperated

• A judge ruled the DOJ's policy of collecting states' unredacted voter rolls and urging them to remove voters flagged as ineligible is illegal.
  
  
• The department cannot legally share such data with DHS to run through a federal database to check registrants' citizenship status — even in states that voluntarily handed over their voter rolls, according to the ruling.
  
  
• The judge also strongly rebuked the Trump administration, stating “DOJ cannot run roughshod over longstanding laws that were carefully crafted to protect the rights of the American people.”

➤ Read more about this major ruling

Missouri offered to let DOJ inspect its unredacted voter rolls

• Like many states, Missouri initially refused to give the DOJ a copy of its voter rolls containing sensitive personal information.
  
  
• But records show the state's chief election official later proposed a compromise: let federal officials conduct an "in-person audit" of its voter records.

➤ What the new filings reveal

Election deniers say an obscure rule on Wi-Fi routers means Trump can decide how votes are counted. Here’s why they’re wrong

• An election denier reportedly discussed with the White House a scheme to wrest control of vote counting from states.
  
  
• But the dubious plan, which involves sweeping changes to voting machines and hand counts of ballots, rests on a little-used regulation that covers...WiFi routers.

➤ More about the plot circulating among election deniers

ICE sued for records of its plans for Election Day

• A pro-voting group sued ICE for failing to respond to FOIA requests regarding the agency's increased involvement in investigating allegations of voter fraud.
  
  
• The lawsuit comes after the group had already submitted multiple FOIA requests seeking documents that disclose those efforts.

➤ More on the lawsuit

Despite Trump’s efforts to kneecap it, a key federal election agency is still at work

• When President Donald Trump fired the independent commissioners of a key federal election agency in July, there was a widespread fear that the move would impact its critical election work before the midterms.
  
  
• Months later, the body has continued much of its work to protect election security.

➤ How the agency is still supporting states

New Jersey voters sue after GOP officials target Democrats for removal

• New Jersey voters sued Ocean County to stop a GOP-driven purge targeting Democratic and unaffiliated voters ahead of the midterms.

➤ Why the timing is especially consequential

In multiple red states, direct democracy is on the ballot this midterm

• This fall, some voters are being asked to decide the future of direct democracy in red states.
  
  
• Republican lawmakers have been trying to restrict that process to subvert the will of the people. But one voting advocate says fighting for direct democracy "is more important than ever."

➤ Read what’s at stake

Voters sue to block Tarrant County, Texas, polling site cuts targeting minority communities

• The lawsuit accuses Republican officials of intentionally making it harder for Black and Hispanic residents to vote by eliminating dozens of Election Day polling places.

➤ What does the lawsuit say?

Montana court blocks onerous mail voting law that led to thousands of rejected absentee ballots last year

• The decision is a victory for disability advocates who argued that the requirements increased the likelihood that valid ballots cast by those with difficulty getting to a physical polling place would be rejected on technicalities.

➤ Read about this win for voters

Also in Montana, state Supreme Court strikes down GOP restrictions on citizen ballot initiatives

• The court invalidated key provisions of a 2023 law that imposed an exorbitant filing fee, barred voters from reconsidering defeated measures for four years and gave lawmakers a formal role in reviewing proposed initiatives before supporters could gather signatures.

➤ Why this is a win for direct democracy

GOP bid to scrap Kansas mail ballot grace period fails again

• In a win for voters, a Kansas appeals court denied the state’s latest request to revive a GOP-backed law that would throw out mail-in ballots received after Election Day, even if they were cast on time.

➤ Why this is a win for voters

In win for voters with disabilities, court strikes down California mail ballot rule

• A federal court struck down a California rule that required voters to return mail ballots by paper and without assistance from others. Plaintiffs argued this requirement is not merely difficult, but disenfranchises voters with disabilities.
  
  
• While the decision is a win for voters, it likely will not affect voting this fall.

➤ More on the win

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