Hello, pro-democracy readers! I’m back! Big thanks to Sally and everyone else for holding it down while I was out.

The Trump administration has a history of not complying with court orders — and there are some troubling signs it may do so again, so it can implement a plan for “citizenship lists” ahead of the midterms. Meanwhile, a federal judge found that the administration likely violated federal law when it schemed to cut states’ anti-terror funds for not imposing voting restrictions.

One more thing: The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) held its “long conference” today. The Democracy Docket team broke down several critical election cases the justices may be considering hearing this term.

All that and more is on the docket today. See you tomorrow!

Supreme Court could take up these critical election cases as new term begins

• The U.S. Supreme Court’s fall term kicks off today with the “long conference,” when the justices gather to decide which cases they will hear over the coming months. Here are some that could have big impacts on voting and democracy.

➤ Five cases you need to know about

The latest from Missouri: Trump rages at SCOTUS, ruling praised by pro-voter groups

• In the wake of SCOTUS slapping down a Republican gerrymandering scheme in Missouri, pro-voting groups praised the decision to give voters the final say on the redrawn map.
  
  
• Meanwhile, Trump whined about the Court’s decision in a post on social media.
  
  
• SCOTUS also went out of its way to slam Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) for creating the redistricting mess.
  
  
• For the first time in this back-and-forth drama, SCOTUS decided to explain itself. In doing so, the Court clarified one of its most controversial legal doctrines while inadvertently proving one of the primary criticisms of its “shadow docket” practices.

➤ How the Missouri mess forced the Court to clarify the Purcell principle

‘Fine with me’: GOP Senate candidate Mike Collins backs federal troops at polls

• The Trump administration has floated the idea of sending federal troops to voting sites for months. Now, Rep. Mike Collins (R), the GOP candidate for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat, said he was “fine” with that idea.

➤ Read Collins’ full comments

Report: Trump wanted all mail ballots sent by certified mail

• Trump’s plan to restrict mail voting through the United States Postal Service — which has been blocked for the midterms — was supposed to be even more prohibitive, requiring all mail ballots to be sent by certified mail, according to a new report.

➤ More on Trump’s original plan

ICYMI: Texas registration snafu leaves thousands of voters off rolls

• Last week, we reported on how tens of thousands of voters in Texas are not on county rolls because the state incorrectly processed their voter registration applications.
  
  
• If you missed the story, video journalist Emily Gross breaks it all down for you in a new video.

➤ Watch our new video

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