Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• US Department of Justice sues California to block tabulation of ballots allegedly cast by noncitizens — The US Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District of California seeking a court order to prevent the state from tabulating certain ballots in the midterm elections. The suit followed a demand sent to Los Angeles County officials on Tuesday containing a thumb drive with purported names of over 20,000 noncitizens registered to vote, with a 48-hour deadline to verify citizenship. Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber both refused to act on the unverified list, citing lack of methodology and security concerns. The DOJ seeks an injunction requiring California to set aside and independently verify citizenship status of flagged voters before tabulation.
• Justice Department Sues State of California over Voter List — The Department of Justice announced this on 2026-10-15 through Office of the Attorney General. The recorded stage is a complaint filed. The allegations are unadjudicated; this documents the announcement, not the truth of any allegation. The department's own account of it reads: "The Justice Department, working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), today filed a complaint against the State of California over its voter list after determining that more than 20,000 people who are likely aliens are registered to vote in California. Under California law, every registered voter is mailed a ballot. It is unlawful for aliens to vote in federal elections."

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• Supreme Court schedules Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota for December argument — The Supreme Court agreed to hear Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota in December 2026. The case, backed by the Trump Justice Department, challenges whether Arizona may cancel voter registrations of individuals deemed noncitizens during the 90-day quiet period before Election Day. The conservative justices noted in a footnote that they will consider the scope of the quiet period in this separate case and did not need to decide it in the earlier ruling.

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• DNC files lawsuit challenging Pentagon's FPCA modifications — The Democratic National Committee filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC on October 2, 2026, seeking to overturn the Pentagon's August modifications to the Federal Post Card Application. The DNC argues the government violated the Administrative Procedure Act by bypassing standard rulemaking procedures, failing to allow public comment, and implementing changes without proper deliberation. The lawsuit requests a judicial declaration that the government violated the APA and asks the court to set aside the form modifications before the 2026 midterm elections.
• Trump administration initially planned more restrictive mail-in voting requirements — ProPublica reported that Trump's mail-in voting restrictions were initially far more expansive than the final executive order. The administration had wanted to require all ballots be delivered through certified mail, which would have resulted in undelivered ballots if voters were not home to sign for them. Postal Service officials were excluded from important discussions as the Trump administration finalized its executive order on mail-in voting.
• Trump administration removed voter registration option for citizens born abroad — The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration after it changed a federal voter form to remove the option for U.S. citizens born abroad who have never lived in the U.S. to register to vote and request a mail ballot. The lawsuit also revealed that the Trump administration removed information from a federal voter assistance guide about which states allow "never resided" voters to register.

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• Supreme Court schedules Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota for December argument — The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled the case Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota for argument in December. In that case, the Republican National Committee, backed by the Trump Justice Department, argues that Arizona may cancel the registrations of voters it deems noncitizens during the 90-day quiet period before Election Day. The Trump DOJ has already signaled it will argue that the quiet period does not apply to efforts by a state to remove noncitizens, and that "systematic checks within the 90-day window are the only way" for states to keep noncitizens off the rolls.

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• DOJ solicitor general appeals mail voting injunction to Supreme Court — John Sauer, the DOJ's solicitor general, filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court on September 6 seeking to lift Judge Talwani's permanent injunction and permit Trump's USPS rules restricting mail voting to take effect. Sauer argued the freeze would cause "serious, irreparable harm" and claimed the order merely imposes "reasonable preparation requirements" rather than seizing control of state election administration, contradicting the judge's findings.
• Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court to restrict mail-in voting ahead of midterms — The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court on Sunday seeking to overturn a federal judge's injunction blocking enforcement of an executive order restricting mail-in voting. US District Judge Indira Talwani had extended the court order on Friday preventing the USPS from enforcing Trump's March executive order, which would limit ballot delivery to voters on a federal DHS-approved list. Solicitor General John Sauer argued that ballots already mailing in multiple states risked "confusion and chaos" if the injunction remained in place. This marks the third Supreme Court appeal on the matter.

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• Preliminary injunction ruling — League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump (D. Mass.) 1:26-cv-11549 — Judge Talwani found that USPS Defendants violated the court's preliminary injunction related to “initiating or completing rulemaking to promulgate” specific regulations outlined in Section 3 of EO 14399 by sending a corresponding Final Rule to the Federal Register on Aug. 22, 2026. However, the court declined to impose a remedy “other than identifying the violation,” finding that the relief requested by Plaintiffs would not remedy the past violation but noting that Plaintiffs could choose to file an amended complaint.
• Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed lawsuit challenging the USPS mail-in ballot rule — Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday challenging the now-final USPS rule that allows the Postal Service to police mail-in ballot eligibility. The AGs sought an emergency block on the rule, with the first mail-in ballots set to go out the following week.
• Federal judge lifted the last remaining block on Trump's plan to give the Postal Service a new role in policing mail-in ballots — Judge Talwani granted Defendants' motion to reconsider and vacated the court's Aug. 11 preliminary injunction blocking Section 3 of EO 14399 following the Supreme Court's intervening stay of a separate preliminary injunction to Sections 2 and 3 of the same EO in a different but related case, Trump v. California . The vacatur is without prejudice to Plaintiffs amending their complaint. That same day, Plaintiffs filed a Supplemental Complaint adding claims directly challenging the USPS Aug. 21, 2026 Final Rule implementing Section 3 of EO 14399 as a separation-of-powers violation and as unlawful agency action exceeding USPS statutory authority under Title 39. Plaintiffs seek declaratory relief that the EO and Final Rules are unlawful and enjoinment of Defendants from continuing implementation of the Final Rule.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of California v. United States Postal Service (D. Mass.) 1:26-cv-13917 — A U.S. district judge reluctantly lifted the final injunction blocking Trump's plan to reshape how mail-in ballots are handled. The judge stated the Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week left her little choice. The new Postal Service rules could result in ballots being rejected from voters who do not appear on newly compiled federal eligibility lists. Democratic attorneys general from 23 states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday challenging the now-final USPS rule and seeking an emergency block before mail-in ballots begin going out the following week.
• USPS implements Trump executive order restricting mail-in ballot delivery — Judge Talwani granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), staying implementation or enforcement of certain provisions of the USPS Final Rule for 14 days as to elections occurring on or before Nov. 3, 2026. The court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that USPS lacked statutory authority to issue the Final Rule and that it is unconstitutional. The Court also found Plaintiff Organizations' members to be at risk of irreparable harm, facing a significant risk of disenfranchisement and interference with their rights under state laws. The Court is yet to rule on the Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Twenty-four states and DC file lawsuit challenging Trump mail-voting executive order — Judge Talwani granted in part Plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), staying implementation or enforcement of certain provisions of the USPS Final Rule for 14 days as to elections occurring on or before Nov. 3, 2026. The court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claims that USPS lacked statutory authority to issue the Final Rule and that it is unconstitutional. The Court also found Plaintiff States face irreparable harm as “compliance [with the Final Rule's requirements] is practically impossible as to the 2026 midterm elections.” The Court is yet to rule on the Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.
• U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked mail-voting restrictions — The US Postal Service announced implementation of new rules requiring the post office to withhold ballots for mail-in voting to voters deemed ineligible by Department of Homeland Security and other federal records. The rules stem from a Trump executive order issued earlier in 2026 and apply immediately to November's midterm elections. The US Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction on Monday; US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted a nationwide block on Wednesday. Twenty-four states and DC filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the order as usurping state and congressional authority over elections.
• US District Judge Talwani lifts nationwide block on USPS mail ballot rule — Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block the Trump executive order restricting mail-in voting in the 2026 midterm elections. The states argue the USPS policy is part of a broader effort by the administration to "rewrite federal election law and usurp the authority of the states and Congress."
• — Late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked the Postal Service from enforcing Trump's new mail-voting rule, one day after USPS announced the requirements took effect. The temporary block lasts 14 days while the court considers a longer preliminary injunction, with a hearing scheduled for September 3. The case could quickly return to the Supreme Court. As of Friday morning, Trump's new mail-ballot restrictions are currently blocked.
• — US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted her nationwide injunction blocking implementation of the USPS mail ballot delivery rule, citing the Supreme Court's decision to lift the lower court injunction. The ruling clears the way for the rule to take effect for November's midterm elections.

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• US Supreme Court lifts injunction, allows Trump mail-in voting crackdown to proceed — The US Supreme Court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift a June injunction from a Massachusetts federal judge that had blocked Trump's March executive order targeting mail-in voting. The order directs the government to create a "state citizenship list" restricting mail-in ballot delivery and instructs the DOJ to prosecute state and local election officials deemed to have issued ballots to ineligible voters. Democratic-led states and voting rights groups challenged the order as unconstitutional; a second injunction remains in place. The ruling allows implementation to move forward while litigation continues ahead of November midterm elections.
• Supreme Court eased restrictions on Trump's mail-in ballot executive order — A divided Supreme Court lifted one of two injunctions blocking Trump's March executive order restricting mail-in voting, ruling the states' challenge was premature rather than deciding the order's merits. The unsigned opinion held that agencies had not finalized implementation rules when the challenge was filed. The USPS published final rules Friday and plans to make them official Wednesday. Legal analysts note the ruling is narrow and technical, with additional litigation expected as lower courts may issue new injunctions against the finalized rules before the November elections.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Trump v. California (26A124) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Trump v. California. Docket number(s): 26A124.
• Supreme Court gave Trump procedural victory on mail-voting restrictions — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states challenging Trump's executive order restricting mail voting sued too early, granting the administration a procedural victory. The Court explicitly stated its decision did not mean the administration's implementation would be lawful. The Postal Service subsequently issued rules implementing parts of the order, including new voter-list and mail-ballot-processing requirements. New lawsuits followed, and on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Talwani temporarily blocked the Postal Service from enforcing the new mail-voting rule for 14 days pending further court consideration.

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• House approves $73bn budget for Iran war without Senate Democratic input — House Republicans approved a budget plan allocating $73 billion for the ongoing war with Iran on July 23, 2026, using reconciliation procedures to circumvent the Democratic filibuster in the Senate. The authorization falls short of the Pentagon's original $350 billion request needed to reach the administration's $1.5 trillion overall defense spending target for fiscal 2027. The move reflects Republican efforts to fund military operations without requiring bipartisan Senate approval.
• House passes $1.15tn defense bill with partisan voting and embedded voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a 216-212 vote on July 23, 2026. The bill includes military pay raises, codifies renaming the Pentagon the "Department of War," and allocates funds for the ongoing war with Iran. Democrats largely opposed the measure, citing Trump's unilateral decision to attack Iran without congressional authorization, the inclusion of the Save America Act (banning mail-in ballots and imposing voter ID restrictions), and provisions deepening US-Israel defense cooperation. The bill now proceeds to the Senate.
• House passed National Defense Authorization Act with Section 219 — The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes Section 219, a controversial provision requiring the U.S. military to share sensitive technology with Israel. Six Democrats voted for the bill: Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Donald Davis (NC), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Adam Gray (CA), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA). Seven Republicans voted against it: Reps. Josh Brecheen (OK), Tim Burchett (TN), Elijah Crane (AZ), Harriet Hageman (WY), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Thomas Massie (KY), and Chip Roy (TX).
• Rep. Lauren Boebert missed NDAA vote citing Section 219 concerns — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told TMZ she missed the NDAA vote because she was waiting for a call from Secretary Hegseth and the vote was closed before she could participate. She stated she opposed Section 219 because her constituents do not want the military technology swap with Israel and said she was trying to avoid reporters due to recent Botox injections.
• Rep. Thomas Massie opposes NDAA Section 219 — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stated that Section 219 of the NDAA "tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel's" and called it "a betrayal of our sovereignty," expressing hope the provision would fail in the Senate.
• House Republicans merge NDAA with voting restrictions (Save America Act) — House Republicans, bowing to pressure from rightwing lawmakers and Trump, merged the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the Save America Act, legislation that would ban mail-in ballots and impose new voter identification requirements at registration and ballot-casting. Democrats objected to the $1.15tn NDAA cost and halted advancement of the Senate version in protest of renewed Iran hostilities, complicating the defense budget's Senate passage.
• House Republicans pass $95bn Iran war spending and voting restrictions before summer recess — House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a $95bn budget blueprint for Iran war spending and a super-sized military budget (NDAA) merged with voting restrictions (the Save America Act) during their final week before summer recess. Four dissident Republicans joined Democrats to pass a symbolic war powers resolution mandating Trump withdraw troops from Iran. Senate Republican leader John Thune signaled he would place the budget on "hold" as leverage in funding negotiations, raising the likelihood the Iran spending question remains undecided until September.

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• House Republicans pass Save America Act linked to spending bill — On Wednesday, July 16, 2026, the House of Representatives passed a combined measure linking the Save America Act—which would ban mail-in ballots and impose voter identification requirements—to an unrelated State Department spending authorization bill. The vote was 217–209, largely along party lines. The bill faces certain opposition in the Senate, where Democrats control enough votes to filibuster. Trump administration officials framed the measure as necessary to prevent non-citizen voting; voting rights advocates warn it could disenfranchise eligible voters ahead of November midterm elections.

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• United States Postal Service proposed mail-in ballot restriction — The United States Postal Service proposed a rule that would send mail-in ballots only to voters registered with the federal government. The proposal would represent a massive expansion of federal control over voting without congressional authorization. The proposal reflects the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to gain control over state voter lists and election administration, efforts that have been repeatedly rejected by courts on the grounds that the Constitution establishes that states run elections.
• Federal judge in Massachusetts blocks USPS mail ballot restriction — A federal judge in Massachusetts issued an order in June 2026 blocking the Trump administration's directive to the USPS to restrict mail ballot delivery to voters on federal pre-approved lists. The block applies to the 23 blue states and Washington, D.C. that challenged the order.
• Trump orders DOJ to investigate California elections — Trump ordered the Department of Justice to investigate California elections after his preferred candidate trailed in the state's June gubernatorial primary. The order relied on conspiracy theories to justify the investigation.

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• Tennessee repealed 1972 law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting — To enable the new congressional map, Tennessee lawmakers repealed a 1972 state law that prohibited mid-decade redistricting. Gov. Bill Lee signed the repeal approximately one hour after it cleared the Republican supermajority. The repeal was necessary to make the rapid redistricting legally possible and was enacted during a special session whose stated purpose did not include redistricting reform, according to legal challenges filed by the NAACP Tennessee State Conference.
• Tennessee repealed law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting — As part of the special legislative session, Tennessee's Republican supermajority repealed the state's longstanding law that prohibited redistricting between census cycles. The legislature also removed the requirement that election officials notify voters by mail if redistricting changed their polling places or precincts.
• Tennessee legislature enacts new congressional map eliminating majority-Black Memphis district — Tennessee's Republican-controlled legislature enacted a new congressional map on May 7, 2026, that carves up the state's only majority-Black congressional district centered in Memphis, splitting it across three Republican-leaning districts. Gov. Bill Lee called a special session on May 5, the legislature repealed a state law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting since 1972, drew the new map, and passed it on May 7. Lee signed it into law the same day. The action followed the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act protections for voters of color in redistricting cases.
• Tennessee Republicans approved congressional map dismantling majority-Black district — On May 7, Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved a new congressional map that splits Black voters in Memphis and Shelby County across three majority-white districts stretching hundreds of miles into central Tennessee, dismantling the state's only majority-Black congressional district. The map was unveiled only 24 hours before the vote. To enable mid-decade redistricting, lawmakers first repealed a 1972 state law prohibiting it; Gov. Bill Lee signed the repeal within an hour. The ACLU and civil-rights groups argue the map constitutes intentional racial discrimination and dilutes Black voting power, though Republican leaders defend it as partisan rather than racial redistricting.
• Tennessee Republicans passed new congressional map carving majority-Black Memphis into three Republican districts — On May 7, Tennessee's Republican supermajority passed a new congressional map that splits Shelby County (majority-Black Memphis) across three Republican-controlled districts, weakening the political power of the state's only majority-Black congressional district. The legislature also repealed its longstanding law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting and removed the requirement that election officials notify voters of redistricting changes. Gov. Bill Lee signed the map into law the same day. Protesters filled the state Capitol; state troopers cleared the House gallery; Democratic lawmakers walked out. The NAACP Tennessee State Conference filed an emergency lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court within three hours to block the map.
• Tennessee weakened voter-notice requirements for redistricting changes — The redistricting package weakened direct voter-notice requirements. County election officials will no longer be required under state law to directly notify voters by mail when redistricting changes affect their polling-place assignments, though separate funding was included to reimburse counties that choose to send notices. The Secretary of State's office announced a special qualifying period for U.S. House candidates through noon on May 15, and local reporting indicates the new districts bring changes for some voters and candidates.
• Tennessee legislature cracked Memphis into three districts, diluting Black voting power — The Tennessee legislature, in emergency special session called by Governor Bill Lee, repealed its own law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting and then cracked Memphis—where 60 percent of residents are Black—into three districts. This diluted Black voting power by swamping Black voters with white suburban voters. The action targeted Tennessee's only Democratic member of Congress, who represented Memphis.
• Tennessee legislature redraws congressional maps to eliminate majority-Black 9th District — The Tennessee state legislature voted to redraw congressional district maps, cracking the city of Memphis into three pieces and joining them to white suburbs, thereby converting all state districts to Republican seats. This action directly eliminated the majority-Black 9th Congressional District, stripping Black voters of effective representation. The redistricting followed the Supreme Court's April 29 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down race-conscious district creation under the Voting Rights Act, triggering a wave of Republican-led redistricting nationwide to eliminate Democratic representation.
• Tennessee governor signed new congressional map into law — Gov. Bill Lee signed the new congressional redistricting map into law on May 7, the same day the Republican supermajority passed it. The map redraws the state's only Democratic-held U.S. House seat (Tennessee's 9th District, held by Rep. Steve Cohen and rooted in majority-Black Memphis) by splitting Shelby County across three Republican-leaning districts.
• Tennessee Republicans redrew congressional maps eliminating Democratic district — Tennessee Republicans redrew the state's congressional maps behind closed doors with the explicit goal of eliminating the single Democratic congressional district in the state. The new map breaks up the state's only Black-majority district. Democratic Representative Justin Pearson confronted the Sergeant at Arms who was blocking the door during the redistricting process and was ultimately escorted out by state troopers.

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• Louisiana suspends congressional primaries midstream to allow legislature time to redraw map — Louisiana officials took the extraordinary step of suspending congressional primaries that were already underway, halting voting midstream to give lawmakers time to draw a new map following the Supreme Court's striking down of the state's congressional map in the Callais case. The map had been sent back to a lower court to determine what should happen next, but before that process could play out, the state suspended the election. The move triggered a separate lawsuit alleging the state is unlawfully nullifying votes.
• Lawsuit filed alleging Louisiana unlawfully nullifying votes through primary suspension — A separate lawsuit was triggered by Louisiana's suspension of congressional primaries, alleging that the state is unlawfully nullifying votes by halting the election midstream. The lawsuit challenges the state's extraordinary action of suspending voting to allow the legislature time to redraw the congressional map.
• Plaintiffs in Louisiana redistricting case urge swift resolution and map implementation — Plaintiffs in the original Louisiana redistricting case filed a motion urging courts to move quickly to implement a new map or impose one if the legislature fails to act. The plaintiffs warned that further delays could leave upcoming elections in limbo, seeking to prevent the uncertainty created by the Callais ruling from disrupting the 2026 elections.

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• Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared state of emergency and suspended primary elections to enable gerrymandering — Following the Louisiana v. Callais decision, Louisiana's Republican Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency and suspended the state's primary elections to allow for redistricting to capture one or two additional Republican seats. Over 100,000 absentee ballots had already been distributed, with some returned and voting scheduled to begin within days. The action violated the constitutional provision granting state legislatures, not governors, authority over the "Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections."
• Louisiana Governor suspended congressional primaries — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order suspending the state's congressional primaries just two days before early voting was scheduled to begin, citing the Supreme Court's ruling that struck down a majority Black congressional district. The order postponed primaries until July 15 or a new date set by the legislature. State Republican leaders announced plans to pass new congressional maps, effectively using the Supreme Court ruling to delay elections and redraw districts to reduce Black representation.
• Democratic congressional candidate files federal lawsuit to restore Louisiana primary election — Lindsey Garcia, a Democratic congressional candidate in Louisiana's fifth district, filed suit in federal court on Thursday, May 1, 2026, shortly after Governor Landry announced the suspension, arguing that the material number of absentee ballots already returned by mail creates constitutional due process considerations and violates federal election-timing laws. The suit seeks immediate action to restore the suspended congressional primary.
• Democrats filed lawsuit challenging Louisiana's election suspension — Democrats filed a lawsuit against Governor Jeff Landry's suspension of Louisiana's primary elections, arguing that the Constitution grants state legislatures, not governors, the authority to determine the "Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives." The lawsuit sought to allow the election to proceed despite the governor's emergency order.
• Louisiana governor suspends congressional primary election after Supreme Court invalidates voting rights protections — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry suspended the state's congressional primary election on Thursday, May 1, 2026, after early voting had begun, citing a Supreme Court decision (Louisiana v Callais, 6-3) that invalidated portions of the Voting Rights Act and struck down a majority-nonwhite congressional district. Votes cast in the congressional race will not be counted, though other races and constitutional amendments remain on the ballot. The ACLU and voting rights groups filed suit in state court Friday seeking a temporary restraining order, arguing the suspension lacks legal basis under Louisiana law and creates chaos for voters who have already cast absentee ballots.
• Louisiana postpones primary elections following redistricting injunction — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on Thursday, April 30, 2026, that the state would postpone its May 16 primary elections. The state declared itself "enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map" following the Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act. Early voting had been scheduled to begin on Saturday. State officials said they were working with the Legislature and Secretary of State to develop a new path forward.

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• Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act; states initiate emergency redistricting — On Wednesday, April 28, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that severely weakened the landmark Voting Rights Act, eliminating key protections against racial discrimination in voting maps. In immediate response, Louisiana postponed its May primaries, and multiple southern states—Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee—initiated or announced special legislative sessions to redraw congressional districts. Florida's Republican-controlled legislature passed new maps delivering four additional seats to Republicans. Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee announced plans to follow suit, with governors and Republican officials explicitly targeting majority-Black districts for dilution.
• Supreme Court decision weakened Voting Rights Act Section 2 protections — On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Louisiana v. Callais that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act as a tool for challenging racially discriminatory congressional maps. Within days of the ruling, several Republican-controlled states moved to redraw or revisit congressional maps, including Tennessee, which signed a new map, and Alabama, which asked the Supreme Court to revisit a court order requiring a map with two largely Black districts.
• Supreme Court narrowed Section 2 of Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais ruling — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana's second majority-Black congressional district (represented by Congressman Cleo Fields) constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The majority, written by Justice Samuel Alito, held that the Voting Rights Act did not require the state to create the district, eliminating a compelling reason to consider race in redistricting. Justice Elena Kagan's dissent warned the ruling renders Section 2 "all but a dead letter" and permits states to "systematically dilute minority citizens' voting power" without legal consequence. The decision shifts the legal standard from results-based to intent-based scrutiny, requiring plaintiffs to prove discriminatory motive rather than demonstrating discriminatory effect.
• Supreme Court ruling weakens Voting Rights Act Section 2 protections — On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that significantly weakened how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act can be used to protect voters of color in redistricting cases. For decades, Section 2 has been a central tool for communities to challenge maps and election systems that dilute minority voting power. The Court's ruling gave Republican-led states new grounds to attack majority-Black districts before the midterms.
• Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act Section 2 in Louisiana v. Callais decision — On April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais that significantly narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act as a tool for challenging racially discriminatory congressional maps. Justice Kagan's dissent warned the ruling "renders Section 2 all but a dead letter." The decision prompted immediate action by Republican-controlled states to redraw maps, including Louisiana suspending House primaries, Tennessee redrawing its map to eliminate its only majority-Black district, and Alabama petitioning the Court to reconsider a prior order requiring two majority-Black districts.
• Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act Section 2 protections in Louisiana v. Callais — On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais holding that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not require states to create majority-minority congressional districts. The decision makes it substantially harder for voters of color to challenge electoral maps that dilute their political power. Within days, Louisiana's governor suspended the state's primary election to redraw congressional maps, and Alabama filed to reinstate maps a lower court had previously struck down for diluting Black votes.
• Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v Callais ruling — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Louisiana v Callais on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, holding that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not require states to draw majority-minority congressional districts. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito affirmed that Louisiana's maps violated the equal protection clause but rejected the use of Section 2 to mandate such districts. The ruling opens the door for Republicans to eliminate majority-minority districts across the South, immediately threatening Black lawmakers Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures in Alabama, who may lose their seats after redistricting in 2028.
• US Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act Section 2 in Louisiana redistricting case — The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais that effectively neutralizes Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the last major provision preventing racial discrimination in voting. The majority, led by Justice Samuel Alito, rewrote the legal test for Section 2 claims to require proof of intentional racial discrimination—a nearly impossible standard—and added new restrictions preventing consideration of race in alternative redistricting maps. The decision permits states to draw districts that dilute minority voting power under the guise of partisan goals.
• US Supreme Court ruling in Callais v. Landry weakens Voting Rights Act Section 2 — The US Supreme Court issued the Callais v. Landry decision, which substantially weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring litigants to prove racial motivations in redistricting rather than allowing challenges based on discriminatory effect. The ruling permits Republican-controlled state legislatures to use partisan gerrymandering as cover for racial vote dilution, particularly targeting concentrated Black voters in urban areas. The decision eliminates protections that had enabled Congress to achieve record racial and ethnic diversity, and threatens to reverse decades of voting-rights gains.
• Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais — On April 29, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6–3 to declare Louisiana's majority-minority congressional district unconstitutional under the Fifteenth Amendment, ruling it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The decision overturned decades of precedent recognizing that states could create majority-minority districts to remedy historical exclusion of Black voters and ensure Black representation. The ruling eliminated a key enforcement mechanism of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
• Supreme Court gutted voting rights protections for Black-majority districts — On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that eliminated protections for Black-majority districts established under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The decision reversed years of congressional effort to safeguard minority voting power. Following the ruling, Republican-dominated southern state legislatures began redrawing district lines to dilute the votes of Black Democrats, effectively weakening the electoral power of Black communities.
• Supreme Court issues decision in Callais v. Louisiana — The Supreme Court issued a decision in the case Callais v. Louisiana on April 29, 2026. The article indicates this ruling is significant enough to warrant substantial analysis but does not provide details of the holding, reasoning, or outcome within the text provided.
• Supreme Court makes Louisiana v. Callais decision immediately effective — The U.S. Supreme Court made its April 29 decision in Louisiana v. Callais immediately effective, rather than waiting the standard 32 days for finalization. The decision struck down Louisiana's creation of a second congressional district designed to enable Black voters to elect a representative of their choice under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, finding the race-conscious district creation unconstitutional. The immediate effectiveness allowed Louisiana to redraw maps before its primary election, which was already underway.
• Supreme Court rejected majority-minority district interpretation in Louisiana v. Callais — On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais rejecting the longstanding interpretation that states may create majority-minority districts to guarantee Black representation in government. The right-wing justices in the majority declared Louisiana's construction of a majority-minority district unconstitutional under the Fifteenth Amendment, characterizing it as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The ruling continues the Court's dismantling of voting rights protections.
• Supreme Court Decision on Voting Rights Act — The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision that significantly weakens the Voting Rights Act, allowing for increased gerrymandering practices that could disproportionately affect minority voters. This ruling is expected to lead to widespread changes in how electoral districts are drawn, potentially impacting the fairness and representation in future elections across the United States.
• Supreme Court weakened Voting Rights Act provision — The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling effectively weakening a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that has prohibited racial discrimination in voting for six decades. The decision will allow Republicans to redraw congressional maps in the South, potentially netting the GOP 19 additional House seats compared to 2024 maps and potentially causing the largest drop in Black representation in Congress ever. Justice Elena Kagan's dissent warned the decision renders the provision "all but a dead letter" with "far-reaching and grave" consequences.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport (24-781) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport. Docket number(s): 24-781.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Louisiana v. Callais (24-109) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Louisiana v. Callais. Docket number(s): 24-109.
• Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais — The Supreme Court issued a decision in Louisiana v. Callais that substantially weakened the Voting Rights Act, enabling Republican-controlled states to pursue aggressive gerrymandering of congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The ruling removes a key federal constraint on partisan map-drawing and follows the Court's 2019 Rucho v. Common Cause decision, which barred federal courts from reviewing partisan gerrymandering claims. Together, these decisions have eliminated judicial oversight of extreme partisan maps.
• Supreme Court gutted Voting Rights Act Section 2 — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on Wednesday, April 30, 2026, that effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act, particularly Section 2, which had allowed plaintiffs to challenge electoral maps drawn in racially discriminatory ways. The ruling eviscerated protections codified during the civil rights era. Voting rights advocates, including Ashley K Shelton of Power Coalition for Equality and Justice and Anneshia Hardy of Alabama Values, responded by pledging to shift their strategy toward state-level litigation, grassroots organizing, and coalition-building across state lines to restore voting protections.
• Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v Callais eviscerates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — The U.S. Supreme Court, voting 6-3 along ideological lines, ruled that Louisiana's attempt to create a second electoral district giving African American voters proportionate representation constitutes unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. The decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, dismantles a 40-year-old tool used to prevent dilution of minority voting power. The ruling overturns Congressional intent expressed in the original 1965 statute and subsequent reauthorizations, marking the culmination of decades of legal assault on voting rights protections by Roberts and Alito.
• US Supreme Court rules race-based redistricting unconstitutional in Louisiana v Callais — The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Louisiana v Callais on April 30, 2026, prohibiting states from using race-conscious redistricting to protect minority voting power. The ruling effectively dismantles Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination rather than discriminatory effect. Multiple southern states, including Louisiana, have already begun redrawing congressional maps to reduce Black voter representation ahead of the November midterm elections.
• Supreme Court ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that race-based redistricting claims require proof of intentional racial discrimination — The Supreme Court's six Republican-appointed justices ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that plaintiffs challenging district lines as racially discriminatory must prove that lawmakers intentionally based their decisions on race rather than partisanship. The decision effectively removed federal court oversight of partisan gerrymandering and opened the door for southern states to redraw maps to shift 10–15 seats from Democrats to Republicans by targeting minority voting power.
• Supreme Court struck down Louisiana congressional map with majority-Black district — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais invalidating Louisiana's congressional redistricting map that included a second majority-Black district. Justice Samuel Alito's majority opinion held that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act did not require the state to create the district. Justice Elena Kagan's dissent characterized the decision as demolishing the Voting Rights Act and rendering Section 2 a dead letter. Within hours, a request was filed to expedite the judgment to allow the state legislature to redraw lines before the 2026 midterms.
• Supreme Court decision in Callais v. Louisiana gutting Voting Rights Act Section 2 — The Supreme Court issued a decision Wednesday striking down core protections of the Voting Rights Act, specifically Section 2. The ruling established that Section 2 violations now require a "strong inference" of intentional discrimination rather than evidence of discriminatory impact on minority voters. The decision immediately triggered chaos across voting rights litigation nationwide, with courts pausing proceedings, state officials moving to dismiss cases, and election administration disrupted as the legal standard for challenging discriminatory maps and election rules became substantially harder to meet.
• Supreme Court Decision in Louisiana v Callais — On April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in the case of Louisiana v Callais, effectively weakening the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The ruling, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, declared a new 2024 electoral map unconstitutional because it diluted the voting power of white Republican voters, despite previous lower court rulings that supported the creation of a second majority-Black district in Louisiana. This decision has been criticized for undermining protections for Black voters and is seen as a significant step back for racial equality in electoral opportunities.
• US Supreme Court strikes down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v Callais — The US Supreme Court ruled in Louisiana v Callais, effectively dismantling Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which had been used to ensure minority voters receive fair treatment in district drawing. The decision weakens Black voters' power to elect their own representatives and triggers renewed state-level efforts to enact voting rights protections. Nine states already have state voting rights acts; eleven others have introduced bills to create their own versions in response.
• Supreme Court gutted Voting Rights Act in 6-3 ruling — The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act, eliminating federal protections for voting rights that Congress had established. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, arguing that the decision "will set back the foundational right Congress granted of racial equality in electoral opportunity."

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• Ron DeSantis unveils redistricting proposal for Florida congressional maps — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps, which he claims is necessary to reflect population changes and fair representation following the 2020 census. The plan, to be debated in a special legislative session beginning April 28, could net Republicans up to four additional House seats and reduce Democratic representation from seven to four seats. If approved by the Republican-controlled legislature, the maps would take effect for the 2026 midterm elections, subject to legal challenges.
• Florida legislature passed new congressional map expanding Republican seats — Florida's legislature passed a new congressional map on the same day as the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, with the state Senate voting 21–17 to send the map to Governor Ron DeSantis, who proposed it and is expected to sign it. Pre-ruling analyses warned that gutting Section 2 protections could help Republican-led states flip as many as 19 majority-minority congressional seats nationwide. The map could give Republicans up to four additional seats in Florida. Litigation is expected to challenge the map.
• Mississippi governor called special legislative session to redraw state Supreme Court election maps — Mississippi's governor called a special legislative session for May 20 to redraw state Supreme Court election maps in light of the Louisiana v. Callais ruling. The action reflects the immediate cascade of redistricting efforts across states following the narrowed Section 2 standard.
• Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn called for special legislative session to redraw congressional map — Within hours of the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor, called on Tennessee lawmakers to reconvene and redraw the state's congressional map. Blackburn explicitly called for a 9–0 Republican map that would eliminate Tennessee's only remaining Democratic district, TN-9, a Memphis-based district historically preserved as Black-majority under the Voting Rights Act. She framed the elimination as partisan strategy while openly targeting a historically Black-majority district. Rep. Steve Cohen, the only Democrat in Tennessee's congressional delegation representing TN-9, announced a press conference the same day to address the ruling's impact.
• Alabama attorney general signals rapid application of weakened Voting Rights Act — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced on or before April 30, 2026, that the state "will act as quickly as possible to apply this ruling to Alabama's redistricting efforts." Alabama had been sued after the 2020 redistricting cycle for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The state currently has two majority-Black districts, including one created only two years prior.
• Florida legislature passes partisan redistricting map expanding Republican seats — Florida's Republican-controlled legislature, recalled into special session by Governor Ron DeSantis, passed new congressional maps on or shortly before April 30, 2026, designed to deliver four additional seats to the Republican Party. The new map gives Republicans advantage in 24 of the state's 28 House seats. Democratic officials characterized the map as an "extreme gerrymander" drawn in closed sessions to silence millions of voters and advance Donald Trump's agenda in the 2026 midterm elections.
• Mississippi announces special legislative session for redistricting — Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced that 21 days after the Supreme Court's April 28 ruling, the state legislature would reconvene for a special session to redraw congressional districts. The redistricting had previously been held pending the Court's decision. Reeves celebrated the ruling on social media. Civil rights leaders warned that Mississippi, the nation's Blackest state, would use the opportunity to suppress Black voting power.
• Tennessee Republican senator targets majority-Black district for elimination — Tennessee Republican Senator and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn posted on social media shortly after the Supreme Court's April 28 ruling, explicitly urging the state legislature to "reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis," targeting the state's lone majority-Black district. She framed the redistricting as essential to "cement @realDonaldTrump's agenda and the Golden Age of America."
• Ron DeSantis signs gerrymandered congressional map into law — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new congressional district map into law on Monday that restructures districts around Miami, Orlando, and Tampa Bay to provide Republicans an electoral advantage in four additional races for the November 2026 midterm elections. The map packs Democratic voters into fewer districts, forces Democratic representatives Darren Soto and Maxwell Frost to compete for the same voters, weakens Democratic congresswoman Kathy Castor's district, and eliminates the seat of Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Opponents immediately filed a lawsuit in Leon County challenging the map as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.

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• Virginia court blocks voter-approved congressional redistricting referendum — On April 22, 2026, Judge Jack Hurley Jr of Tazewell County Circuit Court blocked Virginia from implementing new congressional maps approved by voters the previous day (51.5% to 48.5%). The maps would have replaced the state's non-partisan redistricting process with one favoring Democrats. The Republican National Committee had sued, arguing the referendum's timing and phrasing were illegal. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced plans to appeal, asserting voters' will should prevail.
• Republican National Committee sued to invalidate Virginia redistricting referendum — The Republican National Committee, now controlled by Trump, filed suit challenging the validity of the Virginia redistricting referendum approved by voters on April 21, 2026. A Virginia judge ruled that both the constitutional amendment and the referendum were invalid, declaring that "any and all votes for or against the proposed constitutional amendment in the April 21, 2026 special election are ineffective" and prevented officials from certifying the results.
• Virginia Attorney General challenged court order invalidating redistricting referendum — Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones filed a challenge to the Virginia judge's order invalidating the redistricting referendum, arguing that "Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have the power over the People's vote." Jones stated the office would defend the outcome of the April 21 election in court.

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• SAVE Act Threatens Voter Disenfranchisement — The SAVE Act, currently under consideration, would require all voters to prove their citizenship, potentially disenfranchising women who have changed their names due to marriage, transgender individuals, and others. While the act may face challenges in the Senate, its passage could lead to significant barriers to voting for many citizens. Advocacy groups are urging the public to contact elected officials to oppose this legislation.
• Congressional Republicans advance restrictive voter eligibility bill — Congressional Republicans have fast-tracked the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a restrictive anti-voting bill based on Trump's baseless claims of widespread voter fraud by noncitizens. The bill would instantly disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by imposing citizenship verification requirements that exceed constitutional and statutory protections.
• Republicans advancing Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — Republicans are advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and to vote. Only five states—Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington—have "enhanced" driver's licenses meeting the requirement; in all other states, voters would need either a passport or a birth certificate. Approximately half of Americans lack a passport, others lack birth certificates, and the names of married women who took their husband's last name and transgender Americans would not match their birth certificates. The Brennan Center for Justice found that if the measure passes, approximately 21 million Americans could lose their votes. The bill also calls for state officials to purge voter rolls.
• Republicans propose voter suppression legislation — The Republican Party is advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register and vote. This legislation could disenfranchise approximately 21 million Americans who lack the necessary documentation.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting the SAVE America Act and voter ID requirements — The White House issued a fact sheet asserting that voter ID requirements are "overwhelmingly popular" across all demographics and calling on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which the document states requires photo ID and implements "critical measures to protect federal elections from fraud and abuse." The fact sheet cites polling data from Pew Research Center (83% support), Gallup (84% support), and quotes from CNN and NBC anchors, and characterizes Democratic opposition as "placing partisan politics above the clear will of the American people."
• SAVE America Act passed House with narrow margin — The SAVE America Act passed the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026, by a vote of 218 to 213. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and would affect not only first-time registration but also routine voter registration updates. Evidence from Kansas, which implemented a similar proof-of-citizenship law, showed that the documentary requirement prevented approximately 31,000 eligible citizens (12 percent of all applicants) from registering to vote, blocking far more citizens than noncitizens. Noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal and documented to be exceedingly rare.
• House Passes Restrictive Election Bill — The Republican-controlled House passed the SAVE America Act, which imposes strict voter ID requirements and mandates frequent voter roll purges. Critics argue it disenfranchises millions, particularly women and minorities, by requiring proof of citizenship that many lack. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces opposition.
• House Passes SAVE Act Requiring Citizenship Proof for Voting — The Republican-controlled House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation requiring proof of citizenship—such as passports or birth certificates—for voters to cast ballots. The Center for American Progress notes that approximately half of Americans lack a valid passport, and 69 million women cannot use birth certificates to prove citizenship due to name changes upon marriage. The bill also eliminates mail-only registration, mandates photo ID in all states, and requires states to conduct voter roll purges every 30 days. The measure now moves to the Senate.
• House passes SAVE America Act — The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act passed the House on Wednesday. The measure would require voters to show either a passport or birth certificate with matching names to register and would require states to purge their voting rolls every month. The bill must overcome a filibuster to pass the Senate.
• House passes SAVE America Act restricting voting for Americans abroad — The House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act, which imposes in-person citizenship verification, proof of state residency, and repeated photo ID and citizenship document submission requirements at registration, ballot request, and voting stages. The bill would effectively prevent millions of eligible Americans living abroad—including military service members, diplomats, and expatriates—from voting. The measure centralizes voter eligibility authority in the federal executive, departing from two centuries of state election administration.
• House passes Save America Act, restricting voting access nationwide — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Save America Act on February 12, 2026, by a vote of 218–213, with one Democratic defection. The bill requires proof of citizenship at voter registration, imposes a strict nationwide photo ID requirement (excluding student IDs), and significantly curtails mail-in voting. Implementation would be immediate, forcing states to rapidly realign voting systems. The bill faces a difficult path in the Senate and is expected to face federal court challenges.
• House passed SAVE America Act requiring use of flawed voter-verification system — The House passed the GOP's SAVE America Act this week, which would require states to use a federal voter-verification tool that ProPublica documented as consistently misidentifying U.S. citizens as noncitizens. The tool has a documented error rate that results in approximately 775 legal voters being disenfranchised for every 1 ineligible voter prevented from registering.

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• Georgia State Board of Elections subpoenas 2020 election records from Fulton County — The Georgia State Board of Elections, which has a Trump-aligned majority, issued a subpoena for 2020 election records from Fulton County at the urging of Trump and election denialists. Fulton County initially sought to quash the subpoena in court. In December, a Fulton County superior court judge ruled in the state board's favor, ordering the county to turn over records. County officials estimated the cost of producing the documents at $376,800 and had scheduled a February 9 meeting to discuss the transfer process before the FBI raid occurred.
• Senate Democrats and Republicans reach deal to split DHS funding bill and avert partial government shutdown — Senate Democrats and Republicans negotiated a deal to separate the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill from a broader spending package, with DHS funded for two weeks at current levels while other agencies receive funding through September. The split was driven by Democratic demands for reforms to federal immigration enforcement following deaths of US citizens in ICE operations. The House, out of session until Monday, must approve the revised package to prevent a weekend shutdown.
• Senate Democrats Force Separate Funding for DHS — Senate Democrats successfully separated funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from five other spending bills, allowing for a two-week negotiation period regarding the conditions of DHS funding. This decision was influenced by public outrage over recent violence by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol. Democrats demanded accountability measures, including the use of body cameras and independent investigations into ICE operations. The Senate did not vote on the measure, and the House is currently out of session, leaving the fate of the funding uncertain.
• Senate passed appropriations bills with DHS funding pulled for longer discussion — The Senate passed appropriations bills to fund the government in 2026 with funding for the Department of Homeland Security pulled out for longer discussion. The bills now head to the House for consideration.
• Senate voted on Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal ICE funding increase — In the Senate, two Republicans joined all Senate Democrats to vote in favor of an amendment proposed by Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to repeal the $75 billion funding increase for ICE that Republicans included in their July 2025 "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Sanders proposed using those savings to reverse cuts to Medicaid. The amendment failed 49 to 51, but the vote demonstrated significant Senate concern over ICE funding and conduct. Sanders stated: "As we speak, ICE agents are shooting American citizens in cold blood, breaking down doors to arrest people, and sending 5-year-olds to detention centers, all in clear violation of our Constitution. Instead of funding Trump's domestic army, we should instead use that money to prevent hundreds of thousands of Americans from losing the health care they desperately need by investing in Medicaid."

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• Republican National Committee and GOP fight to prevent Missouri voters from deciding on gerrymander — Republicans, including the national Republican National Committee, are fighting to prevent Missouri voters from having their say on the gerrymander through the referendum process. They are attempting to disqualify thousands of signatures, sending threatening mass text messages, and challenging voters' right to override the state legislature's redistricting decision.

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• Georgia State Election Board passes resolution requesting DOJ assistance investigating 2020 voter fraud claims — In July 2025, the GOP-controlled Georgia State Election Board passed a resolution calling on state authorities to request assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice in investigating alleged 2020 voter fraud claims in Fulton County. This action preceded and likely coordinated with the DOJ's subsequent demand for election records and investigation into unsubstantiated fraud allegations, creating a formal channel for federal involvement in state election matters.

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• DOJ demands Fulton County election officials produce 2020 election records — In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a demand to Fulton County election officials requiring them to produce records related to the 2020 election. This demand follows the State Election Board's July resolution requesting DOJ assistance and represents direct federal pressure on local election administration to produce materials related to unsubstantiated fraud allegations.

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• DOJ pardon attorney acknowledges investigation into voter fraud claims in Fulton County — Ed Martin, the U.S. Department of Justice's pardon attorney and head of the department's weaponization task force, acknowledged on social media in October 2025 that DOJ was investigating claims of voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia's largest county. In August, Martin allegedly sent a letter to a Fulton County judge demanding "immediate access" to 148,000 absentee ballots stored in a ballot warehouse, stating that "A review of the ballots and envelopes is imperative for this work" as part of an election integrity investigation. The investigation targets alleged fraud from the 2020 election.

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• Utah legislature adopts new congressional redistricting map — The Utah legislature adopted a new congressional redistricting map designed to keep all four of the state's congressional seats in Republican hands, following the Utah Supreme Court's September order to comply with Proposition 4. The map was passed alongside SB 1011 and signed into law by Governor Cox. Pro-voting groups immediately objected, alleging the map "purposefully and unduly favors Republicans and disfavors Democrats in violation of Proposition 4's prohibition on partisan favoritism."
• Utah legislature passes SB 1011 to restrict judicial review of redistricting map — The Utah legislature passed Senate Bill 1011, which establishes three "partisan bias" tests to replace judicial review of redistricting maps under Proposition 4. The bill was introduced the night before the redistricting committee met and signed into law by Governor Spencer Cox within days. The tests were reverse-engineered to favor Republican dominance by requiring districts to align with statewide election results over the past 12 years, during which Republicans consistently won by comfortable margins, and by allowing GOP lawmakers to control the data and metrics for computer-simulation comparisons.

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• Supreme Court begins new term with cases threatening voting rights and election access — The Supreme Court's 2025–26 term opens with multiple cases poised to restrict voting access and election administration. Two redistricting cases (Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais) challenge Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by attacking race-conscious redistricting even when it complies with VRA requirements. A case brought by Rep. Mike Bost seeks to prevent counting of late-arriving mail-in ballots postmarked before Election Day. A separate case challenges Mississippi's late-ballot law. National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, with Vice President Vance as a challenger, threatens to eliminate coordination limits between parties and candidates, potentially circumventing individual campaign contribution caps.

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• U.S. House passes SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration — The U.S. House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require states to obtain proof of citizenship when people register to vote or update their registration. The bill mandates in-person presentation of documents such as a passport or state/federal ID card plus a birth certificate with matching names, effectively ending online or mail-based registration and updates. The measure would also ban states from counting mail ballots arriving after Election Day. The bill faces a likely Democratic filibuster in the Senate.