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Trump Administration Refiles Supreme Court Appeal to Lift Mail-in Ballot Restrictions

Trump Administration Refiles Supreme Court Appeal to Lift Mail-in Ballot Restrictions

The Trump Administration has refiled an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn a federal judge's decision that blocked proposed changes to mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections. The administration's proposed changes include requiring standardized barcodes on mail-in ballots and verifying them against an online portal of eligible voters provided by each state. In its latest filing, the administration asserts that these measures are "constitutional" and represent "reasonable preparation" for election-related mail. However, opponents argue that these changes constitute an attempt to federalize elections, which have traditionally been managed by individual states. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is overseeing this appeal and has set a Wednesday deadline for responses from the groups challenging the U.S. Postal Service rules, indicating that a decision could be made as early as midweek.

President Trump Files Emergency Supreme Court Plea to Restrict Mail-In Voting

President Trump Files Emergency Supreme Court Plea to Restrict Mail-In Voting

President Trump's administration has filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, seeking to allow new restrictions on mail-in voting to proceed. This marks the third time the White House has approached the Supreme Court on this issue, following a March Executive Order that granted the U.S. Postal Service new powers regarding ballot distribution. These powers include tracking ballots with special barcodes and requiring state and local officials to submit eligible voter names to an online portal. The administration's filing, submitted by Solicitor General John Sauer, emphasizes the urgency, noting that absentee ballots have already been mailed in North Carolina, with other states like Alabama set to follow. A federal judge in Massachusetts previously blocked these new rules. Critics, including a USPS whistleblower, have raised concerns that the new system is 'secretive, rushed, chaotic, and fundamentally flawed,' potentially leading to significant disruptions in ballot delivery and disenfranchising mil...

North Carolina State Board of Elections Approves New Mail-In Voting Restrictions Ahead of Midterm Ballots

North Carolina State Board of Elections Approves New Mail-In Voting Restrictions Ahead of Midterm Ballots

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has approved new restrictions for mail-in voting, just hours before ballots for the 2026 midterm elections began to be sent out. These new rules, passed by a majority Republican State Board on Friday, September 4th, include two key changes. First, county election officials must now disqualify any mail-in ballot returned in an unsealed envelope, even if only an inner envelope is mistakenly unsealed. Previously, such an error was considered 'non-material' and the vote would still be counted. Second, the new rules restrict who can submit a ballot on behalf of a voter, limiting this to strictly close relatives or legal guardians. Governor Josh Stein criticized these changes, stating they are a 'slap in the face to voters' and a 'blatant circumvention of the law.' The State Board voted 3-2 along party lines to pass these memos, amidst ongoing federal litigation concerning mail-in voting restrictions.

Trump Administration Shifts DOJ Civil Rights Unit Focus to Voter Fraud for Midterm Elections

Trump Administration Shifts DOJ Civil Rights Unit Focus to Voter Fraud for Midterm Elections

The Trump administration has redirected the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to prioritize voter fraud in its election monitoring efforts for the upcoming midterm elections. Traditionally, this division has focused on protecting voters from discrimination based on race, disability, or language. This new directive expands their mandate to include investigations into voter fraud. This shift marks a significant change in the unit's long-standing role, which has historically been centered on ensuring equitable access to voting for marginalized groups. The administration is asking Civil Rights Division employees to participate in this broader monitoring initiative, indicating a comprehensive approach to addressing perceived irregularities in the electoral process. This move comes amidst ongoing debates about election integrity and the balance between preventing fraud and ensuring voter access.

Trump asks Supreme Court to allow voter verification database blocked by judge

Trump asks Supreme Court to allow voter verification database blocked by judge

By John Kruzel WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration asked the U.S.

DHS Seeks Supreme Court Intervention to Restore Immigrant Verification System for Midterm Elections

DHS Seeks Supreme Court Intervention to Restore Immigrant Verification System for Midterm Elections

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested that the Supreme Court restore its immigrant verification system, known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, to check voters' citizenship for the upcoming November midterm elections. DHS made updates to SAVE following a directive from President Trump to ensure state election officials had appropriate access to the tool for verifying voter citizenship. These updates connected SAVE to Social Security records and enabled bulk queries, allowing the system to process over a million requests daily and enhance the efficiency of voter registration eligibility checks. However, a lower court judge found that these updates violated the Social Security Act and a federal privacy law, leading to a 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to uphold a block on the updates. The Trump administration is now seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court, arguing that the SAVE updates are legal and tha...

2026's elections could test how heavy trading on prediction markets affects races and results

2026's elections could test how heavy trading on prediction markets affects races and results

Election-season trading on prediction markets is skyrocketing as states fight to outlaw the platforms as unlicensed casinos

Trump Administration Renews Supreme Court Bid to Limit Mail-in Voting; Justice Jackson Sets Response Deadline

Trump Administration Renews Supreme Court Bid to Limit Mail-in Voting; Justice Jackson Sets Response Deadline

The Trump administration has renewed its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to implement new restrictions on mail-in voting ahead of the November congressional elections. This marks the third time the White House has sought Supreme Court intervention on this matter. The administration's emergency filing on Sunday follows a federal judge in Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, extending a ban that prevents the new rules from taking effect. Solicitor General John Sauer, representing the Trump administration, argued that the injunction risks "sowing confusion and chaos" as more states begin mailing out ballots. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who handles emergency appeals from Boston, has set a deadline of Wednesday for groups challenging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rules to respond to the administration's request. The proposed rules, stemming from an executive order signed by President Trump in March, grant the USPS new powers to determine who receives ballots, require special bar...

US states sue Trump administration for weakening endangered species protections

US states sue Trump administration for weakening endangered species protections

Sept 9 (Reuters) - U.S. states filed two lawsuits on Wednesday accusing President Donald Trump's administration of illegally weakening the federal Endangered Species Act, a landmark law that has shielded the bald eagle and other wildlife from dangers posed by development.

Trump administration renews Supreme Court bid to limit mail-in voting

Trump administration renews Supreme Court bid to limit mail-in voting

By Tim Reid WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Sunday renewed its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow a plan that could limit mail-in ballots ahead of November's congressional elections, after a federal judge last week blocked those restrictions.

Justice Department Urges Supreme Court to Advance Mail Voting Rule Despite Missing Components

Justice Department Urges Supreme Court to Advance Mail Voting Rule Despite Missing Components

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) is pressing the Supreme Court to allow a new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail voting rule to take effect, despite key components, such as a federal portal for states to upload voter information, not yet being fully operational. This rule is facing challenges from 24 states and the District of Columbia, which collectively need to send out over 51 million ballots by late October. A U.S. District Judge previously blocked the rule, citing low confidence in the Postal Service's ability to implement the portal in a timely manner. The DOJ's appeal to the Supreme Court largely dismisses concerns about the missing portal as speculation from state officials, even though these officials require direct knowledge of implementation plans to comply. In a separate appeal to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, the DOJ stated the portal would be functional by next week, but this assurance was notably absent from the Supreme Court filing. The core issue for states is that voters not on the appr...

Trump administration makes another appeal to the Supreme Court to allow mail ballot restrictions

Trump administration makes another appeal to the Supreme Court to allow mail ballot restrictions

The Trump administration is renewing its appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge blocked new restrictions on mail ballots ahead of the midterms