Voting

• President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a primetime national address on July 16, with an expected focus on election integrity and the 2020 election. • The address comes despite reports from intelligence experts confirming that the 2020 election was secure and that foreign interference did not impact the voting results. • This event is significant as it highlights the ongoing tension between the administration's claims regarding election fraud and the findings of security officials.

• Former President Donald Trump is urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration and require voter ID at polling stations. • The proposed legislation would force states to actively identify noncitizen voters and require individuals to confirm their U.S. citizenship status to participate in elections. • This push reflects a broader effort to implement stricter voting requirements and prevent noncitizens from casting ballots in upcoming contests.

Rev Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III to lead August march after court rulings weakened voting rightsA coalition of civil rights leaders have announced plans to march on Washington in defense of voting rights following a string of federal and supreme court rulings that have weakened protections against racial discrimination in US elections.Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network is leading the 28 August action, joined by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters ​King, and several civil rights groups. The “March on Washington 2026: Defend the ​Vote” will take place on the 63rd anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s I Have a ​Dream speech. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump announced a primetime address scheduled for Thursday to deliver what he describes as "big news." • The speech will primarily focus on election integrity and the role of voting machines, alongside other undisclosed topics. • This address follows ongoing disputes regarding the legitimacy of election results and the security of voting technology.

• In the case of *Callais*, the Supreme Court has effectively gutted the remaining protections of the Voting Rights Act. • The Act previously combated racial discrimination by banning literacy tests and requiring states with histories of racial bias to obtain federal approval before altering electoral rules. • This decision is significant because it removes critical safeguards that historically enabled millions of Black citizens to register and vote.

• Donald Trump is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to alter U.S. voting rules, which could have lasting consequences for future midterm elections. • The strategy involves creating a perception of widespread voter fraud through numerous investigations to justify the implementation of tighter voting restrictions. • Experts warn that these efforts represent a disruption of the democratic process, aimed at maintaining power by manipulating the system rather than attracting more voters.

Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian Animal Justice party MP Georgie Purcell says abolishing the state’s group voting ticket system without any other changes would see the balance of power handed to One Nation.The Age reported yesterday that the Allan government is planning to introduce legislation, when parliament returns from the winter break, to reform the state’s unusual voting system.Crossbench MPs like myself support electoral reform, and we’ve been asking for it to be implemented in a sensible way for years. We want change too.But we don’t want a model that disproportionately benefits certain minor parties. Continue reading...

• The article examines 250 years of American voting rights, tracing the evolution from Vermont's early broad franchise to contemporary legal disputes. • It highlights how voting access has historically moved unevenly across different states, shaped by shifting laws regarding representation and redistricting. • This historical perspective matters as it underscores the ongoing tension between expanding democratic participation and implementing restrictive election laws.

• Pennsylvania's voting laws could undergo significant changes if Democrats secure a "trifecta" by winning control of the state Senate, state House, and the governorship in the 2026 midterms. • Current efforts for bipartisan election solutions have stalled, as a legislative advisory board meant to find common ground remains idle. • A Democratic sweep would allow Governor Josh Shapiro and the legislature to bypass current gridlock and prioritize new election policies.

• Approximately 88 Labour MPs, representing over one-fifth of the party's House of Commons presence, are calling for the establishment of a body to investigate electoral reform. • The movement seeks to challenge Britain's "first past the post" voting system, with high-profile support from potential leadership contender Andy Burnham. • This push for reform highlights internal party pressure to move toward a more proportional representation system to ensure fairer election outcomes.

• The U.S. Supreme Court is set to begin its October term, featuring a slate of high-profile cases concerning gun rights, LGBT issues, and voting rights. • The court currently maintains a 6-3 conservative majority, which has consistently shifted American legal interpretations toward right-wing perspectives over the last decade. • Recent rulings highlight this trend, as the court has largely supported Donald Trump's immigration crackdowns, despite rejecting his efforts to limit birthright citizenship.

• Donald Trump delivered a patriotic speech on the National Mall in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, celebrating milestones like the Moon landing and military victories. • During the event, Trump urged Congress to pass stalled legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and place stricter limits on mail-in ballots. • The address included claims that he had "wiped out" Iran's military and warnings regarding the perceived rise of "communists" within the U.S.

• The U.S. has experienced 250 years of cyclical voting rights history characterized by periods of expansion followed by rollbacks and uneven access to power. • This historical pattern provides critical context for current state redistricting battles that are actively shaping the landscape for the 2026 midterm elections. • The analysis challenges the narrative that voting rights have been a steady march toward inclusion, arguing instead that progress is often fragile and reversible.

• The Supreme Court recently issued rulings on mail-in ballots and campaign spending, with the latter potentially having a more significant impact on the 2026 midterm elections. • Following the Watson decision, Donald Trump used Truth Social to urge Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would restrict mail-in voting and require ballots to be received by Election Day. • While the SAVE America Act is unlikely to pass, a new U.S. Postal Service proposal could allow the agency to refuse the distribution of ballots in states that deny the federal government access to voter rolls.

• The Supreme Court concluded a term marked by ideological splits, delivering a mix of significant wins and losses for the Trump administration. • In the landmark case Trump v. Slaughter, the court ruled 6-3 that the president has the authority to fire members of independent agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, without cause. • This decision overturns the 91-year-old precedent established by Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, significantly expanding presidential power over the federal bureaucracy.

• President Donald Trump has attempted to exert more control over U.S. elections through a combination of executive orders and restrictive congressional legislation. • Recent legal setbacks include a Supreme Court ruling favoring states that accept late-arriving mail ballots and two court decisions blocking sweeping executive orders on national election rules. • Further obstacles include court rulings preventing the Department of Justice from accessing detailed state voter data and the failure of the SAVE Act to pass the Senate.

• President Donald Trump has implemented various strategies to exert more control over U.S. elections, including the use of executive orders. • His efforts include pushing for the passage of restrictive legislation through Congress to tighten voting regulations. • These actions reflect a broader fixation on the voting process, though the results of these initiatives have been mixed.

• President Donald Trump faced multiple setbacks on Monday as the Supreme Court and the Republican-controlled Senate limited his efforts to restrict voting access. • A key Supreme Court decision allows states to continue counting certain ballots that arrive after Election Day, countering Trump's attempts to tighten voting rules. • These legal and legislative "guardrails" matter because they prevent the executive branch from unilaterally making it more difficult for citizens to cast their votes.

• The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a case regarding whether federal law prevents Arizona from implementing stricter voting restrictions. • A key point of contention is a state measure requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote on a state form. • The dispute highlights a broader national conflict over efforts to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting amid claims of election fraud.

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that mail-in ballots can still be counted after Election Day, provided they were postmarked by the deadline. • Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices to form the majority opinion. • This decision represents a significant legal defeat for President Donald Trump's attempts to limit mail-in voting and reshape national election procedures.

• Postmaster General David Steiner announced that the U.S. Postal Service will cease delivering mail ballots in states that refuse to provide necessary voter data. • The decision has sparked immediate alarm among Democrats and voting rights advocates who fear the move could disenfranchise voters and undermine election integrity. • This policy shift highlights a growing conflict between federal postal operations and state-level data privacy or administrative regulations.

• Descendants of civil rights activists, including Cassie Schwerner of the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, are warning that the U.S. is regressing in its commitment to voting rights. • The concern centers on the erosion of protections for voters, specifically citing a 2013 Supreme Court decision that removed the requirement for certain jurisdictions to seek Department of Justice approval before changing voting laws. • This shift is viewed as a betrayal of the sacrifices made by those who died fighting for the landmark Voting Rights Act as the nation nears its 250th anniversary.

• Survivors of activists who died fighting for voting rights are warning that the U.S. is regressing as the nation nears its 250th anniversary. • The concerns center on the erosion of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark law enacted six decades ago to protect minority voters. • A critical turning point was the 2013 Supreme Court decision that removed the requirement for jurisdictions with discriminatory histories to seek Department of Justice approval before changing voting rules.

• The United States is reflecting on the evolution of voting rights as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. • Current political debates center on the implementation of voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements to prevent election fraud. • Former President Donald Trump has urged Congress to establish these specific requirements on a nationwide scale to protect election integrity.

• A US judge has blocked an effort by the Trump administration to implement restrictions on mail-in voting. • The ruling halts a broader drive by the Republican administration to reshape voting regulations and eligibility rules. • This legal decision is critical as it preserves current absentee ballot access ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

• A court has struck down an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that sought to implement major changes to the American voting process. • The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the government's assertions of widespread voter fraud. • The decision matters as it reinforces the legal requirement for evidence to justify restrictive voting changes and blocks the administration's attempt to alter election procedures.

• A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempts to implement mail-in voting restrictions and create a national voter database ahead of the midterm elections. • The administration argued these measures were necessary to strengthen election integrity and combat potential voter fraud. • A key point of contention involves a proposed U.S. Postal Service rule that would require states to provide lists of eligible absentee voters to the federal government to ensure ballot delivery.

• A judge has issued an injunction blocking a portion of Donald Trump's proposed restrictions on mail-in voting, specifically barring the creation of a national list of eligible voters. • The ruling follows a previous decision where a different judge declined to block the policy because it had not yet been implemented. • The legal action comes after the Postal Service proposed a rule to enact the executive order and Postmaster General David Steiner threatened to refuse ballot deliveries unless states provided voter lists.