Gerrymandering Arms Race Update: VA Voters Narrowly Approve Mid-Decade Redistricting; FL's Delayed Special Session Starts April 28th By a narrow 51.6 to 48.4 percent margin, Virginia voters authorized their General Assembly April 21st to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts. Now it’s the Florida legislature’s turn, after Gover...

By a narrow 51.6% to 48.4%margin, VA voters authorized their Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts. Now it’s the FL legislature’s turn, after Gov. DeSantis had delayed a special session. tinyurl.com/36u8db2h #NewsAlerts #Gerrymandering #Redistricting #Virginia #Florida

Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Suit Demanding RI’s Personal Voter Data. The Administration is 0-5 Against States Refusing to Comply. A federal judge dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice demand that Rhode Island turn over its voter data, including sensitive personal information. April 17th’s decision is the fifth such defeat for t...

A federal judge dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice demand that Rhode Island turn over its voter data, including sensitive personal information. Apr. 17th’s decision is the fifth such defeat for the Trump DOJ. tinyurl.com/2msbchr9 #NewsAlerts #AmericanDemocracy #RhodeIsland #ACLU #VoterPrivacy

Analyzing the President’s Executive Order on Mail Voting This bid to seize control of mail voting would wreak havoc on elections and harm American voters.

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

The Trump DOJ Demands 2024 Voting Records from Detroit and Wayne County. Michigan’s AG Says the Justification is Baseless. Listen to the American Democracy Minute on Pacifica Network stations around the U.S. and on your favorite podcast provider for updates on voting rights, money in politics and other critical issues on ...

In a letter April 14th, Asst. U.S. AG Harmeet Dhillon gave 14 days for Wayne County, MI’s county clerk to produce ballots, ballot receipts and ballot envelopes from the 2024 election. MI's AG, SOS and Gov call it a fishing expedition.
tinyurl.com/342pdzn7 #News #Detroit #WayneCounty #TrumpDOJ

Trump Campaign Lawyer John Eastman’s Disbarment Upheld in California Supreme Court, but an Appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is Likely Listen to the American Democracy Minute on Pacifica Network stations around the U.S. and on your favorite podcast provider for updates on voting rights, money in politics and other critical issues on ...

John Eastman, the alleged architect of the effort to overturn the 2020 election in Congress, had his disbarment upheld by the California Supreme Court Apr. 15. His attorney says Eastman, previously pardoned by Pres. Trump, will appeal to the SCOTUS. tinyurl.com/3a3unaar #JohnEastman
#2020Election

Until Recently, Wisconsin Was One of the Most Heavily Gerrymandered in the Country.  Gov. Tony Evers Hopes to Permanently Change That. Under former GOP Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin became one of the most partisan gerrymandered states in the country for almost 15 years. His successor, Democratic Governor Tony Evers, wants to amend...

Under former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, WI became one of the most partisan gerrymandered states in the country. His successor, Dem. Gov. Tony Evers, wants to amend the state constitution to make sure it never happens again.
tinyurl.com/48f223ec #NewsUpdates #Wisconsin #FairMaps #TonyEvers

Half of Americans are Concerned President Trump May Use the Military to Seize Ballots or Election Machines. Let That Sink In. A head-turning new poll released April 6th found 49% of Americans are concerned that President Donald Trump will order the military to seize ballots and voting machines during the 2026 midterms.

A head-turning new poll released April 6th found 49% of Americans are concerned that Pres. Donald Trump will order the military to seize ballots and voting machines during the 2026 midterms.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #Poll #Survey #TrumpExecutiveOrder #2026Midterm

New Survey Finds Election Officials are Worried About Midterm Election Interference, Replacing Lost Federal Funding, and Their Safety & Security Listen to the American Democracy Minute on Pacifica Network stations around the U.S. and on your favorite podcast provider for updates on voting rights, money in politics and other critical issues on ...

An annual poll of election officials just updated by the Brennan Center for Justice April 13th shows half of those surveyed worry about election interference by political leaders. tinyurl.com/38e6hurd
#News #Democracy #ProtectPollWorkers #BrennanCenter #Survey #Poll #ElectionOfficials

Virginia's Special Election is April 21, a Limited Constitutional Amendment Allowing Mid-Decade Congressional Redistricting; Polling Shows It’s Close Virginia voters head to the polls April 21st to weigh in on a constitutional amendment authorizing mid-decade redistricting – a response to additional red-state congressional seats requested by Presid...

VA voters to weigh in April 21st on a constitutional amendment authorizing mid-decade redistricting – a response to more GOP seats requested by Trump. Polling shows it’s close, and millions are being spent on both sides.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...
#Virginia #Redistricting

CA Supreme Court Halts Sheriff’s Prop. 50 Ballot Investigation; Unsealed Warrant Affidavits Show Election Denier Group Provided the ‘Evidence’ The California Supreme Court temporarily halted a Riverside County sheriff’s investigation into the 650,000 Proposition 50 redistricting referendum ballots he seized last month. Unsealed “evidence” us...

The CA Supreme Court temporarily halted a Riverside County sheriff’s investigation into the 650K Prop 50 ballots he seized. Unsealed warrants confirms the 'evidence' came from election-denier activists, not state authorities.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #California #ChadBianco

New Expert Analysis Finds Fringe Report Apparently Used to Justify the Fulton County, GA 2020 Ballot Seizure is Not Credible Listen to the American Democracy Minute on Pacifica Network stations around the U.S. and on your favorite podcast provider for updates on voting rights, money in politics and other critical issues on YOUR democracy!

A fringe report apparently used by the FBI as the basis for the January 28th seizure of Fulton County, Georgia’s 2020 ballots is not credible, according to new independent expert analysis released April 8th.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...
#News #FultonCounty #Georgia #FBIRaid

NH’s GOP Governor Signs Bill Eliminating Student IDs as Voter ID, a Long Sought-After Tool to Make It Harder for Students to Vote With Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature, New Hampshire became the latest GOP-led state to ban use of student IDs for voting purposes. It’s a long sought-after tool to make voting harder for high school...

With Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s signature, NH became the latest GOP-led state to ban use of student IDs for voting purposes. It’s a long sought-after tactic to make voting harder for high school and college students, despite no evidence of widespread misuse.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...

State Briefs on CA Sheriff’s Illegal Seizure of Ballots, and a Court-Ordered Resentencing of CO County Election Official Tina Peters We’re bringing you some state democracy news briefs today, including on the California county sheriff who seized over 600,000 ballots based on conspiracy theories, and a court-ordered resentencing of ...

Updates on the CA sheriff who seized over 600K ballots based on conspiracy theories, and a court-ordered resentencing of a former county clerk in CO who allowed access to her county’s voting machines.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #Colorado #TinaPeters #ChadBianco #California

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Georgia House & Senate Sessions Expire Without a Fix for Ballot QR Codes.  A Special Session May Be Needed to Meet a July Deadline. The Georgia legislature’s term ran out before passing an election bill removing QR codes from ballots. It may require a special session to fix before the midterms.

The Georgia legislature’s term ran out before passing an election bill removing QR codes from ballots. It may require a special session to fix before the midterms.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...
#NewsUpdates #DemocracyNews #Georgia #VotingMachines #QRCodes #GAPolitics

Trump Executive Order on Mail-In Voting Spurs 5 Lawsuits from States, Pro-Democracy Groups, Civil Rights Groups and the Democratic Party President Donald Trump’s March 31st executive order obstructing mail-in voting spurred five lawsuits from 23 states, 2 coalitions of pro-democracy groups, 2 coalitions of civil rights groups and the D...

Pres Trump’s Mar. 31st exec order obstructing mail-in voting spurred five lawsuits from 23 states, 2 coalitions of pro-democracy groups, 2 coalitions of civil rights groups and the Democratic party. They all argue he doesn't have the authority.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...

Trump Issues Executive Order Attempting to Federalize Mail-In Voting Rules and Establish ‘State Citizenship List’.  It’s Beyond His Authority. President Trump issued an executive order March 31st attempting to impose strict federal mail-in voting rules. The order ignores multiple recent court rulings making clear he does not have authority o...

Pres. Trump issued an exec. order Mar. 31st attempting to impose strict federal mail-in voting rules. The order ignores multiple court rulings making clear he doesn't have authority over election administration.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #TrumpExecutiveOrder #Mail-InVoting

New Jersey Assembly Advances ‘John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act.’ If Passed by the Senate and Signed, It Becomes the 10th State VRA Listen to the American Democracy Minute on Pacifica Network stations around the U.S. and on your favorite podcast provider for updates on voting rights, money in politics and other critical issues on ...

The NJ Assembly advanced the “John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act” Mar. 23rd on a 53 to 20 vote. If passed by the senate and signed as expected, NJ would become the 10th state to pass such a state voting rights act.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #VotingRightsAct #NewJersey

Elections Expert Testifies in DOJ Seizure of Fulton County, Georgia Ballots that Evidence Used to Justify the Warrant had ‘No Basis in Reality’ After the FBI seized hundreds of boxes of 2020 election records from Fulton County, Georgia in January, county officials sued to get back their ballots. Expert testimony in the case suggests the justi...

After the FBI seized 600 boxes of 2020 election records from Fulton County, GA, county officials sued to get them back. Expert testimony suggests the justification for the warrant had “no basis in reality.” www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #FultonCounty #Georgia #FBIRaid #NewsUpdate

California Sheriff Obtains Warrant from Judge He Endorsed, Then Seizes More than 650,000 Ballots for ‘Recount’ of 2025 Redistricting Referendum A California county sheriff running for governor obtained a warrant from an elected judge he endorsed, then seized over 1,000 boxes of ballots from last November’s Proposition 50 redistricting referen...

A CA county sheriff running for governor seized over 1,000 boxes of ballots from last Nov.’s Prop 50 redistricting referendum. After a warning from the state AG, he seized 426 more.
tinyurl.com/d3hjyfhb
#DemocracyNews #RiversideCounty #California #ChadBianco #BallotSeizure #ElectionDenier

MO Supreme Court Upholds Legislature’s Mid-Decade Redistricting Authority, But a Pending Ballot Measure May Yet Invalidate its Map The Missouri Supreme Court ruled March 24th that the state legislature did have the authority to redistrict mid-decade, and not just after the release of the decennial U.S. Census. The legislature’s H...

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled 3/24 that the state legislature DID have the authority to redistrict mid-decade. The legislature’s HB 1 gerrymandered Congressional map diluted majority-Black Kansas City to gain one GOP-leaning seat.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...
#Missouri #News

President Trump Ties Ending the Partial Government Shutdown to Passage of the SAVE America Act. The Draconian Voting Bill Still Doesn’t Have the Votes. March 22nd, President Donald Trump tied ending the partial government shutdown to passage of the GOP’s draconian voting bill, the Save America Act. It still doesn’t have the votes.

Mar. 22, Pres. Trump tied ending the partial govt shutdown to passage of the GOP’s draconian voting bill, the SAVE America Act. It still doesn’t have the votes.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #News #DemocracyNews #SAVEAmericaAct #GovernmentShutdown #USSenate #VoterSuppression

The Supreme Court’s Conservatives Appear Likely to End Mail-In Ballot Grace Periods, Affecting Dozens of State Laws and Millions of Voters During oral arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee on March 23rd, the U.S. Supreme Court’s majority appeared ready to end grace periods for mail-in ballots. A decision could come in the ...

During oral arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee on March 23rd, the U.S. Supreme Court’s majority appeared ready to end grace periods for mail-in ballots. A decision could come in the early summer, four months before the midterm. www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...

A North Carolina State Primary Race Separated by 23 Votes is Likely to End Up in Court After a Second Recount A North Carolina state senate primary race separated by only 23 votes and marred by accusations of dirty tricks and dark money, will face a partial second recount. Like last year’s state supreme court...

A North Carolina state senate primary race separated by only 23 votes and marred by accusations of dirty tricks and dark money, will face a partial second recount. Like last year’s state supreme court race, this one is likely headed to court.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...

March 23rd, U.S. Supreme Court Hears Mississippi Case Which Could Impact Mail-in Ballots in 14 or More States The U.S. Supreme Court hears Watson v. Republican National Committee Monday, March 23rd. It’s a Mississippi case determining whether the U.S. Constitution and federal law allow states to offer grace p...

SCOTUS hears Watson v. RNC Mon., March 23. It’s a Mississippi case determining whether the U.S. Constitution and federal law allow states to offer grace periods for eligible mail-in ballots. It could affect thousands of voters in 14 or more states.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...

Since 2018, CISA Helped States Harden Elections From Foreign Interference by Iran and Others. In 2025 Its Workforce & Funding was Cut. In March 2025, President Trump’s DOGE team cut the career workforce of the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency, or CISA, by one third, including cyber threat intelligence and response exp...

In March 2025, President Trump’s DOGE team cut the career workforce of the CISA, by one third, including cyber threat intelligence and response experts. Do those cuts and the war with Iran put U.S. election cybersecurity at risk?
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #CISA #DOGECuts

A March 2026 Poll Shows an Erosion of Voter Confidence in Elections by Democrats, Republicans and Independents – But for Different Reasons A March 2026 poll suggests voter confidence that American elections will be conducted fairly and accurately has dropped 10% since October 2024. But Republicans, Democrats and independents have lost th...

A March 2026 poll suggests voter confidence that American elections will be conducted fairly and accurately has dropped 10% since October 2024. But Republicans, Democrats and independents have lost that confidence for different reasons.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #MaristPoll

Florida Legislature Passes State Version of the SAVE America Act. Its Proof of Citizenship & Voter ID Rules May Disenfranchise Thousands. Listen to the American Democracy Minute on Pacifica Network stations around the U.S. and on your favorite podcast provider for updates on voting rights, money in politics and other critical issues on ...

The FL legislature passed HB 991 March 12th, a state version of the federal SAVE America Act, now before the U.S. Senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis is likely to sign it. It’s likely to disenfranchise thousands.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...
#DemocracyNews #FloridaSaveAct #Disenfranchised

Midterm Madness Week:  Could 2026 Midterm Ballots or Voting Machines be Seized by the Feds?  There are Concerning Signs. When asked in January about his 2020 threat of having the National Guard seize voting machines, President Trump told the New York Times, “Well, I should have.” There are signs of such authoritarian ac...

When asked in January about his 2020 threat of having the National Guard seize voting machines, President Trump told the New York Times, “Well, I should have.” There are signs of such authoritarian action in the 2026 midterm.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/... #VoterSuppression

Midterm Madness Week:  ICE at Polling Places?  The Administration Sends Mixed Messages; Some States are Advancing Laws to Limit or Prohibit It. In our Midterm Madness series, we’ve reported on federal rules prohibiting deployment of the U.S. military at the polls. Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon also suggested ICE agents should be used to p...

In our Midterm Madness series, we’ve reported on federal rules prohibiting deployment of the U.S. military at the polls. Some states are considering rules to keep the Trump administration sending ICE to intimidate voters, too.
www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/...