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Election News This Week

Federal Update: In August, the Pentagon sought emergency approval to make several changes to the Federal Post Card Application, used by U.S. voters abroad to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. The Pentagon did not solicit public feedback on the change, as normally would be a part of the process for a document change of this nature. In an Aug. 13 letter to the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs seeking emergency processing to alter the form, Deputy Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Sean O’Keefe wrote that the changes were necessary because the previous version of the document may have confused “voters about the information they are required to provide under Federal law and their eligibility to use these forms to register and vote.” In justifying the emergency, O’Keefe wrote that “the next Federal election is fewer than 90 days away, so there is insufficient time to modify” the forms via the standard process, adding that “public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures and time periods are followed.” The U.S. National Security Agency and other military intelligence and cybersecurity forces will guard election systems during the November midterms, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said September 28. Hegseth’s announcement comes after President Donald Trump gutted the civilian agency specifically created to safeguard election infrastructure, a division of the Department of Homeland Security called the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. That agency last week released an election infrastructure security plan that lays out potential threats to election systems and lists services it would offer to election officials to protect the vote. In a memo dated Sept. 22 and publicly announced this week, Hegseth directed defense intelligence officials to mobilize every resource “to defend our election infrastructure from foreign malign influence and ensure that every lawful voter can cast their ballot free from foreign intimidation, coercion, or fear.” The State Department is “assessing” how to share passport information with state and local governments, as well as some nonprofit groups, ahead of the midterm elections. According to a department spokesperson, the goal is to share the information in a way that “protects Americans’ data, deters fraud and supports the integrity of U.S. citizenship.” According to court filings, the State Department will soon publish a notice in the Federal Register, the federal government’s official daily publication, proposing to share “information contained in the Passport Services Records system” with other federal agencies, which were not identified. The notice would allow the information to be shared with entities using federal verification systems “for the purpose of verifying identity or citizenship for users accessing government websites and applications, voter eligibility and other governmental services,” according to Democracy Docket. Those records contain personal information on everyone who has applied for a U.S. passport. A 1974 federal privacy law requires the government to provide public notice before using personal information, such as names or Social Security numbers, in a new way. The filing said the notice could be published as soon as Oct. 22. According to ProPublica, the White House Office of Management and Budget wants to change spending rules to prohibit anyone from using federal grant money for voter registration drives or what it vaguely calls “related activities.” Disability rights organizations have warned this could have detrimental effects on voters with disabilities to register and vote. This week, the Trump Administration launched america.gov, an AI-powered website. Shortly following the launch, a reporter for The Hill asked the chatbot who won the 2020 election. When asked about who won the 2020 presidential election, America.gov replies, “Joseph R. Biden Jr. won the 2020 U.S. presidential election. According to the National Archives, he received 306 electoral votes to Donald J. Trump’s 232. A majority of 270 was needed.” The response then cites the Electoral College results from the National Archives’ website and the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) official results from the 2020 election. Similar questions result in similarly worded answers, again citing the National Archives and the FEC.

Election Security Update: On September 24, with just over a month to go till the 2026 midterm elections, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released an election security plan. The plan identifies CISA’s 10 regional directors as election security advisers and describes a free information-sharing platform connecting election officials, state intelligence hubs and federal partners. The document offers one of the clearest public accounts to date of how the second Trump administration intends to support election security. But its emphasis on sustained cooperation comes after staffing and program reductions disrupted the federal support network, and as the administration has proposed eliminating dedicated election security funding and adviser positions. According to The Associated Press and other publications Election officials said the plan is both inadequate and belated after the administration gutted the agency’s election security work last year, prompting the officials to pay for private services to ensure they were prepared for the upcoming elections. “For them to come in five weeks before the election, yeah, nice effort,” said Nevada’s Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, who added that he would have liked to see the federal government provide more funding for cybersecurity, rather than Nevada taxpayers having to pay for it. The 13-page document warns of various threats to election security, including software vulnerabilities, hacks of voter registration databases, insider threats and physical security incidents, such as bomb threats that targeted several polling locations in the 2024 elections. But it affirms that many longstanding election practices can address such threats and says the agency’s goal is “to ensure the American people can trust voting systems and know that physical safety measures will be in place when they go to their assigned polling locations to cast their votes.” It states that DHS has “consistently supported CISA’s delivery of cybersecurity and physical security services to election officials,” something numerous election officials around the country have said isn’t true. Multiple secretaries of state told The Associated Press that services previously provided by CISA, such as live tabletop exercises and penetration tests to evaluate security of their systems, were not available in the lead-up to this year’s midterms. Secretary of State Kris Warner (R-West Virginia) acknowledged CISA had cut back under the Trump administration but said he views the agency “as a resource and not as a service provider” and said his office had last year hired a departing CISA election security adviser who has helped fill any gaps that may exist. 

A Signature Issue: Younger voters and voters of color in Washington state see their ballots challenged for signature issues more often than their older and white counterparts. That’s according to an analysis of state election data by University of Washington researchers presented to state lawmakers last week. Ballot signature challenges have declined in recent years, based on data from the general elections between 2020 and 2025.  “We hope that that will be a continued trend,” said Scott Allard, co-director of the UW Elections Database Project. “And it certainly was in the primary election in 2026.” But while white voters have seen 1.5% of their votes scrutinized for signature discrepancies, it’s 1.9% for Black voters, 2% for Asian voters and 2.2% for Hispanic voters, according to the UW research. Washington doesn’t collect race and ethnicity data from voters upon their registration, so researchers used an algorithm to identify their most likely race. The disparity is more stark among age groups. Signature challenges decrease with age, from 5.3% among voters 18 to 25, to 0.7% for those 66 and older.  There isn’t much of a difference in ballot challenges between urban and rural voters, Allard noted. “We actually do a really good job of curing our ballots in the state,” Allard said, while noting the percentage has slightly decreased in the past couple years. “Any efforts we can do to help improve those rates, I think, matter.” The same disparities remain for those who cure their ballot.  White voters reportedly fixed the issues on more than 59% of their challenged ballots, while Black, Hispanic and Asian voters corrected less than half.  And the youngest voters also cure their ballots less than half of the time, compared to 72% for elderly voters. This means that white and older voters are less likely to have their votes rejected, according to the research.

Vendor News: VotingWorks, a nonpartisan nonprofit maker of voting equipment, announced that its voting system has been certified to VVSG 2.0, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s newest federal voting system standard. VotingWorks is the first open-source voting system to receive federal certification. With the previous version of the federal standard dating to 2005, VVSG 2.0 defines modern requirements for voting system security, accuracy, and accessibility. VotingWorks’ certification confirms its system meets these requirements following formal testing by SLI, an accredited federal testing laboratory and review by the EAC. VotingWorks equipment is currently used by voters across Mississippi and New Hampshire. The Full VotingWorks System: is fully open-source, with source code and documentation available for public review; includes automated ballot design tools that flag errors before a ballot is printed; detects ballot folds, jams, and maintenance needs during operation; is particularly easy to store and transport, reducing election operations costs; and scans ballots in under three seconds, reducing voter wait times. “VVSG 2.0 raises the bar on both security and accessibility. We didn’t just meet that bar. We did it while making our source code and documentation fully public, something no one else in this space has done.” — Jessica Myers, Head of Compliance, VotingWorks.

Sticker News: Congratulations to the winners of the Charleston County, South Carolina “I Voted” sticker contest. Winning stickers were chosen from three age groups: K–5: Emmeline S., 6–8: Adalyn D. and 9–12: Katherine C. Nearly 4,200 votes were cast across 15 fantastic finalists on the county’s Facebook page. The six winners of the El Paso County, Colorado Clerk and Recorder’s “I Voted” sticker design contest have been announced. All winning sticker designs will appear in the ballot packets of registered voters as packets are delivered on Monday, October 5. “The creativity and civic spirit shown by these students is truly inspiring,” said El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker. “Each of our six winners created more than a sticker; they created a powerful reminder that voting is both a right and responsibility, and that civic engagement can begin at any age. I’m proud to celebrate these talented young artists and grateful to every student who shared their imagination, enthusiasm, and voice with our community.” The six winners and their families will be recognized by the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners where they will also receive their $100 gift cards for winning. Voters in Georgia will be getting a new “I Voted” sticker this year. The Secretary of State’s Office announced that the 2026 general election will feature new “I Voted” stickers created by Georgia artist Steve Penley. The sticker features a shot of the Georgia Capitol’s gold dome in front of the state flag. The words “I Voted” are written in white on top of the image. “We are excited to debut this one-of-a-kind sticker by renowned artist Steve Penley,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “Voting is one of the easiest ways Georgians can make their voices heard, and this sticker gives voters a fun way to celebrate participating in democracy. I hope Georgians will wear the sticker proudly and encourage their friends and family to do the same.” Officials say 5 million stickers featuring the design have been printed and will be distributed across the state.

Personnel News: Mercer County, West Virginia Clerk Verlin Moye is retiring after almost 20 years as clerk and more than 30 in the clerk’s office. The Greenville County, South Carolina Voter Registration and Election Board has named Patty Roach as its new director. Rena Russell is the new El Dorado County, California registrar of voters. Susanne Dubord is the new Delta County, Michigan clerk. New Jersey Lt. Governor and Secretary of State Dale Caldwell has resigned. Shirley Emehelu will serve as the interim New Jersey secretary of state. Robert Adams has been terminated as the Clarendon County, South Carolina elections director. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved three of the four petitions submitted for a recall election of Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop. Congratulations to Elk County, Pennsylvania Elections Director Kimberly Frey for receiving the “Mad Dog Award”, an annual statewide honor presented to a county election director for exceptional advocacy, mentorship, and service. Congratulations also goes out to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Clerk Lisa Freiberg for receiving the 2026 Friend in County Government Award from the Wisconsin Counties Association.

New Research and Resources

Vote Safely in 2026: The Trump administration has repeatedly refused to rule out sending federal agents to polling locations this fall. Voters may be worried about this unlawful threat. The fear is understandable. The threat is meant to discourage eligible Americans from exercising their right to vote. This administration knows that voters have the power and will to exercise their rights. Voters should know that the law is on their side. Federal law prohibits federal officers from interfering in elections. Deploying troops or armed federal agents to anywhere an election is held is illegal under federal law. And federal and state laws bar everyone, including federal agents, from intimidating voters. If the Trump administration carries out this unlawful threat, however, voters, community organizations, and election officials can go to court to protect voters’ rights. Courts have processes for responding quickly to prevent election disruptions, including voter intimidation. Additionally, voters can prepare by knowing their rights and making a plan to vote. Here is what you can do to protect your vote and your community’s voice if federal agents show up at your polling place. – The Brennan Center.

Preparing for Federal Agents or ICE at a Polling Place:  This guide helps election offices prepare and train election workers to respond if federal agents, including ICE, enter a polling place. It includes guidance for: Preparing a response plan; Training election workers; Using scripts to respond calmly and clearly; Keeping records of an incident, and Creating an incident kit for voting locations The goal is to help workers keep voters, election workers, and election materials safe while allowing voting to continue. The guide also includes information about who is allowed in a voting location under federal, state, and local laws and rules. – Center for Civic Design. 

Ballot Accounting: A Practical Guide for Maintaining Current and Complete Ballot Inventories: Chain of custody and ballot accounting go hand in hand. One confirms ballots and voting equipment have been continuously controlled, while the other keeps the current and complete inventory of voted and unvoted ballots throughout the election cycle. Our new Ballot Accounting guide is now live on our website. We’ll dig deeper into ballot accounting in October’s newsletter. For now, take a look and let us know what you think. – The Elections Group. 

2026 Battleground Report: How Voting Rules Have Changed Since the 2022 Midterms: Nearly every state has changed its voting laws in some way since the last midterm election. In some states, these were minor amendments voters will not even notice. But in other states, the changes will require voters to adjust how they cast their ballots or significantly affect how election officials do their jobs — often in harmful ways. Some of the more significant trends since the 2022 midterms will bring new restrictions and risks to voters and election administrators. They include: Changes to mail ballot deadlines: Six states enacted laws to stop counting mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day if they arrive afterward. A Kansas state court blocked the law from taking effect; Restrictions to voter ID: 13 states have limited the forms of ID voters can use or eliminated alternatives to showing identification; Hunts for noncitizens on the voter rolls:  18 states have enacted laws meant to identify alleged noncitizens on their voter rolls; and Leaving ERIC: Eight states have left the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) since 2022, though Virginia later rejoined. Leaving ERIC has left local officials scrambling for other data sources to keep voter lists current.  In this report, we take a closer look at seven states with closely contested statewide races this fall — Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas — and examine how significant changes to election law in these states will affect how voters cast their ballots and how election officials do their jobs. – Voting Rights Lab.

Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking

Federal Legislation: A Republican-led effort to approve a House-passed stock trading bill fell short in the Senate on September 30, with Democrats arguing the restrictions don’t go far enough while pushing back against a voter ID provision that they argue would gut mail voting. In a 53 to 47 vote that fell along party lines, the measure failed to reach a 60-vote threshold needed to advance. Democrats saw the bill’s provision requiring voters to show photo identification when voting in federal elections as a poison pill designed to prompt them to vote against the more popular stock-trading restrictions. The unrelated provision was included in the bill as President Trump has put pressure on Congress to approve elections-related legislation ahead of the midterms.

Georgia State Board of Elections: The Georgia State Election Board passed a resolution aiming to address voter privacy concerns.  The resolution urges Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to quickly implement a software update to voting machines to patch a security concern that critics say could make it possible to see how people voted. The resolution also asks Raffensperger’s office to provide forensic images of the server pre-update to the election board, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice for investigation. Board member Carolyn Roddy presented the resolution. “It is irresponsible to have all of us voting on machines that we know have known vulnerabilities,” she said. The company that makes the voting machines has offered the software update for free, she said. Board member Sara Tindall Ghazal, the only Democrat on the board, raised concerns about the timeline of the request, and said that the cost lies with personnel required to implement the update, not the update itself.  

Hamilton County, Indiana: The Hamilton County board of elections unanimously voted to transition from precinct-based voting to a countywide Vote Center model. Starting next year, voters will be able to vote at any designated vote center in Hamilton County. Under the new plan, the release said that the county will have 57 vote centers. “This gives voters more flexibility while allowing us to build an election system that can better accommodate Hamilton County’s continued growth,” Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Kreag Williams said in the release. “Beginning next year, voters can choose the Vote Center that works best for them rather than being tied to one specific location.” The release said that the change will be implemented in 2027 to give officials “an opportunity to refine the process before the higher-turnout 2028 presidential election.” 

New Jersey: Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (R-12th District), has proposed a package of election security bills he says will ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots in future elections. Sauickie said that one bill would require voters to show a photo ID at the polls, while another would require the commissioner of registration in each county to perform twice-yearly audits of the voter rolls. A third bill would require recorded or livestreamed video surveillance of mail-in ballot drop boxes and mail-in ballot counters, a fourth bill would make voters fill out a cure form that would serve as an affidavit if their ballot has a signature discrepancy, and a fifth bill would require mail-in ballots to be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. Sauickie framed the package as a series of common-sense measures that would help combat the kind of improper voting that followed the mistaken registrations. “There’s been discussion about the potential for voter fraud for a decade, and it was always, ‘Oh, it doesn’t exist, there’s no proof.’ Well now there is,” Sauickie told The Jersey Vindicator on Monday. “It became very apparent, very quickly, that we need to tighten things up and ensure that we don’t see a repeat of that going forward.”

Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris and Passaic) and Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Bergen, Essex and Passaic) have introduced legislation that would end automatic voter registration at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, establish voter identification requirements and require regular audits of the state’s voter rolls. Bucco and Corrado introduced S-4616 following the revelation that at least 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote and hundreds voted illegally. The legislation would eliminate automatic voter registration at the MVC, implement voter identification requirements in all future elections and require biannual, independent and transparent audits of voter rolls.

Pennsylvania: A bill to open up Pennsylvania’s primary elections to unaffiliated voters has passed the state House. According to Votebeat, the bill still faces tough odds of becoming law, particularly since there are only two months left in the 2025-2026 legislative session. But the bill’s passage in the lower chamber represents a milestone for advocates. House Bill 280 passed 115-88, with most Democrats voting in favor as well as some Republicans. The bill would allow registered voters with no political party affiliation to select which party’s primary election they would like to vote in. However, it would not allow them to vote in a party’s internal elections, such as for committee seats, which had been one of opponents’ chief concerns. The bill would transition the state to a “semi-open” system in which unaffiliated voters could participate in the primary of their choice, but a Democrat could not choose to vote in a Republican primary or vice versa. Unaffiliated voters are the fastest-growing segment of Pennsylvania’s electorate. Since the 2024 election, both the Democratic and Republican parties have lost voters, but the share of voters registered with no party has increased by 7 percentage points; they now make up more than 13% of the state’s electorate.

The House Judiciary Committee reported out House Bill 2758, a measure that would amend the state Election Code to make explicit that law enforcement officers are prohibited from being within 100 feet of a polling place on Election Day. The bill was introduced on Sept. 24 by state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, and co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Pielli, Liz Hanbidge, Paul Friel and Perry Warren, according to a release from Kenyatta’s office. If the General Assembly passes the bill, Pennsylvania would become the 29th state with similar voter protection laws, the release said.

Legal Updates

U.S. Supreme Court: The Supreme Court on September 25 cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward with its plan to use a modified centralized database to verify voters’ citizenship. In a seven-page opinion issued just 39 days before the November election, the justices paused a ruling by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that had blocked the government from doing so on the ground that it violated (among other things) federal privacy laws. The unsigned opinion for the majority indicated that the lower court’s order “inhibits the Federal Government’s efforts to assist state and local agencies in the proper administration of the midterm elections.” In a dissenting opinion joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson called the decision a “questionable interim ruling[] about two statutory provisions” that the Supreme Court “has never before interpreted.” She also contended that the majority “focuses only on the harms the Government will purportedly suffer absent a stay, disregarding the harms that the” use of the modified database “has caused, and will likely continue to cause, to lawful voters.” In its opinion, the majority agreed that the groups have standing to pursue their claim. One of the groups’ members is registered to vote in Louisiana, which uses the modified SAVE system, the opinion indicated; because Social Security records do not show that she is a naturalized citizen, she would have had to provide additional proof that she is a U.S. citizen, which is the kind of injury that gives her (and, as a result, the groups) a right to sue. However, the majority continued, the challengers are not likely to prevail on the merits of their claims – an important factor that courts consider in deciding whether to award temporary relief. The majority rejected the challengers’ contention that the use of the modified SAVE system violates the Social Security Act, the Privacy Act, and the federal law governing administrative agencies. It explained that in a federal immigration law enacted in 1996, “Congress … separately and expressly authorized DHS to request and receive information relating to citizenship and immigration status from other agencies, including SSA.”

Federal Litigation: Democratic Party leadership and campaign organizations sued the Trump administration September 23 over alleged threats to unlawfully deploy armed federal agents to polling sites during the midterm elections.  The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses Trump administration law enforcement and immigration officials of demonstrating “by word and deed that they have established a policy of permitting their armed officers to appear at active polling sites.” The plaintiffs in the case include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y) as well as the Democratic campaign committees for both chambers of Congress and the Democratic Governors Association.  The Trump administration has stated that it does not have formal plans to send federal agents to the polls this November but has not ruled the possibility out. Attorneys for the plaintiffs cited Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s comments during a Sept. 1 press conference, in which the secretary said “the only reason” federal agents would be at a polling place is to respond to a threat or serve a warrant. 

Judge Amir H. Ali of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled this week that the government cannot withhold emergency preparedness grants from states that do not change how they conduct elections. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned state and local governments in June it would withhold up to 20 percent of some terrorism-preparedness grants unless officials demonstrated that they were exploring a transition to paper ballots or verifying voters’ citizenship. The grants, totaling $1 billion each year, help harden urban areas against terrorist attacks, develop antiterrorism plans and conduct terrorism drills. The changes to elections that FEMA sought were in line with President Trump’s false and largely debunked claims of widespread voter fraud. A group of local governments in Tennessee, Texas and Ohio sued FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, its parent agency, over the move last month, arguing the federal government did not have the power to force changes to how they conduct elections. They also said the rules would disenfranchise eligible voters. Ali wrote in a 24-page opinion that federal agencies didn’t have the authority from Congress to add such conditions to the grants, and that the conditions didn’t meet legal thresholds requiring them to relate to the underlying grant purpose.

California: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who seized 650,000 ballots during an investigation was rebuked by the state’s highest court in two September 24 rulings. The California Supreme Court, ruling in favor of Riverside City Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes, found Bianco unlawfully seized ballots from the November special election. Siding with state Attorney General Rob Bonta in a related suit, the high court determined his office has the power to give binding directions to sheriffs. The high court issued a writ in Cervantes’ case, ordering Bianco to return the seized ballots to the Riverside County registrar of voters. For Bonta, the court ruled his instructions to Bianco — ordering him to pause all work and give his office a copy of the case file — fell within the attorney general’s authority. “In short, [the law] unambiguously confers upon the attorney general the authority to issue binding directions to sheriffs regarding a criminal investigation, at least when these directions are consistent with the attorney general’s responsibility ‘to see that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced,” Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero wrote in the Bonta ruling. The suits stemmed from ballots cast in the November election that redrew the state’s congressional lines to favor Democrats. Bianco’s office seized ballots after a citizen’s group raised concerns.

Florida: During a September 24 press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier that state agents have arrested 20 people for voter fraud in Florida. Sixteen of them, they said, were non-citizens who claimed U.S. citizenship and four others had felony convictions but registered and voted while still on probation. Each charged offense is a third-degree felony. If convicted as charged, 18 of those arrested could face up to 10 years in a state prison. Two other defendants face slightly longer sentences. “I view these election crimes as some of the most dangerous in our country. Because when you vote illegally, it cancels out the votes of others. It challenges our very American sovereignty,” said Uthmeier. He added that more than 100 people have been arrested for voter fraud in Florida since the Office of Election Crimes was created to review alleged violations in 2022. Brad McVay, the Florida statewide prosecutor, said the investigation took place over the past two months.  He said that 12 of the 20 people named were already in custody. According to the Office of Election Crimes and Security’s 2025 annual report, the agency received more than 3,400 complaints last year but just 44 individuals were arrested “and/or” convicted of election-related crimes.

Georgia: U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert has tossed out a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit against Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the federal government’s attempt to obtain Georgia’s complete voter rolls. The lawsuit was part of an effort in nearly every state to obtain the sensitive voter information, which included unredacted personal information such as voters’ birthdates, addresses, and driver’s license numbers. In a ruling filed on September 30, Calvert agreed with Raffensperger’s argument that the DOJ’s request violated Georgia law, which states that data collected about voters needs to remain confidential. Calvert pointed to the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, stating that, while the DOJ was using Title III of the Civil Rights Act to demand the information, it did not apply to all records, only those that are public, and did not supersede the state regulations. “Based on the text of the CRA, including what was cited above, there is no explicit manifestation of Congress’s intent to preempt states’ voter privacy laws,” the judge wrote.

Minnesota: Ten foreign nationals alleged to have unlawfully voted or registered to vote in Minnesota have been indicted by a federal grand jury, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced September 30. He said the indictments include nine counts of illegal voting by a noncitizen and nine counts of making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote. The defendants whose indictments were announced Wednesday include foreign nationals from Brazil, Ghana and Liberia who illegally voted in the 2022 and 2024 general elections and in Minnesota’s primary election in August, Blanche said.The office of Minnesota’s Democratic secretary of state, Steve Simon, told Spectrum News in a statement: “Only United States citizens are eligible to vote in Minnesota elections. Throughout the process of registering to vote and voting, every voter affirms their eligibility multiple times under penalty of law. Violation of that law is a felony. When that law is violated, offenders must face justice, and our office will cooperate in any investigation. In these particular cases, our office complied with subpoenas for certain records as required by law. 

Missouri: For the third time in less than a month, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to allow Missouri to use a new congressional map, intended to benefit Republicans, in the November 2026 elections. In a five-page, unsigned order, the justices paused a ruling by a federal appeals court in St. Louis that had directed the state to implement the new map. In the September 25 opinion  the court emphasized that the federal district and appeals courts “should not enjoin or otherwise prohibit the use of the” map enacted in 2022, which is currently in use in voting already underway, “in the 2026 congressional election in Missouri.” Moreover, the court added, those courts “should not order or otherwise require Missouri to use the” new map “in the 2026 congressional election in Missouri.” There were no public dissents from the Supreme Court’s opinion. In its opinion the court began by observing that, “as a matter of state law, the 2022 map—not the 2025 map—must be used in the 2026 congressional election.” Moreover, the court added, putting the lower courts’ most recent rulings on hold is “[c]onsistent with” the Supreme Court’s Sept. 10 order pausing Clark’s earlier decision. But “[e]ven putting this Court’s prior orders aside,” the court continued, the lower-court rulings should also be paused because “[t]he election is not merely upcoming; it has already started.” “At this late date,” the court wrote, reverting to the 2025 map “would usher in electoral chaos.” The court also stressed that the 8th Circuit was wrong in suggesting that using the 2025 map would be most consistent with the Purcell principle – the idea that courts should not change election rules too close to an election – because the Missouri Supreme Court was responsible for upsetting the status quo. Federal courts, the justices said, should not interfere with elections at the last minute, but states can generally make their own decisions. And here, the court emphasized, the Missouri Supreme Court was not responsible for disturbing the status quo, because it had indicated in May 2026 that “if the referendum petition was legally sufficient,” then the 2025 map would only go into effect after it had been approved by the voters.

Ohio: The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a lower court order that had prevented officials from  using a new proof of citizenship requirement for people who register to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Under 2025’s Ohio House Bill 54, BMV clerks offer clients the opportunity to register to vote, but only after completing a driver’s license application which requires documentary proof of citizenship. Two civic organizations, The Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans and Red Wine & Blue, challenged those provisions. Red Wine & Blue and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans argued the BMV conditioning access to voter registration services on proof of citizenship violates the minimum information standard. The groups presented two members who were initially barred from registering, both women, whose documents didn’t reflect their name change after marriage. The district judge attempted to cut a middle path. He ordered state officials to stop requiring BMV visitors to produce proof of citizenship to register. He added that his order applied to those whose license applications are “ultimately unsuccessful” over lack of documents, but not those who affirmatively indicate they are not a citizen. Circuit Judges John Nalbandian and Whitney Hermandorfer, both Trump appointees, downplayed Ohio’s policy and the alleged injury the plaintiffs suffered. The majority didn’t buy the idea that the individuals identified in the case had suffered an injury, and without injury, there’s no standing to sue. “Neither Dutcher nor Fazio ever encountered anything having to do with the Associations’ H.B. 54 voter-registration challenge,” the majority wrote, “Instead, BMV officials rejected their driver’s-license applications based on independent paperwork defects.” The majority contends the challengers aren’t so much finding fault with Ohio’s new law as its administration of drivers licenses, and so enjoining the law wouldn’t address their concerns. The majority also determined the case is moot because the women in the case have since gotten their licenses and registered to vote.

Tennessee: Chancellor John Rambo has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Washington County, Tennessee mayoral candidate. James Reeves, who ran for the county mayor seat as an independent in the August 6 election, filed the lawsuit in August. Reeves claimed in the lawsuit that voting machines in multiple precincts had malfunctioned. Certified election results stated Reeves lost to incumbent Joe Grandy by 357 votes. In the original filing, Reeves did not specify which precincts’ machines malfunctioned. However, in an amended complaint filed later, he did specify that the Grandview, West View, Lamar, Gray West and Gray East precincts were the suspected ones. The lawsuit sought permission for Reeves and his team to access and examine the voting machines and to declare the election void. The defendants in the lawsuit included Grandy, members of the Washington County Election Commission, county administrator of elections Chuck Vest, the county government, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. The election commission defendants opposed the inspection and argued that Reeves’ request was “an impermissible fishing expedition,” an order of dismissal signed by Rambo. 

Texas: Nearly a decade after authorities said Crystal Mason voted illegally in Tarrant County the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision to acquit her of criminal wrongdoing. Crystal Mason was charged with illegal voting after she cast a provisional ballot in the 2016 election. Mason, who was on supervised release for federal tax evasion at the time and thus ineligible to vote, has maintained that she did not know she was ineligible. Her ballot was never counted. Mason was convicted of voter fraud in 2018 and sentenced to five years. She appealed twice to the Second Court of Criminal Appeals, the latter attempt being approved by the court and her conviction overturned in 2023. While it looked for several months like that would be the end of the case, Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells announced in 2024 that his office was filing its own appeal, challenging the decision to overturn the conviction to the highest possible court. Now Mason’s attorneys say her decade-long battle to defend her innocence is over. “In all these years, I never lost my faith that justice would be done,” Mason said in the news release. “I am so happy my nightmare is over and I can move on.”

Virginia: Alex Chieu Nguyen, 44, of Annandale pleaded guilty September 25 to charges he impersonated an FBI agent at a voting site in Falls Church during the 2024 election. Federal prosecutors Nguyen arrived at a polling place in a black SUV and was wearing dark sunglasses, a blue zippered sweatshirt with the FBI logo, a fraudulent badge and a holster with an air pistol resembling a Glock handgun. He told election officials and greeters he was assigned to the FBI’s “Election Security,” but he had never been employed by the FBI and was not authorized to have or use a badge identifying him as a federal law enforcement officer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a news release. Nguyen later entered the building where voting was taking place, and when the site’s chief election official asked to see his credentials, he displayed the fake badge. He then left the school and was arrested later that day. In addition to the impersonation charge, Nguyen pleaded guilty to possessing imitation federal law enforcement credentials. He faces up to three years in prison.

Wisconsin: Anthony Van Egtern, 45, of Fond du Lac, will spend 30 days in jail for committing election fraud during the 2020 general election. Van Egerton pled no contest and was found guilty of one count of illegal voting on September 24. According to the criminal complaint obtained by 620 WTMJ, Van Egtern had been on probation after being convicted of felony possession of THC as a second offense in 2018 and was sentenced to “2 years of probation with a withheld sentence and 75 days of conditional jail time”. Court documents show that during the November 3, 2020 general election, he voted at the Taycheedah Town Hall in Fond du Lac. Poll records show Van Egtern documented as “voter #1252”, and he initially denied voting to investigators in November 2021. Detectives were able to confirm that Van Egtern signed his plea/waiver form at the time of his sentencing which includes acknowledgement of the statement: “I understand that if I am convicted of any felony, I may not vote in any election until my civil rights are restored.” The terms of his probation were set to end on December 11, 2020.

Rolex Augustin, 32, a Haitian national, admitted he cut the seal on a ballot box at Green Bay City Hall because he believed it would get him deported, a criminal complaint states. No ballots were compromised, according to the city. Augustin was charged with one count of attempted election fraud – open a ballot box, for the Sept. 21 incident. According to the criminal complaint, staff noticed the security seal had been broken. “Review of City Hall surveillance video showed a male later identified as Rolex Augustin approach the ballot box, remove the security seal, walk away, return moments later, and tug on the ballot box door before leaving the area. The ballot box remained secured and officers observed no damage to the box, door, or lock,” it states. There was no damage to the ballot box and he did not gain entry to it, according to the complaint.

Opinions This Week

National Opinions: U.S. Postal Service | Federal interference, II | Secretary of state races | Vote by mail |

Alaska: Ballot counting, II | Ranked choice voting, II |

California: Voter ID, II | San Luis Obispo County |

Colorado: Boulder County |

Florida: Get out the vote | Vote by mail | Election officials |

Illinois: Election prep |

Michigan: Election integrity | Election officials |

Minnesota: In-person voting |

Nevada: Vote by mail |

Ohio: Get out the vote | Election security | Voter ID ballot measure |

Rhode Island: Vote by mail |

South Dakota: Secretary of state race | Secretary of state, II |

Texas: Election integrity | Voter registration, II | Harris County | Crystal Mason |

Vermont: Artificial Intelligence |

Virginia: Early voting | Primaries | Ex-felon voting rights |

Washington: Election workers | Election security |

Upcoming Events

Frontiers of Democracy 2026: At a moment of significant political change in the United States and around the world, the Frontiers of Democracy 2026 convening will explore the essential elements of democratic process, policy, and partnership. Drawing on global, historical, and youth perspectives, and using the framework of generous listening, we will examine the intersections of political pluralism, activism, and academia—and consider how to meet this pivotal moment in history. While this framing guides our conversation, the convening is not limited to a single theme. Sessions will also engage with topics central to Tisch College’s North Star: building robust, inclusive democracy for an increasingly multiracial society. The agenda will feature concurrent breakout sessions, keynotes, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities, including an organization and poster fair. We are pleased to announce Danielle R. Holley, President of Mount Holyoke College as this year’s keynote speaker. We look forward to seeing you there! When: October 2-4. Where: Medford, Massachusetts. 

Law Enforcement and Election Officials: Building Partnerships to Protect Elections: Please join the Ash Center for a discussion of how law enforcement and election officials can work together to protect election officials, poll workers and voters while safeguarding public trust in the electoral process. The webinar will draw on the Ash Center report The Necessary and Valuable Partnership: Law Enforcement and Election Officials, which examines the complicated historical relationship between voting and law enforcement in the United States. The report highlights the importance of clear communication, careful coordination and respect for the distinct roles of election officials and law enforcement. The panel will explore lessons from recent elections and discuss practical strategies for developing effective partnerships before, during and after Election Day. Panelists will consider how law enforcement agencies and election officials can prepare for threats, respond to safety concerns, and protect the voting process without creating confusion or deterring voters. This event is part of the Ash Center’s Democracy 250 series, which convenes leading scholars, policymakers and practitioners to examine the nation’s democratic past, present and future. This event is co-sponsored by the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management at the Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy. When: October 5, 4pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

National Voter Education Week: Voters should have the information they need to cast their ballots with confidence. That’s where National Voter Education Week comes in. Help voters find their polling location, understand their ballot, and make a plan to vote by joining our week-long campaign. When: October 5-9. 

Democracy Summit: The Center for Journalism & Democracy will host its 4th Annual Democracy Summit. With journalists and newsrooms across the country fighting to defend press freedom, the Democracy Summit will feature substantive conversations examining the growing threats to journalism and democratic institutions and how journalists and news organizations can respond. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, join newsroom executives, domestic and international journalists, legal scholars and democracy leaders for a full day of learning, strategy and preparation focused on press freedom, election coverage and democratic resilience. This year’s Democracy Summit will include: Conversations with the nation’s leading voices in media and journalism; Timely discussions on press attacks, democratic erosion and the fight to defend journalism; Exchanges with international journalists sharing lessons on democratic backsliding and recovery; A real-time election reporting scenario to stress-test your decision desk preparedness; and A live newsroom simulation testing editorial and legal judgment. More than 250 journalists gathered from across the country for a day of learning and discussion from some of the top experts in their fields for the last summit. It is time to gather again. When: October 6, 9am Eastern. Where: Washington, DC and online. 

What Can Go Wrong (and What Can Go Right) with November’s Midterm Elections?: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy under the leadership of UCLA Law Professor Richard L. Hasen; one of the nation’s leading election scholars. The Safeguarding Democracy Project is built upon the premise that tackling issues of the U.S. election integrity must be collaborative: across ideologies, across scholarly disciplines, and as a bridge between theory and practice. Our events this semester are focused on the 2026 midterm elections. Speakers: Jonathan Diaz, Campaign Legal Center; Matt Germer, R Street Institute; and Justin Leavitt, Loyola Law School. When: October 13, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

Election Hero Day: Election Hero Day is a nonpartisan, national celebration recognizing the tremendous contributions that election officials, their staff, and poll workers make to ensure a safe, secure voting experience for all Americans. Taking place on October 20, 2026, nonprofits, business leaders, brands, public officials, and more will unite to honor the election heroes in our communities.  With your support, Election Hero Day will help boost election official morale ahead of Election Day and send a clear message to the public that we support our friends and neighbors who play such a vital role in preserving our democracy. When: October 20. 

Vote Early Day: When Americans vote early, they ensure last-minute problems, long lines at the polls, confusing election laws, or voter disinformation cannot prevent us from casting our ballot. Vote Early Day is a tentpole moment for partners nationwide to engage with voters and empower them with the tools to cast their ballots early. When: October 27. 

Assessing the Fairness and Integrity of the November Elections: The Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA promotes research, collaboration, and advocacy under the leadership of UCLA Law Professor Richard L. Hasen; one of the nation’s leading election scholars. The Safeguarding Democracy Project is built upon the premise that tackling issues of the U.S. election integrity must be collaborative: across ideologies, across scholarly disciplines, and as a bridge between theory and practice. Our events this semester are focused on the 2026 midterm elections. Speakers: Bill Gates, Arizona State University; Guy-Uriel E. Charles, Harvard Law School; Charles Stewart, MEDSL; Susan Stokes, University of Chicago and Tammy Patrick, Election Center. When: November 16, 3:15pm Eastern. Where: Online. 

2026 Elections Summit: In a time of rapid change and evolving challenges to our electoral processes, collective reflection and forward-looking strategy are more important than ever. Bipartisan Policy Center’s 2026 Elections Summit will convene a diverse group of election practitioners, policymakers, and thought leaders to debrief the November election and chart a course forward for U.S. election administration. Be part of a defining moment for democracy as we gather in Washington, DC, to shape its future together. When: December 7, 9am to 4pm Eastern. Where: Washington, DC.

Job Postings This Week

electionlineWeekly publishes election administration job postings each week as a free service to our readers. To have your job listed in the newsletter, please send a copy of the job description, including a web link to mmoretti@electionline.org.  Job postings must be received by 5pm on Wednesday in order to appear in the Thursday newsletter. Listings will run for three weeks or till the deadline listed in the posting.

Account Executive, VotingWorks– We are looking for a trusted sales leader who understands that election administrators don’t buy voting machines, they buy trust, both in the equipment and in the vendor. All 83 of Michigan’s counties will soon open at once, and we are in the running for the state RFP enabling us to sell our voting machines. Incumbents will have to re-earn their contracts, and we’ll be competing on equal footing for the first time. This opportunity is time bound. Trust matters deeply in this market. Your job is to build relationships and earn credibility quickly with state and local election officials. You will own the full Michigan territory. You’re responsible for the entire sales process: building pipeline, running demos, navigating procurement, and closing deals. We want sustainable sales contracts that are technically sound, politically supported, and set up for a clean handoff to Customer Success. For your first demos, you’ll be paired with our Executive Director and our Head of Customer Success to learn the messaging and the product. Once you take on demos on your own, you should still know when to bring in executive support and when to handle things yourself. This is a competitive market with a real window of opportunity. If you want to sell something that actually matters to Democracy, and you’re energized by moving fast when the timing is right, we’d like to meet you. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Assistant Director for Elections Technology, Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office– Serves as the Division of Elections’ technology manager and advisor, who works in coordination with the Tennessee Secretary of State’s IT Division and is responsible for statewide election technology strategy, cybersecurity, state voter registration data, election reporting systems, business continuity planning, technology procurement, and oversight of election technology support provided to Tennessee’s 95 county election commissions. This position coordinates technology projects, monitors system performance, supports election security efforts, and serves as a liaison between the Division of Elections, state IT personnel, county election officials, and technology vendors. The position helps ensure election technology systems remain secure, dependable, and compliant with applicable state and federal requirements. The Assistant Director supervises two employees. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Assistant Executive Director, Chicago Board of Election Commissioners–This full-time exempt position reports directly to the Board’s Executive Director and is responsible for overseeing the Board’s daily administrative operations, including Human Resources, Finance, and Purchasing. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Assistant Executive Director will also oversee general office functions, including but not limited to the mailroom, the copy room, and receptionists. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Direct supervision of the human resources, finance and procurement functions of the Board. Assess Board policies and develop business strategies to ensure coordination across the various administrative functions in the Board’s downtown and warehouse offices. Monitor performance and provide feedback to senior administrative management, including teaching, supporting and modeling logistics in line with Board policies and procedures. Advise the Executive Director on matters impacting administrative operations. Participate in Board of Election Commissioners meetings, providing updates on current and long-term projects impacting the administration of the Board. Oversee Board financial matters, ensuring best practices for procurement, contracts, grants, and staffing. Direct supervision of ADA and Communication staff. Attend external meetings at the request of the Executive Director, including City/County budget hearings, civic events, intergovernmental matters, conferences, etc. Oversee the operation and selection of staffing of Election Central for Election Day support. Execute other duties as directed by the Executive Director. Salary: $144,000 – 154,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Customer Support Center Consultant Level 1, Hart InterCivic– The Customer Support Center Consultant Level 1 (CSC 1) provides Tier 1–2 support for Hart InterCivic products, helping customers troubleshoot issues and keep election operations running smoothly. The CSC I’s primary responsibilities are to: Resolve and route customer issues via phone, email, and remote tools; Document cases in the CRM and communicate status through resolution; and Use product documentation to deliver clear, customer-friendly solutions. This role researches and resolves issues, supports hardware/software configuration and deployment, and provides training or on-site support as needed. It also documents processes and partners with other departments to improve service delivery. This position follows the Proprietary Information and Intellectual Property Agreement and is responsible for protecting company information, including when working off-site or outside normal hours. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Cybersecurity Assessor (Election Security), Apollo Information Systems: The Technical Assessor conducts in-depth technical and program-level cybersecurity assessments of client environments, identifying risk, measuring control maturity, and producing clear, actionable guidance that advances each client’s security posture. This is an experienced assessor role: the individual independently leads assessments end to end, evaluates complex environments against multiple frameworks, and is a trusted voice in front of both technical teams and executives. The assessor also helps mature Apollo’s assessment method. Salary: $80K – $120K. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Election Worker – Office Assistant (Extra Help, Seasonal), San Mateo County, California– The Elections Division is an exciting, fast-paced environment, especially as elections approach. This is an excellent opportunity to work with a group of dynamic, well-organized, and highly efficient individuals committed to the democratic process. The San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division is seeking full-time, seasonal Election Worker – Office Assistants to assist in the upcoming November 3, 2026, Statewide General Election. This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in the election process! We are currently seeking dedicated, enthusiastic and hard-working individuals for temporary, full-time positions to be hired into one of the following areas: Ballot retrieval, vote by mail, voter registration/clerical support, voter helpdesk support, supplies, field techs/warehouse.  This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Extra-help hours are dependent on the business needs of the department and therefore work hours may vary from week to week. Extra-help employees shall not exceed 1,040 hours of work per fiscal year. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment. Salary: $24.91/hour. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

Elections Data and Analytics Manager, Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office – Responsible for statewide election data governance, voter registration data integrity, business intelligence, reporting, analytics, data integration, and performance measurement. This position serves as the Division’s subject matter expert on election data and ensures accuracy, security, compliance, and accessibility of election information. This position assists ballot review and approval, producing and analyzing election-related state and federal reports, maintaining and assisting in updating elections mobile app. Assist in planning and coordinating the computer functions and responsibilities for the Elections Division which includes, but is not limited to: data processing, integrating the statewide voter registration system with county voter registration systems, improve election reporting capabilities; analyzing and resolving technical software issues (25%) for the Division of Elections and 95 county election commission offices, which includes, but is not limited to cybersecurity practices, and performing other duties as assigned. Salary: Commensurate with experience and State of Tennessee benefits package. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

GIS Specialist, Palm Beach County, Florida– Help power accurate, well-run elections through smart mapping and rock-solid data. As a GIS Specialist II with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, you’ll own core geospatial datasets, turn complex information into clear maps and insights, and improve the workflows teams rely on to plan and execute election operations. Your work helps ensure precinct, polling place, and district data is accurate and easy to use—supporting operational readiness, transparency, and timely decision-making. You’ll maintain and enhance GIS databases, produce print and web-ready map products, perform quality control and spatial analysis, and keep GIS synchronized with the Voter Registration System. You’ll collaborate with both technical and non-technical teams, document standards and changes, and provide training and troubleshooting support. Salary: $72,800 to $87,000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here. 

IT Assistant Manager, Palm Beach County, Florida–The Assistant IT Manager plays a vital and supportive role in ensuring the smooth operation of the IT department, aligning both the technical infrastructure and the team with the organization’s goals. This position involves collaborating closely with the Election Technology Director to oversee the implementation of technology solutions that meet the organization’s needs. The Assistant IT Manager helps maintain an efficient and effective IT environment. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office is committed to hiring talented individuals with diverse experiences that will enhance the services we provide to the residents of Palm Beach County. We are always looking for dedicated individuals who do all things with Integrity and Accountability, who excel in Customer Service, and believe in Transparent, Secure Democracy. At the Supervisor of Elections Office, we strive to help our employees find passion and purpose. Join us in being the best place to vote. Salary: $85000 to $125000. Application: For the complete job listing and to apply, click here.

Marketplace

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