Election administration battles: SCOTUS rulings, court blocks on Trump EOs, USPS rule challenged, SAVE Act stalls, Shasta County, Arkansas ballot restrictions struck down, Ohio voter ID veto, Arizona voter ID measure, Wyoming shortened absentee window, Nebraska RNC lawsuit, Johnson reconciliation gambit, Ohio grace period, Brunswick County free IDs, Michigan absentee ballot spoiling, Wisconsin inconsistent standards, DOJ appeal on voter data lawsuit, Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, Fulton County subpoena blocked
Key Questions
What did the Supreme Court rule on mail ballot grace periods?
The Supreme Court upheld post-Election Day mail ballot grace periods in 14 states, with Justice Barrett's opinion protecting military voters under UOCAVA. This decision allows certain late-arriving ballots to be counted in those states.
Why did federal judges block Trump administration orders on mail ballots?
Federal judges blocked President Trump's mail ballot delivery order and a related USPS rule, citing concerns over voting access. These rulings prevented changes that would have restricted mail-in voting procedures.
What voter ID measures are advancing in Arizona and Ohio?
Arizona voters will decide on a constitutional amendment for voter ID requirements. In Ohio, Governor DeWine vetoed a photo ID bill for mail voting, though an override remains possible.
What happened with the SAVE Act in Congress?
The SAVE Act stalled in the defense bill due to holdouts including Rep. Mike Turner and Ohio Republicans. Speaker Johnson proposed using reconciliation to advance it, but internal GOP resistance makes Senate passage unlikely.
What was the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on voter records?
In a 5-2 decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to release guardianship records to a conservative activist seeking to verify voter eligibility. The ruling reinforces privacy protections in election administration.
Why did a federal judge block the DOJ subpoena for Fulton County election workers?
A Trump-appointed judge quashed the DOJ subpoena seeking names and contact information of 2020 Fulton County election workers, calling the scope staggering and citing a potential chilling effect. The decision limits post-election investigations and emphasizes separation of powers.
What is the status of the DOJ's voter data lawsuit against Pennsylvania?
The DOJ appealed a judge's dismissal of its lawsuit seeking access to Pennsylvania voter rolls. The Third Circuit case could set precedent on federal authority to obtain state voter data.
How did local practices affect voting in Wisconsin and Arkansas?
In Mequon, Wisconsin, inconsistent witness-address standards led to disenfranchisement of voters due to local discretion overriding state guidance. A federal judge struck down Arkansas petition signature laws, including canvasser disclosure and pre-signing voter ID rules, on First Amendment grounds.
SCOTUS upheld post-Election Day mail ballot grace periods in 14 states (Barrett opinion protecting military voters under UOCAVA). SCOTUS blocked birthright citizenship order. Federal judges block Trump's mail ballot delivery order and USPS order. Arizona voters to decide on voter ID constitutional amendment. SAVE Act stalls defense bill; Mike Turner and Ohio Republicans among holdouts. Speaker Johnson pledges reconciliation to force SAVE Act but faces internal GOP resistance; gambit likely dead in Senate. Ohio Gov. DeWine vetoed photo ID mail voting bill; override possible. Wyoming shortened absentee window to 28 days. Nebraska Secretary of State calls RNC lawsuit 'baffling'. Ohio must restore absentee ballot grace period (1,564 ballots thrown out). Brunswick County, NC offers free voter IDs at community events. Michigan voters can change absentee ballots after McMorrow's exit—practical state-level election admin detail; voters can change ballots but only before specific deadlines; early votes are final. Wisconsin city Mequon's inconsistent witness-address standard disenfranchised voters—city attorney defied state commission guidance, rejecting ballots for missing state/ZIP while accepting identical ones; shows local discretion can disenfranchise. Federal judge strikes down Arkansas ballot initiative restrictions—First Amendment ruling blocks canvasser disclosure rules, voter ID checks before signing, and other barriers; state will appeal. New: DOJ appeals dismissal of voter data lawsuit against Pennsylvania—Third Circuit appeal could set precedent for federal access to state voter rolls; civil rights groups won dismissal; Al Schmidt key figure. New: Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to release voter records—5-2 ruling blocks conservative activist's attempt to access guardianship records for voter eligibility checks; Hagedorn joins liberal majority; reinforces privacy protections in election administration. New: Trump-appointed judge blocks DOJ subpoena for 2020 Fulton County election worker names—calls scope 'staggering,' cites chilling effect on future elections; reinforces separation of powers and limits on post-election investigations.