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Planck Standard

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Elections

63 stories from Planck Standard. Latest: September 20, 2026.

World
The AfD Won Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Far-Left Die Linke Won Berlin, and Chancellor Merz's CDU Fell to About 5% in a State Where It Once Governed, the Party's Worst Result Anywhere Since 1945

Projections put the AfD at roughly 37% to 38% in the northeastern state and Die Linke at about 25% in the capital, where a Turkish-German lawyer named Elif Eralp declared that 'love and justice have triumphed over hatred.' The AfD's co-leader called Merz's response 'more than feeble' and demanded his resignation.

Sep 20 3 min read
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Politics
Kash Patel Told the Senate 'You Bet We're There' When Asked About FBI Agents at Michigan Polls, Then Said 'I Don't Know That We Can't Legally Do It'

In his first congressional appearance since May, the FBI director defended relaxed hiring rules on prostitution and bestiality, brushed off a ProPublica report on Don Jr.'s wedding, and refused to give Blumenthal an unambiguous pledge to keep agents away from elections.

Sep 15 4 min read
Politics
The Justice Department Wants 1,000 Election Monitors in November. Their New Assignment Includes Voter Fraud

For decades the Civil Rights Division sent lawyers to polling places to protect voters from discrimination. Harmeet Dhillon is emailing staff to sign up for something broader.

Sep 7 3 min read
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Politics
Campaigns Have Spent $45 Million on Data Center Ads. More Than 99% of It Attacks Them

Republicans and Democrats are running nearly identical attacks on the warehouses powering the AI boom, and the spending is split almost evenly between the two parties.

Sep 5 3 min read
Politics
A Postal Whistleblower Told a Senator the New Federal Ballot System Will Fail. A Judge Has Already Frozen It

The disclosure to Sen. Richard Blumenthal says a single unreadable barcode could void an entire batch of ballots, and that USPS kept building the system while a court order told it to stop.

Sep 2 3 min read
Science
Two Mathematicians Just Proved That a Perfectly Fair Election Is Impossible

Local winners keep their seats, national seat share matches national vote share, the legislature stays a fixed size. Once enough parties exist, you can have any two.

Aug 3 3 min read
World
The Last Kremlin Critic Who Stayed Recorded a Video in Front of the Eiffel Tower: 'I'm Alive and Free'

Boris Nadezhdin, barred as a 'foreign agent' from September's parliamentary elections, announced Monday that he has left Russia for France.

Aug 3 3 min read
Politics
Trump Asks the Supreme Court to Unblock His Mail-In Ballot Order 14 Weeks Before the Midterms

Solicitor General D. John Sauer wants the justices to lift a Massachusetts judge's injunction covering 23 states and D.C. An appeals court warned the order 'would sow confusion and threaten disenfranchisement of many eligible voters.'

Jul 29 3 min read
Politics
25 States and D.C. Sue FEMA Over Election Rules Attached to Disaster Aid

The suit, filed in federal court in Rhode Island, says the Trump administration is holding roughly $148 million in homeland security money hostage to demands for paper ballots, citizenship checks and immigration cooperation.

Jul 24 3 min read
World
Cameroon's 93-Year-Old President Vanishes for Two Months, Igniting a Succession Crisis

Paul Biya, the world's oldest head of state, has not appeared in public since May, and his ruling party is scrambling to insist that 'the office is not vacant.'

Jul 24 3 min read
World
Nicaragua's Ortega Declares There Will 'Never Again' Be Elections, Cementing Two Decades of Rule

The Sandinista leader, who governs alongside his wife and co-president, vowed a 'wall' of laws to bar opponents he branded traitors and 'coup plotters.'

Jul 21 2 min read
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Politics
Trump to Deliver Primetime Address Claiming New Evidence of Foreign Meddling in U.S. Elections

The 9 p.m. speech is expected to allege Chinese interference and vulnerabilities in voting machines, as critics warn the president is again trying to cast doubt on his 2020 defeat.

Jul 16 3 min read
Politics
Trump Fires Every Member of the Federal Election Agency Months Before the Midterms

The president removed all three remaining commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, leaving the only federal agency devoted to election administration with no one able to act.

Jul 9 3 min read
Politics
Justice Department Sues 30 States and D.C. to Pry Loose Their Voter Rolls

The DOJ wants full registration lists with Social Security and driver's license numbers. So far, no court has sided with the department — and a dozen states have handed the data over voluntarily.

Jul 8 3 min read
Politics
A Federal Law Bars Late Voter-Roll Purges. Republicans Are Asking the Supreme Court to Read It Differently

An Arizona case headed to the justices in October could reshape a decades-old protection that bans systematic voter removals within 90 days of a federal election.

Jul 5 3 min read
Politics
Supreme Court Strikes Down Limits on Party Spending Coordinated With Candidates, 6-3

Writing for the majority in NRSC v. FEC, Justice Kavanaugh said decades-old caps on coordinated party expenditures violate the First Amendment — unleashing party money months before the midterms.

Jul 5 3 min read
Politics
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Order Creating Federal Voter List and Limiting Mail Ballots

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled the president's bid to build federal voter rolls and restrict mail-in voting unconstitutional, writing that 'the Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.'

Jun 25 3 min read
Politics
Supreme Court Enters Final Stretch With Birthright Citizenship, Ballots and Trans Sports at Stake

With about 23 decisions left before its summer recess, the justices are poised to issue rulings that could reshape citizenship, voting and civil rights.

Jun 14 3 min read
World
South Korea's Ruling Democrats Sweep Local Elections in a Rebuke of Ousted President Yoon — but Lose Seoul

President Lee Jae-myung's party captured the vast majority of governor and mayor races on June 3, though the opposition held onto the capital in a split verdict.

Jun 14 3 min read
Politics
Bombshell Op-Ed From Ex-Campaign Director Rocks Graham Platner on Eve of Maine Senate Primary

Genevieve McDonald, who briefly ran Platner's campaign, published damaging allegations in The Washington Post hours before Democrats in Maine, Nevada and South Carolina head to the polls.

Jun 9 3 min read
Politics
Supreme Court Reinstates Alabama's Contested Congressional Map for 2026

The justices' unsigned emergency order lets Alabama use a map a lower court found intentionally diluted Black votes, drawing a sharp dissent from the court's three liberals.

Jun 8 3 min read
World
Kurti's Party Wins Kosovo's Third Election in 18 Months, but Falls Short of Majority

Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje took about 43% of the vote on record-low turnout, leaving the Balkan nation still mired in the political deadlock that has stalled its push toward the EU and NATO.

Jun 7 2 min read
World
Neo-Nazi Candidate Reaches Mayoral Runoff in German Town, Breaking Post-War Taboo

For the first time since World War II, a member of a neo-Nazi party has advanced to a mayoral runoff in Germany, raising concerns about the far-right's growing influence in eastern regions.

Jun 7 3 min read
Top News
Democratic Senate Candidate in Maine Faces Allegations of Disturbing Behavior

Multiple women describe Graham Platner as charming but intimidating, raising questions about his viability in crucial Senate race.

Jun 4 2 min read
World
Guinea Votes in First Parliamentary Elections Since 2021 Coup, but Low Turnout Fuels 'Electoral Farce' Claims

Nearly 7 million Guineans were called to choose a new National Assembly and local councils in a ballot meant to complete the return to constitutional rule under Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya — but many stayed home.

Jun 2 3 min read
World
Ethiopia Votes With Abiy Ahmed's Party Poised for Landslide as Tigray Sits Out

Voters chose among 547 parliamentary seats in a contest critics call a foregone conclusion, with ongoing conflict barring the entire Tigray region from the ballot.

Jun 2 3 min read
Top News
Trump Pushes Citizenship Lists Despite Administration's Own Doubts

President seeks state-by-state voter eligibility lists to combat virtually nonexistent noncitizen voting, even as Justice Department acknowledges they would be unreliable.

May 24 3 min read
Politics
IRS Agrees to Drop All Audits of Trump and His Family Under Justice Department Deal

The agreement ends a contentious chapter involving tax investigations that had persisted through multiple election cycles.

May 19 2 min read
Politics
Trump's Approval Rating Hits Second-Term Low as He Weighs in on Primary Elections

The president faces declining public support while actively campaigning for preferred candidates in key races across multiple states.

May 19 2 min read
Politics
Virginia Democrats Scramble After Court Strikes Down Redistricting Map

Friday's court ruling has ended some Democratic House candidacies and pushed others into much tougher races ahead of upcoming elections.

May 10 3 min read
Top News
Virginia Democrats Scramble to Salvage Campaigns After Court Strikes Down Election Map

Surprise redistricting ruling forces some Democratic candidates to abandon races while pushing others into significantly more competitive districts.

May 10 2 min read
Top News
Two Supreme Court Rulings Unleash Era of Perpetual Redistricting Across America

Four states are considering new electoral maps in coming weeks, with another dozen potentially joining the redistricting fray next year.

May 9 3 min read
World
Britain's Electoral System Faces Strain as Insurgent Parties Surge at Polls

Reform U.K. and other parties challenge traditional two-party dominance, raising questions about whether the British system can adapt to multiparty democracy.

May 9 2 min read
Top News
Republicans Charge Ahead in Redistricting Race, Gaining Edge on Midterm House Map

GOP shows new bullishness after months of growing midterm fears as four states consider drawing new maps in coming weeks.

May 9 2 min read
World
Farage Reform UK Surges Past 600 Seats, Shattering Britain's Two-Party System

Reform took every Labour-held seat in Tameside and Wigan as the governing party shed more than 200 councillors, leaving Keir Starmer fighting to hold his job and Sir John Curtice declaring the British two-party system broken.

May 8 3 min read
Top News
Trump's Indiana Victory Shows His Enduring Grip on Core Republican Supporters

Despite low approval ratings and MAGA divisions, the president successfully turned out party loyalists to help oust Republican state lawmakers who had crossed him.

May 6 3 min read
World
Modi's West Bengal Victory Brings India Closer to Opposition-Free Rule

Prime Minister's triumph in state elections marks significant step toward his long-held goal of eliminating political opposition across India.

May 5 2 min read
Top News
Most Trump-Backed Challengers Defeat Indiana Republicans Who Opposed Redistricting Push

President endorsed primary opponents against seven GOP lawmakers who bucked his redistricting efforts. At least five Trump candidates won their races.

May 5 2 min read
World
Modi's West Bengal Victory Moves India Closer to Opposition-Free Rule

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's triumph in state elections eliminates another major opposition stronghold, advancing his vision of unchallenged governance.

May 5 3 min read
World
India's State Elections Set to Reshape National Political Balance After Modi's Parliamentary Setback

Vote counting begins Monday for 154 million voters across four states, with results determining upper chamber control and BJP expansion limits.

May 3 3 min read
World
India's State Elections Set to Reshape National Political Landscape

Over 154 million voters participated in contests across four states that could determine the balance of power in Parliament's upper chamber ahead of 2029 national elections.

May 3 3 min read
Top News
Supreme Court Ruling Demands Proof of 'Intentional' Racial Disadvantage in Voting Rights Cases

The Court's decision raises the bar for proving voting discrimination, with dissenting justices calling the new standard "well-nigh impossible" to meet.

May 3 2 min read
Politics
Delayed Louisiana Primaries Trigger Voter Confusion After Supreme Court Ruling

First day of early voting reveals widespread bewilderment following last-minute legal changes to election procedures.

May 2 3 min read
Top News
Trump's Electoral Retribution Campaign Targets Republican Primary Challengers This Month

The president is backing primary challengers against GOP lawmakers who opposed him, setting up high-stakes intraparty battles that could reshape the Republican Party.

May 2 3 min read
Top News
Louisiana Delays House Primary Election After Supreme Court Strikes Down Congressional Map

Secretary of state suspends House primary following court ruling that state's congressional districts are unconstitutional, while Senate primary proceeds.

Apr 30 3 min read
Top News
Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling Sparks New Era of Redistricting Wars Nationwide

Expected flood of new congressional maps likely to produce fewer competitive districts and more polarized politics across the country.

Apr 30 3 min read
Politics
Democrats Regret Independent Redistricting Commissions After Supreme Court Ruling

Party officials acknowledge that decade-old reform efforts to create nonpartisan map-drawing could now hinder their ability to compete with Republican gerrymandering.

Apr 30 3 min read
Top News
Democrats Score Major Virginia Redistricting Victory in Direct Challenge to Trump

Virginia voters approve constitutional amendment allowing partisan gerrymandering, with Democrats openly admitting to using extreme measures against Trump administration.

Apr 22 3 min read
Top News
Virginia Election Turnout Plummets as Redistricting Vote Shows Significant Decline

In-person voting on Tuesday trails far behind last year's record-setting gubernatorial race, raising concerns about voter engagement in off-year elections.

Apr 21 3 min read
Politics
Virginia Joins National Popular Vote Compact, Bringing Movement to 222 Electoral Votes — 48 Short of Activation

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the legislation Monday, making Virginia the 19th jurisdiction in the interstate agreement to award presidential electoral votes to the nationwide popular vote winner, regardless of how Virginians vote.

Apr 15 5 min read
World
Hungary's Viktor Orbán Faces Political Peril as Country Votes in Closely Watched Elections

The populist prime minister's potential downfall could have far-reaching implications for global populism and European politics.

Apr 12 3 min read
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Politics
23 States Sue Trump Over Mail Voting Executive Order, Calling It Unconstitutional Power Grab

Led by California, a coalition of Democratic attorneys general filed suit in federal court to block the order that would restrict USPS mail ballot distribution ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Apr 12 5 min read
Politics
Democrats Keep Outrunning 2024 Margins in Early Elections, Setting Up Fight for 9 Senate Seats

From Wisconsin to Georgia, Democrats are running well ahead of their 2024 baselines, with military discontent and college voter suppression efforts emerging as new variables in the midterm race.

Apr 10 4 min read
Politics
Liberals Win Wisconsin Supreme Court Seat, Expanding Majority to 5-2 Through 2030

Judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative Maria Lazar by more than 20 points, giving progressives an unassailable majority on the court for the next four years.

Apr 10 4 min read
Politics
SAVE Act Stalls in Senate as Republicans Fall Short of 60 Votes Needed to Pass Voter ID Bill

The citizenship documentation requirement sailed through the House but cannot overcome a Democratic filibuster — and election officials warn it would disenfranchise millions before the 2026 midterms.

Apr 9 5 min read
Top News
Dramatic Election Shifts Show Republican Support Declining Across Key Swing States

Georgia and Wisconsin results reveal significant leftward movement in traditionally conservative districts, with Democrats making unexpected gains despite GOP victories.

Apr 8 3 min read
Business
Prediction Markets Face Reality Check as Election Season Approaches

Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket gain attention from investors and political observers, but experts warn the reality is more complex than promised.

Apr 2 3 min read
Politics
2026 Midterm Primaries Deliver Surprises: Trump Endorsee Loses by 23 Votes in North Carolina

Democrats seized on anti-war sentiment as a key issue, while unexpected Republican primary losses in key states signal voter unease even within the president's own party.

Apr 2 4 min read
Top News
Trump Signs Executive Order Seeking Federal Control of Mail-In Voting

Election experts and Democratic officials call the order legally invalid as Arizona and Oregon pledge immediate court challenges.

Mar 31 3 min read
Politics
Trump Tells GOP the SAVE Act Will 'Guarantee the Midterms' as Voter ID Bill Threatens to Disenfranchise 21 Million Americans

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would require in-person documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and end mail-in ballots — but faces a 60-vote Senate threshold that Republican leadership says it cannot clear.

Mar 29 4 min read

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