Politics
Federal Judge Rules Law Banning Noncitizen Voting Unconstitutional; DOJ Moves to Appeal
Judge David Leibowitz in Miami wrote that Congress lacked the power to pass the federal statute, which leaves voter qualifications to the states.
Topic
Elections
65 stories from Planck Standard. Latest: October 4, 2026.
PoliticsSupreme Court Lets Trump Revive the SAVE Citizenship Database for Voter Roll Checks
In a 6-3 emergency order, the justices lifted a ruling that found the expanded system broke federal privacy laws. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned eligible voters could be burdened or disenfranchised.
WorldThe 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.
WatchPoliticsKash 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.
PoliticsThe 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.
WatchPoliticsCampaigns 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.
PoliticsA 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.
- 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.
WorldThe 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.
PoliticsTrump 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.'
Politics25 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.
WorldCameroon'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.'
WorldNicaragua'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.'
WatchPoliticsTrump 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.
PoliticsTrump 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.
PoliticsJustice 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.
PoliticsA 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.
PoliticsSupreme 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.
PoliticsFederal 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.'
PoliticsSupreme 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.
WorldSouth 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.
PoliticsBombshell 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.
PoliticsSupreme 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.
WorldKurti'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.
- 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.
Top NewsDemocratic 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.
WorldGuinea 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.
WorldEthiopia 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.
Top NewsTrump 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.
PoliticsIRS 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.
PoliticsTrump'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.
- 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.
Top NewsVirginia 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.
- 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.
WorldBritain'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.
- 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.
WorldFarage 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.
- 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.
WorldModi'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.
Top NewsMost 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.
WorldModi'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.
WorldIndia'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.
- 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.
Top NewsSupreme 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.
PoliticsDelayed 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.
Top NewsTrump'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.
Top NewsLouisiana 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.
- 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.
PoliticsDemocrats 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.
Top NewsDemocrats 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.
Top NewsVirginia 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.
PoliticsVirginia 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.
WorldHungary'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.
WatchPolitics23 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.
- 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.
PoliticsLiberals 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.
PoliticsSAVE 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.
Top NewsDramatic 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.
BusinessPrediction 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.
- 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.
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