The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 27, 2026

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WASHINTON, DC — Availability of early voting has expanded since 2000, with 97% of the U.S. population now having access to early in-person voting or mail-in ballots.  What are the advantages of voting early?

According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, almost two-thirds of Americans voted early in 2024, and as of Oct. 26th, 28.9 million midterm ballots had already been cast, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. 

Voting by mail is expected to drop in 2026 due to the Trump administration’s now-blocked U.S. Postal Service directive to verify mail-in voter eligibility.  Ballot drop boxes remain an option in 29 states and DC.

In-person early voting has surged in 2026.  It allows voters flexibility to work around their schedules, reduces the chance of having to wait in line, and some states even allow same day voter registration during early voting.  If you forget information on your mail-in ballot, such as a driver’s license number, voting early may allow you to “cure” your mistake with election officials to make sure your ballot counts.  

For communities of color, voting early may avoid the voter suppression drama of far right poll watchers, and the administration’s not-yet-denied possibility of federal agents at the polls.   

We’ve linked to a schedule of state early voting deadlines at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

Center for Election Innovation and Research – The Expansion of Voting Before Election Day, 2000-2026
University of Florida Election Lab – 2026 Early Voting
National Conference of State Legislators –  Ballot Drop Box Laws
Vote.org – Early Voting Calendar – See the Dates for Your State
Brennan Center for Justice – A Guide to Early Voting
NPR – What’s behind the early voting surge? It’s more than voter enthusiasm, expert says 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – Americans Like Voting Early, and Other Lessons from the 2024 Election U.S. Election Assistance Commission Follow Up Report

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State 

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MailInVoting #EarlyVoting #2026Midterms

The post Voting Early Can Offer Flexibility, More Certainty, and Avoiding the Possible Intimidating Presence of Federal Agents and Poll Watchers on Election Day appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 26, 2026

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CONCORD, NH — In an unsigned order, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned two lower courts which had blocked enforcement of New Hampshire’s new law removing student IDs for voting. The decision cited the Purcell Principle, as changing rules too close to the election.

House Bill 323 removed student photo IDs, used as voter ID since 2012 with few issues, as a form of identification for obtaining a ballot, but not as an alternative form of ID for registering. The federal district court issued a narrow ruling barring the state from enforcing the law, but said the state had not violated the U.S. Constitution in passing it. The 1st Circuit concurred and the state appealed.

Oct. 22, the U.S. Supreme Court, quoted an earlier case using the Purcell principle: “This Court has repeatedly emphasized that lower federal courts should ordinarily not alter the election rules on the eve of an election.” UNQUOTE. It ordered a preliminary injunction pending a full appeal in the 1st Circuit.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, pointing out that student IDs were previously allowed, and that the district court’s ruling was designed to prevent confusion, not contribute to it.

Identification for students or any voter is now limited to a driver’s license, passport, non-driver ID, military ID, or state voter ID card.

We have the decision and the dissent at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

U.S. Supreme Court –  SCANLAN v. COALITION FOR OPEN DEMOCRACY
SCOTUSBlog – Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to restrict use of student IDs in voting
New Hampshire Bulletin – Citing security, Republicans push to exclude student ID cards from voting verification
NH Legislature – Text of House Bill 323

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – (January) New Hampshire Legislators Make Yet Another Attempt at Keeping Students from Voting, Further Tightening Voter ID Regulations
American Democracy Minute – (October) With Less Than a Month Before the Election, NH Students Still Don’t Know Whether They Can Use Their Student Photo IDs to Register and Vote

Groups Taking Action:

Coalition for Open Democracy, ACLU NH

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #StudentID #VoterSuppression #NewHampshire #USSupremeCourt #SCOTUS

The post U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Lower Courts, Citing Proximity to the Election, to Allow NH to Ban Use of Student IDs for Voting appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 23, 2026

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WASHINGTON, DC — In a dystopian moment, three U.S. senators have sent a letter to the U.S. attorney general asking for the Department of Justice to “reaffirm its election non-interference policy,” and, “forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections.”  

In the letter dated October 15th, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse reminded Attorney General Todd Blanche that in Senate testimony, FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI would comply with the Department’s Justice Manual and not seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material.  But they also noted that DOJ had not responded to a September 1st letter from Senator Elissa Slotkin asking whether, QUOTE,  “DOJ or the FBI would send armed federal agents to the polls or unlawfully seize election materials of any kind during an active election,” UNQUOTE. 

After recounting federal statutes and passages in DOJ’s Justice Manual and the Election Crimes Manual, the senators asked Blanche to confirm that DOJ, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service would not remove ballots or voting machines. Nor would DOJ approve the Department of Homeland Security from taking similar actions.  In July, Blanche said only that he would, QUOTE, “Follow the law,” but didn’t rule out those actions. 

We have the senators’ letter at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse & Dick Durban – Letter to U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche on DOJ Election Interference
Axios – Blanche sidesteps questions on federal agents at polls
U.S. Senate – Testimony of FBI Director Kash Patel
U.S. Senate – Confirmation Testimony of Then Assistant AG Todd Blanche 

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – With USPS Blocked from Mail-In Voter Verification, Pro-Democracy Groups Go to Court to Keep Armed Federal Agents Out of Polling Places

American Democracy Minute – Midterm Madness Week:  ICE at Polling Places?  The Administration Sends Mixed Messages; Some States are Advancing Laws to Limit or Prohibit It.

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State 

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #VoterSuppression #VoterIntimidation #2026Midterms #FBI #DOJ

The post In a Dystopian Moment, U.S. Senators Call on U.S. DOJ to ‘Forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections’ appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 22, 2026

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LOS ANGELES, CA — There are more developments in the Trump administration’s arrests of noncitizens allegedly registered to vote in California.  The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal court to set aside mail-in ballots from voters matching names on DOJ’s list of 20,000 alleged registered noncitizens.

The Los Angeles Times reports that in court appearances Oct. 19th, several of the green card  holders arrested expressed confusion, saying they didn’t recall ever having registered to vote.  Another family wondered whether suspect Omar Muñoz may have been confused with younger relatives with the same name who are legally registered to vote.

Alarmingly, October 15th, DOJ asked the U.S. District Court for Central California to issue an injunction enjoining California from tabulating mail-in ballots matching the names of the 20,000 individuals on DOJ’s list. California’s mail ballots have already been mailed. 

Past experience suggests it’s likely to disenfranchise eligible voters. 

The Center for Election Innovation & Research found QUOTE, “Routine investigation by state officials found that the vast majority of flagged records belonged to citizens, with only a small number belonging to possible noncitizens who had registered to vote or cast a ballot.”  The Center’s review of noncitizen registrants identified using the federal SAVE database, found, QUOTE, “Initial claims about noncitizen registrations based on SAVE are frequently walked back after further review.”  

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

Los Angeles Times – California residents accused by feds of voter fraud react with shock, confusion and anger
Center for Election Innovation & Research – Claims of Noncitizen Registration or Voting: Analysis and Tracker
NPR – (2019) Some Noncitizens Do Wind Up Registered To Vote, But Usually Not On Purpose 
U.S. District Court for Central California – DOJ Request to Block California from Counting Mail-In Ballots from Voters Matching Its Flagged List of 20,000 Names

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – Trump DOJ Escalates Fight with California Over Noncitizen Voters, Arrests 28 Green Card Holders Alleged to Have Registered to Vote or Have Voted

American Democracy Minute – Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.

CalMatters – ‘Borders on the absurd.’ California fights Trump lawsuit to set aside 20,000 ballots

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State 

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #California #NoncitizenVoters #TrumpDOJ 

The post Many Alleged Noncitizen Voters Arrested in CA Sweep Don’t Recall Registering; DOJ Asks Court to Stop CA from Counting Ballots from Voters on Its Suspect List appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 21, 2026

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LOS ANGELES, CA — The Department of Justice had already sued the State of California when the state did not cooperate with DOJ’s 48-hour deadline to verify 20,000 registered voters alleged to be noncitizens.  Oct. 19th, DOJ escalated the confrontation by announcing the arrests of 28 green card holders, alleging they were registered to vote or had voted. Eleven have been charged.

The 28 came from all four of California’s U.S. judicial districts, and included legal residents from 15 countries.   In a press conference announcement, Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said, “It’s about preventing voter fraud that cancels out the votes of U.S. citizens. Enforcing federal law increases the integrity of elections,” UNQUOTE.  

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said most were identified by comparing publicly-available voting records with citizenship application forms which asked whether the applicant had ever registered or voted.  

Essayli boasted, “Today’s arrests prove what we have been saying.” But state officials were more guarded.   In a separate press conference later that day, California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized that the violations, if proved, were distributed around California, and amounted to 0.0001% of California’s 23 million voters, not the widespread abuse alleged by the Trump administration. 

We’ve linked to the local reporting and DOJ’s press conference at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources

U.S. Department of Justice – Justice Department Charges 28 Foreign Nationals in California for Election Crimes
KCRA 3 – U.S. Justice Department Press Conference
CalMatters – Federal prosecutors charge 28 California green card holders with voting violations
ABC7 / AP – Justice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting alleged noncitizen voters
American Bar Association – Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth, Again

Brennan Center for Justice – Noncitizen Voting: The Missing Millions

Related ADM Reports:

American Democracy Minute – Having Failed to Compel California to Turn Over Its Voter Records, DOJ Demanded the State Find Its Own Noncitizen Registered Voters – In 48 Hours.

American Democracy Minute – In State of the Union Speech, Trump Pushes ‘SAVE America Act’, Voter ID, Proof of Citizenship and Ending Mail-In Ballots; Repeats Debunked Noncitizen Voting Claims

Groups Taking Action:

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State 

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NoncitizenVoting #California #TrumpDOJ #RobBonta

The post Trump DOJ Escalates Fight with California Over Noncitizen Voters, Arrests 28 Green Card Holders Alleged to Have Registered to Vote or Have Voted appeared first on American Democracy Minute.