Welcome to Bad News Weekly, your rundown of key attacks on voting rights and independent elections across the country – it’s a way to keep up with what the opponents of democracy are up to. We’ll highlight some of the worst anti-voter efforts, with a spotlight on the South, the original frontline in the fight for voting rights, and still its fiercest.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The federal government’s secretive and unlawful collection and consolidation of Americans’ personal data is a clear example of the constitutional crisis we are living through.” – Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, on the organization’s lawsuit to try to block the Trump regime’s “interagency database” of voter data.
NOTABLE TRENDS
DOJ Allowed to Continue Effort to Seek Voter Data in South Carolina: Circuit Court Judge Daniel Coble refused to temporarily block the South Carolina Election Commission from sharing voter data with the Department of Justice (DOJ). State and federal officials, however, are still working out the details for security safeguards and how the data will be transmitted with state election commission officials testifying that they will not transfer the data without a memorandum of understanding. In his decision, Judge Coble noted that he has “grave concerns about federal overreach and encroachment over this State’s sovereignty.”
STATE ACTIVITY
California • Ballots Mailed On Election Day May Not Be Counted Due to New USPS Policy: At a news event, state Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber warned voters that mail ballots that are put in mailboxes on November 4, Election Day, may not be counted in many parts of the state due to US Postal Service collecting mail the next day. Mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted. The USPS change affects voters who live 50 miles or more from six regional mail processing facilities in Los Angeles, Bell Gardens, San Diego, Santa Clarita, Richmond, and West Sacramento, which affects large parts of the state, including Bakersfield, the Central Valley, the Central Coast, and Palm Springs. “This is going to be a significant change for any voters who are outside of these circles that have recently voted by mail on election days,” said elections expert Paul Mitchell.
Hawaii Elections Commission Called for Statewide Audit of the 2024 Election: After a recent investigation of Kaua’i County’s 2024 election that found the state elections office reported a vote count that was significantly higher than the number of ballots recorded by county officials, the Hawaii Elections Commission initially voted to ask the legislature to direct the state auditor to audit the county’s election before expanding it to the entire state. It’s unclear what comes next after the commission’s vote since the state legislature is not set to be in session until January. The commission also voted to ask the legislature to consider returning the state to one-day, in-person voting.
ANTI-VOTING GROUP ACTIVITY
EIN Continues Calling for Comments to Election Assistance Commission In Support of Proof of Citizenship Requirement: The Election Integrity Network (EIN) continued to call on people to comment to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in support of America First Legal’s petition to create a rule requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. According to the EAC’s website, the petition has received over 15,000 comments, as of October 2, and the comment period ends on October 20. Learn more and how you can submit a comment here.
The worst obstacle voters face in support of democracy is disillusionment and the fear that Trump's tactics will work. Fighting is a risky practice, but once engaged, you are expected to give it all you've got to win. Our chunk of the 91 million registered voters who sat out the 2024 election must be mobilized to overwhelm the numbers at the polls. Tyranny is no longer a possibility; it is a probability. Troops in the streets and a madman guiding them from the White House is a reality we cannot allow to happen. No matter how much hatred and violence Trump generates, we are still a civil society that believes in our laws and dares to defend our way of life. The people have the greater voice and the moral purpose as a guide. JOIN THE DEMONSTRATIONS ON OCTOBER 18TH and begin the process to take the people's house back.