Welcome to Fair Elections Alert, your rundown of key attacks against voting rights and independent elections across the country over the past week. It’s a way to keep up with what the opponents of democracy are focused on. We’ll highlight critical updates you need to be aware of, with a spotlight on the South, the original frontline in the fight for voting rights.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Quote of the Week
“Nobody has said our maps are illegal, and the speed and urgency that Republicans have moved to redraw maps to lock-in single-party rule, indefinitely, shows why the Voting Rights Act was needed in the first place.” – Georgia House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley (D) on Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) call for a special session to redraw the state’s political maps.
NOTABLE TRENDS
Southern States Rushing to Redraw Maps Post-Callais Decision:
Alabama: the US Supreme Court ruled that the state can use its 2023 congressional map, which was previously struck down as racially discriminatory, for this year’s midterms. Gov. Kay Ivey (R) then announced a special primary election for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional districts will take place on August 11 using the 2023 congressional map. The state’s May 19 primary will still happen as scheduled, but votes in congressional races for those four districts will be voided after the special primary according to Secretary of State Wes Allen (R).
Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) called for a June 17 special session to redraw the maps for state Senate and House, Congressional districts, and “any other state office elected by district” for the 2028 elections. In\
Louisiana: The state Senate passed SB 121 to eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black districts.
South Carolina: Gov. Henry McMaster (R) called a special session beginning Friday morning for state lawmakers to consider redistricting ahead of the midterms.
Trump Refused to Rule Out Deploying Troops to the Polls: When asked by a reporter earlier this week whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to voting locations in November, President Trump did not rule it out, responding, “Well you know what. I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections. We have to have honest elections.” Trump’s comments come as he has said he would like Republicans to “take over” voting and Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General, has defended the idea of sending ICE to the polls.
Trump Administration Building National Voter List: White House officials have held discussions in recent weeks with the Justice Department, postmaster general, and Heather Honey, a prominent figure in the Election Integrity Network and a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on creating a national voter list to implement President Trump’s March 31 executive order.
The order directed DHS to work with the Social Security Administration to create lists of verified US citizens eligible to vote in each state and USPS to only send mail ballots to voters on approved lists.
Separately, the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel released a legal opinion justifying its nationwide collection of voter data and arguing that federal election laws support the efforts, despite several federal courts ruling otherwise.
STATE ACTIVITY
Wisconsin FBI Agents Attempted to Interview Milwaukee County Elections Director: According to Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson, FBI agents visited the home of Milwaukee County elections directors Michelle Hawley and left a business card after attempting to contact her. The FBI was allegedly interested in 180,000 absentee ballots cast during the 2020 presidential election that reportedly have not yet been destroyed.
A statement from Christenson said, “It is unfortunate that the FBI chose to visit the private residence of Milwaukee County’s Elections Director rather than contact the Election Commission’s office directly.”
ANTI-VOTING GROUP ACTIVITY
Election Integrity Network Released “Model Election Laws Handbook”, A “Roadmap” For State Lawmakers, Election Administrators, and Their Volunteers: The Election Integrity Network (EIN) published its “Model Election Laws Handbook”, a “comprehensive guide” of policy recommendations with over 25 model election laws that are customizable for different jurisdictions and designed for state lawmakers, election officials, and their volunteers to use.
Cleta Mitchell, founder and chair of EIN, stated that the “The Handbook moves from principles to action. It is a roadmap for election statutes and procedures.” The model policies are based on the 10 “principles” from EIN’s “US Citizens Elections Bill of Rights,” which was released by Mitchell in December 2024.
Republicans are accepting fascist tyranny over our constitutional government. The country was warned that Trump is unfit to be president, but should have been warned that he is an ideal tyrant instead. The Republican Party is the betrayal America failed to anticipate. We thought being Americans and lovers of liberty would be enough. We didn't think Republicans would come to admire a man with a corroded soul. We have one last battle we must win to ensure our liberty and rid the nation of the Republican Party. Supporting Trump's violence to remain in power is the ultimate betrayal. November 3rd will be the day we start to repair what's left of America, or decide on a response to Trump's violence. Freedom doesn't come cheap.