elections7.915 min read
Georgia Election Board Director Bypasses Chair to Demand Federal Ban on Voting Machines
4 days ago•Source: Votebeat
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3.09 min•5 days ago
Brazil’s October 4 Vote Ends in Dead Heat, Setting Stage for October 25 Runoff
Brazil’s first-round presidential election on October 4, 2026, resulted in a deadlock between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, forcing a runoff on October 25. Neither candidate secured the required majority, with polls showing a narrowing lead for Lula. The outcome has global implications, as a Bolsonaro victory would align Brazil with US-led right-wing blocs, while a Lula win preserves regional autonomy. Markets reacted to the uncertainty, with prediction markets favoring Bolsonaro despite Lula’s slight polling edge.
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Democrats widen lead in Georgia and North Carolina Senate races as midterms near
Democratic candidates are expanding their leads in the Georgia and North Carolina Senate races, according to Daily Kos. The outlet notes that these shifts contribute to a broader trend of Republican polling struggles ahead of the 2026 midterms. Additionally, the article highlights the legal and political recognition of Natalie Harp, who is now involved in litigation alongside President Trump.
South Dakota revamps citizenship-proof notices after voting-rights lawsuit
A federal judge denied emergency relief in a suit challenging South Dakota's new proof-of-citizenship registration system after the state replaced an auto-generated, misleading notice with separate templates and corrected notices for federal-only voters; the changes moot the injunction request for now, though the case continues over due-process claims.
Supreme Court Leaves Mail-In Voting Rules Untouched for 2026 Midterms
After the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s bid to impose new USPS mail‑in ballot rules before the November 2026 midterms, nothing changes for voters: states will continue with existing mail‑in voting practices. The piece explains why Trump pushed restrictions, how mail‑in voting varies by state (all‑mail in some states, requires an excuse in others), what the USPS rule would have required (envelope logos, barcodes, and a voter list portal), and offers practical guidance: check your state’s rules and deadlines, request ballots early, sign and track your ballot, consider dropping off ballots, and if needed, vote in person and present your mail ballot for cancellation or spoilage.
NH Senate showdown: Pappas to face Sununu in November
Democrat Chris Pappas won the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire to challenge Republican John E. Sununu in the November U.S. Senate race for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Sununu defeated Scott Brown in the GOP primary, setting up a high-stakes contest that could shape the Senate’s balance. The race is viewed as pivotal, with Cook Political Report rating it leaning Democrat and Republicans aiming to flip the Granite State. The article also notes other New Hampshire primary results, including Shaheen’s daughter’s bid for Congress and Gov. Kelly Ayotte seeking reelection.
Supreme Court Sets Noon Deadline in Michigan Citizenship-Voting Ballot Fight
The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Michigan officials to respond by noon today to Americans for Citizen Voting's emergency bid to review the state’s exclusion of its proposed constitutional amendment requiring citizenship proof and photo ID to vote from the November ballot, a decision reached after a 2-2 Board of State Canvassers vote and a signature check that found insufficient valid signatures, despite the group collecting more than 700,000 signatures and vowing to pursue every legal avenue.
GOP and DOJ urge SCOTUS to curb NVRA safeguards against late-election purges
The RNC and Trump’s DOJ ask the Supreme Court to narrowly interpret the National Voter Registration Act to allow citizenship-based purges during the 90‑day pre-election window, arguing noncitizens aren’t “ineligible voters.” The case centers on Arizona laws and a consent decree, revealing a split among Arizona officials and potentially nationwide impact on how states purge voter rolls before elections.
Trump’s SC Senate pick faces uphill battle as new poll hints at a swing seat
Trump-backed Darline Graham’s South Carolina Senate bid appears precarious: despite winning a GOP runoff with Trump’s endorsement and PAC money, a recent internal poll shows Democrat Annie Andrews leading in the general election in a state that typically leans red; Ralph Norman’s refusal to endorse Graham and a weak favorability rating for Graham, plus a potential write-in, could make the race more competitive in 2026.
Texas swing county sparks protests as polling sites are slashed before the midterms
In Texas' Tarrant County, residents packed hearings as GOP commissioners voted 3-2 to cut polling sites from 316 in 2022 to 224 for November, prompting hours of testimony and arrests; opponents say the plan would disenfranchise voters—especially communities of color and seniors—while supporters say it will streamline resources amid a crowded election calendar.
Texas’s Suspense List: What It Is and How to Verify Your Address
Texas’s suspense list is an address-verification tool used by county registrars to confirm voters’ current residences; being on it doesn’t suspend voting rights. About 1.2 million of Texas’s 18 million registered voters are on the list. To stay eligible, update your address by Oct. 5 via VoteTexas.gov, a voter registration form, or at the polls. The list is created when a registration certificate is undeliverable, a jury summons is undeliverable, or registrars have information you no longer live at the listed address. If you moved, you may cast a limited ballot in some counties or update your address at the polling place; contact your registrar with questions.
GOP bets on new San Antonio district to shore up House majority
Republicans are counting on Texas’ new San Antonio-area 35th Congressional District to help preserve a narrow House majority, with Speaker Mike Johnson and candidate Carlos De La Cruz touring the district as they trumpet demographic shifts toward the GOP; Democrats counter that the race is competitive and point to other contests where they see opportunities amid redistricting and Trump-era gains shaping the map.