Federal court rules Kansas legislators tried to suppress speech with 2021 advance voting law. This is a pretty significant ruling, and it really highlights the ongoing battle surrounding voting rights and access. The core of the matter revolves around a law, House Bill 2332, passed in 2021, which sought to restrict how advance mail ballot applications were distributed in Kansas. The court found that the motivations behind this law went beyond simply ensuring fair elections and veered into the realm of suppressing free speech.
Specifically, the law was aimed at banning non-Kansas residents or businesses from sending out advance mail ballot applications to voters.… Continue reading
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is threatening legal action against the North Carolina Board of Elections due to a plan to purge almost 100,000 voters from the rolls, citing violations of the National Voter Registration Act. This decision follows a state board vote, under a new Republican majority, requiring voters without specific identification numbers to cast provisional ballots. The DNC alleges the policy is unconstitutional and politically motivated, aiming to challenge the move in court. Furthermore, North Carolina’s electoral landscape is already under scrutiny, as a federal trial addresses challenges to the state’s 2020 redistricting maps, which voting rights groups claim were gerrymandered to diminish minority voting power.
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The NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, has uninvited President Trump from its annual convention—a first in its 116-year history. This unprecedented decision stems from the President’s actions undermining voting rights, civil rights protections, and democratic institutions. The NAACP cites Trump’s executive orders, use of military force against civilians, and efforts to enrich himself as key reasons for the exclusion. The organization views these actions as direct attacks on democracy and civil rights, incompatible with the NAACP’s mission. This decision, the NAACP emphasizes, is not politically partisan but rather a principled stand against assaults on fundamental American values.
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The EU Council is slated to discuss the potential removal of Hungary’s voting rights on May 27th, a move that has sparked considerable debate and strong opinions across the political spectrum. This impending decision represents a significant moment for the EU, testing the very foundations of its decision-making processes and its ability to address internal challenges effectively.
The urgency of this discussion stems from Hungary’s increasingly strained relationship with the EU. Many believe Hungary’s actions, perceived as undermining EU values and interests, warrant such drastic measures. There’s a widespread feeling that Hungary’s current government is actively sabotaging EU-wide initiatives and prioritizing its own interests, sometimes at odds with the collective good.… Continue reading
The Republican Party is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to restrict voting access, potentially culminating in a one-party state. Central to this is the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act,” requiring stringent proof of citizenship for voter registration, and a presidential executive order mandating similar measures and allowing federal oversight of state voter rolls. A federal judge partially blocked the executive order, citing separation of powers, but the SAVE Act remains a significant threat, potentially disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. The Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, holds the ultimate power to determine the constitutionality of these measures.
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The House passed the “SAVE” Act, a restrictive voting bill requiring in-person proof of citizenship for voter registration, a measure projected to disenfranchise millions, particularly women, minorities, and rural residents. The bill’s passage was along party lines, with four Democrats joining Republicans in support. While framed as combating non-citizen voting, critics argue it disproportionately impacts eligible voters lacking readily available citizenship documentation. The bill’s future remains uncertain, facing an uphill battle in the Senate where a filibuster is anticipated.
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A lawsuit filed by the Democratic Party challenges President Trump’s executive order aiming to seize control of election administration from states. The Democrats argue the order is unconstitutional, exceeding the President’s authority and potentially disenfranchising voters. The order seeks to restrict mail-in voting, control the Election Assistance Commission, and mandate stricter voter registration requirements. Legal experts warn the order could significantly disrupt elections and suppress voter turnout. The lawsuit alleges the order stems from Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud.
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Estonia’s Riigikogu passed a constitutional amendment, with 93 votes in favor and 7 against, revoking voting rights in local elections for Russian and Belarusian citizens. While stateless residents may vote in this year’s October elections, this privilege will be removed after the next election cycle. The amendment, passed via an expedited process, also removes voting rights for citizens of NATO member states, leaving only Estonian and EU citizens eligible to vote in future local elections. This change follows a proposed amendment to limit voting rights for third-country nationals, passed with 55 votes.
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President Trump’s new executive order, imposing a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration and threatening penalties for states counting late ballots, has sparked immediate backlash from Democrats and voting rights advocates. Legal experts deem the order unlawful, an abuse of executive power potentially disenfranchising millions of voters, and a blatant attempt to reshape election administration. The ACLU and other prominent legal groups have pledged to challenge the order in court, anticipating extensive legal battles. Critics argue the order is an unconstitutional power grab designed to undermine the 2026 midterm elections.
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President Trump’s sweeping executive order seeks to dramatically expand federal control over elections, potentially disenfranchising millions of voters. The order attempts to restrict voter registration, punish states allowing late-arriving ballots, and utilize federal databases to review state voter rolls, ostensibly to combat rare instances of non-citizen voting. This action is expected to face immediate legal challenges, with several Democratic officials already vowing to sue. The order also directs changes to voter registration procedures and voting system certifications, significantly altering the EAC’s role. Critics argue the order is a politically motivated attempt to suppress voter turnout.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker