Fair Count

brookings.eduPlease Discuss ... the shifting map of the 2026 midterm elections | BrookingsIn the debut episode of Please Discuss, Brookings scholar E.J. Dionne moderates a conversation about how changes to voting could have consequences for the 2026 midterm election landscape. Brookings scholars Elaine Kamarck, Elena Patel, and Scott Anders...

19h

How will mail delays, mid-decade redistricting, and new legal battles shape the 2026 midterm elections? This @BrookingsInst discussion maps the risks—from doubled late-ballot rejections to "dummy-manders" and election-day disinformation. 🎧Listen here: https://bit.ly/4yl16tq

npr.orgFederal agents may have broken state laws in voter fraud hunt, whistleblower claimsFederal agents may have broken state laws after the Department of Homeland Security began surging personnel for what it called the Unlawful Voter Initiative, a federal whistleblower alleges.

19h

Federal agents may have violated state law during a DHS voter fraud crackdown, a whistleblower alleges. Agents reportedly entered personal data into state websites—possibly making false attestations—to access individual voter records. More: https://n.pr/4AdMuy9

npr.orgTrump officials cut political interference ban after unusual Census Bureau reportAfter the Census Bureau issued a report tied to a Trump-aligned think tank, the bureau's parent agency cut language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy, NPR learned.

22h

The Census Bureau's credibility is under scrutiny again. The Commerce Department quietly removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy—the same day the Bureau issued an unusual report on noncitizen voting. [+] https://n.pr/4zQ592I

bit.lyDOJ to send monitors to 6 Georgia counties with Democratic majoritiesThe U.S. Department of Justice has notified several left-leaning Georgia counties that it intends to station election monitors on Election Day.

23h

The DOJ has notified six Georgia counties—Bibb, Cobb, Chatham, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett—that it will station monitors there on Election Day. All have produced recent Democratic wins, raising concerns about what the monitors might do. [+] https://bit.ly/47ChdI8

governing.comHow Proposed Census Changes Could Affect State and Local GovernmentsRobert Santos, director of the United States Census Bureau from 2022 to 2025, talks to <i>Governing</i> about the consequences of proposed changes to the 2030 Census.

23h

Proposed 2030 census rules would limit the population count to citizens and green card holders, eliminate race and ethnicity questions, and introduce new residency criteria. These rules changes that have shaken data experts and agencies. More: https://bit.ly/4xYDcDE

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

bit.lyIt's happening: From Alaska to California, the Trump administration is working to subvert the midtermsRead more here.

Federal agents are at voters' homes, threatening officials with prosecution, and filing flimsy lawsuits in California and Alaska—possibly to lay a foundation for challenging certification. The attorney general says more states are being considered. [+] https://bit.ly/4idh42B

newrepublic.comThe Fight to Save the Census From Trump Starts NowThe administration's proposed changes to the 2030 census will harm states and cities. Here is how they can fight back.

The 2030 census proposal violates the 14th Amendment by effectively replacing "persons" with "citizens." Backed by flawed legal history, its real purpose—critics argue—is building districts that entrench Republican and non-Hispanic white power. More: https://bit.ly/4yt2KKj

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

ajc.comGeorgians are the ultimate voting machines. Make a plan and go vote.Every election matters. Every vote will matter. Now, the responsibility rests with Georgians to go out and vote.

"In Georgia, it's easy to vote and hard to cheat." — Brian Kemp, 2018 More Georgians than ever are voting, ballots are counted more efficiently than ever, and despite baseless challenges, we know the results will reflect the will of the people. [+] https://bit.ly/4dJdwnx

brookings.eduPostal network redesign and mail ballot rejections in the 2026 primaries | BrookingsNew analysis examines how USPS postal network changes affected mail ballot rejections in the 2026 primaries and what they could mean for November.

A 2025 Postal Service change lets mail from thousands of offices wait an extra day before moving. New analysis of 2026 primaries in CA, NC, and WA finds this roughly doubled late mail-ballot rejections—while other rejection reasons stayed flat. [+] https://bit.ly/4dQmC1x

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

Off paper? You can vote in Georgia! Your right to vote is restored once you've completed your sentence. Find out what you're eligible for—voting access and record clearing—at https://GJP.org/voting.

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

New projections show the U.S. population growing by 28 million by 2050—but the growth is concentrated. Texas and Florida alone account for 62% of the increase, while California and New York are expected to lose nearly 1.8 million residents combined. [+] https://bit.ly/4gzMbWI

GA🍑 — This is the last weekend of EARLY VOTING in person! Voting is OPEN across the state TODAY, SATURDAY, OCT 24. Take photo ID and a friend! Your county **may** also offer Sunday voting. Find your early voting location(s) and hours 👉🏾 https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

GA🍑 — This is the last weekend of EARLY VOTING in person! You can vote across the state on SATURDAY. Additionally, your county **may** also offer Sunday voting. Take photo ID and a friend! Find your early voting location(s) and hours 👉🏾 https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

Clarksdale. Coahoma County. Savannah. Marion County. Across the Deep South our organizers are on the ground—hosting gatherings and building real relationships. This is how civic power is built. One conversation at a time. One relationship at a time. 💜

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

GEORGIA🍑 ABSENTEE VOTERS ✔️Complete your ballot ✔️Carefully follow the return instructions ✔️Return your ballot ASAP ✔️Track your ballot on MVP Returning your ballot… • by mail: allow at least 10 days • by dropbox 👉🏾 https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

brookings.eduDOGE's impact in Indian Country: Nearly $470 million in lost funding | BrookingsNew Brookings analysis finds that DOGE canceled nearly $470 million in federal funding for Tribal nations and Native organizations, disproportionately affecting Indian Country and raising concerns about federal trust and treaty obligations.

DOGE's cuts drained nearly $470 million from Indian Country, hitting environmental efforts, agriculture, and economic development hardest. Beyond the harm to Native communities, the cuts breach the federal government's treaty obligations to Tribes. [+] https://bit.ly/47vApr1

GA🍑 — This is the last weekend of EARLY VOTING in person! You can vote across the state on SATURDAY. Additionally, your county **may** also offer Sunday voting. Take photo ID and a friend! Find your early voting location(s) and hours 👉🏾 https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

cbsnews.comFederal agents knock on doors to track down possible noncitizen voters ahead of midtermsArmed and in uniform, agents from the Department of Homeland Security have been knocking on doors to ask residents about their immigration status whether they're registered to vote.

Armed, uniformed DHS agents have been knocking on doors in several states asking about immigration status and voting history—part of an effort to root out "noncitizen voters" ahead of the midterms. Critics call the tactic intimidating. More: https://cbsn.ws/3UBDhzH

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

pbs.orgTrump's push to restrict mail ballots failed. Other efforts to reshape the midterms continueThe Supreme Court this week closed the chapter on one of Trump's effort to dramatically overhaul of the nation's mail voting processes. But the case was just one example of the Republican president's numerous attempts to assert federal control over the...

The mail-voting overhaul is blocked, yet other efforts remain in play. DOJ has ordered some states to preserve 2024 records, DHS has launched a noncitizen voter investigation, and the administration is pushing use of the controversial SAVE database. + https://to.pbs.org/4dwQDn1

Georgia, why wait when you can vote now? 🧐 Take the Lead and Vote! 🏁 Make a plan, pick a day and make it YOUR PERSONAL ELECTION DAY! 🗳️ Early in person voting continues thru Friday, Oct 31. Find your early voting locations: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ #TakeTheLead

politico.com‘Pink Slime' Is Infecting AI Chatbots Ahead of the MidtermsPartisan websites disguised as independent, local news outlets are shaping chatbots' responses about key races.

Leading AI chatbots cite partisan "pink slime" sites posing as local news nearly half the time when asked about candidates. These undisclosed outlets are flooding toss-up midterm races, shaping voter perceptions under the guise of neutral summaries. + https://politi.co/4hgq73F

Off paper? You can vote in Georgia! Your right to vote is restored once you've completed your sentence. Find out what you're eligible for—voting access and record clearing—at https://GJP.org/voting.

wabe.orgGeorgia election panel asks Trump administration for election helpGA's State Election Board has advanced a resolution calling on the secretary of state's office to update state voting machines and urging the DOJ and Homeland Security to step in.

Georgia's State Election Board advanced a resolution urging voting machines updates and asking DOJ and DHS to ensure it happens. The 3-2 vote came roughly two weeks before early voting. It also seeks preservation of server drives and election data. [+] https://bit.ly/3VlSkh0

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

northgwinnettvoice.comAndrew Clyde introduces MAGA Act on congressional apportionmentRep. Andrew Clyde introduced the MAGA Act, which would seek a new congressional apportionment before 2028 and add a citizenship question to future censuses.

The proposed MAGA Act would exclude noncitizens from the population used to divide House seats, using government records and 2020 census data to produce revised state totals. A revised apportionment would go to Congress by 2027, taking effect before 2028. https://bit.ly/4AC4iTA

ajc.comGeorgians are the ultimate voting machines. Make a plan and go vote.Every election matters. Every vote will matter. Now, the responsibility rests with Georgians to go out and vote.

"In Georgia, it's easy to vote and hard to cheat." — Brian Kemp, 2018 More Georgians than ever are voting, ballots are counted more efficiently than ever, and despite baseless challenges, we know the results will reflect the will of the people. [+] https://bit.ly/4dJdwnx

frac.orgProposed Changes to the 2030 Census Will Worsen Food Insecurity and Undermine Efforts to Address It - Food Research & Action CenterPublished October 2, 2026 On September 10, the U.S. Census Bureau published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would have enormous negative impacts on the accuracy and fairness of the 2030 Census and beyond. The Census often misses communiti...

The proposed 2030 census rule would exclude residents and prohibit collecting data on population characteristics—compounding an existing flaw. The groups most undercounted are often those facing higher food insecurity, including rural communities. [+] https://bit.ly/4zczebN

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

pbs.orgTrump's push to restrict mail ballots failed. Other efforts to reshape the midterms continueThe Supreme Court this week closed the chapter on one of Trump's effort to dramatically overhaul of the nation's mail voting processes. But the case was just one example of the Republican president's numerous attempts to assert federal control over the...

The mail-voting overhaul is blocked, yet other efforts remain in play. DOJ has ordered some states to preserve 2024 records, DHS has launched a noncitizen voter investigation, and the administration is pushing use of the controversial SAVE database. + https://to.pbs.org/4dwQDn1

open.substack.comDonald Trump's midterm sabotage campaign is failing (so far)“Deceive, disrupt, deny” is losing across the board

Just weeks away from the midterms, and despite the machinery of government from the FBI to USPS being turned against the midterms—unprecedented in our history—democracy is prevailing. That's not a reason for complacency—it's a reason to keep pushing. https://bit.ly/3TRNAz8

brookings.eduPostal network redesign and mail ballot rejections in the 2026 primaries | BrookingsNew analysis examines how USPS postal network changes affected mail ballot rejections in the 2026 primaries and what they could mean for November.

A 2025 Postal Service change lets mail from thousands of offices wait an extra day before moving. New analysis of 2026 primaries in CA, NC, and WA finds this roughly doubled late mail-ballot rejections—while other rejection reasons stayed flat. [+] https://bit.ly/4dQmC1x

bit.lyLast redistricting hearing comes to Jackson, MS. What happens next?The statewide tour of redistricting hearings ended in Jackson with boos, accusations of racism and calls to delay redistricting until the 2030 census.

Mississippi's redistricting tour ended in a contentious Jackson hearing. Speakers clashed over racism, timing, and impacts on Black voters. Conservatives pushed race-neutral maps; many Black attendees warned of diluted voting power and urged delay. [+] https://bit.ly/4rIaMMG

pbs.orgWork has stopped on system that was key to Trump effort to limit mail voting, USPS chief saysThe top official at the U.S. Postal Service said Thursday that the agency has stopped work on developing a controversial computer system that was central to President Donald Trump's effort to limit mail voting after the Supreme Court rejected his execu...

USPS has halted work on the computer system central to enact mail-in voting restrictions after the Supreme Court rejected the White House's executive order. The system would have limited ballot delivery to voters cleared through a federal portal. [+] https://to.pbs.org/4ydAQ4J

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

wabe.orgFormer Georgia regulator who helped set policy for data centers now works for company building themTricia Pridemore, who recently served as a utility regulator in Georgia, is now working for a corporation that builds data centers.

A former PSC utility regulator who never faced voters after 2024's postponed elections has resigned to become executive vice president of energy, regulatory, and policy at a data center developer, representing it before lawmakers and utility providers. https://bit.ly/46yynG0

Do you live outside of metro Atlanta and need a ride to vote during in-person early voting (Oct 13-30) or on Election Day (Nov 3)? 🚙 REQUEST NOW and SCHEDULE your ride 👉🏾 https://www.ridetothepoll.com/request_ride.php

mobilize.usVolunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · When We All Vote on MobilizeFind events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with When We All Vote.

The midterm elections are here, Mississippi. Whether you vote absentee, in person, on a Saturday, or on Election Day—what matters is that you show up. Check your ID, request your ballot, make a plan. Start at sos.ms.gov. Your vote is your power.

GA🍑 — This is the first weekend of EARLY VOTING in person! Voting is OPEN across the state TODAY, SATURDAY, OCT 17. Take photo ID and a friend! Your county **may** also offer Sunday voting. Find your early voting location(s) and hours 👉🏾 https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/