Episode 1066: In a Surprising Pro-Voter Decision, the U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Mississippi’s Five-Day Mail-In Ballot Grace Period After Election Day

Episode 1066: In a Surprising Pro-Voter Decision, the U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Mississippi’s Five-Day Mail-In Ballot Grace Period After Election Day

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 1, 2026 In a Surprising Pro-Voter Decision, the U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Mississippi’s Five-Day Mail-In Ballot Grace Period After Election Day The U.S. Supreme Court surprisingly upheld Mississippi’s law allowing eligible mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days after election day.  The decision protects voters in the 29 states which allow receipt of absentee, mail-in, or overseas UOCAVA ballots after election day, if postmarked on or before that day. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [https://americandemocracyminute.org] Today’s Links Articles & Resources: U.S. Supreme Court - Opinion in Watson v Republican National Committee [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260_g3cn.pdf]U.S. Supreme Court - Docket in Watson v Republican National Committee [https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-1260.html] SCOTUSBlog - Justices uphold state law allowing for late-arriving mail-in ballots [https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/justices-uphold-state-law-allowing-for-late-arriving-mail-in-ballots/] Brennan Center for Justice -  Friend-of-the-Court Brief in Watson v. Republican National Committee [https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/watson-v-republican-national-committee] National Conference of State Legislatures - Receipt and Postmark Deadlines for Absentee/Mail Ballots [https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-11-receipt-and-postmark-deadlines-for-absentee-mail-ballots]   Related ADM Reports: American Democracy Minute - March 23rd, U.S. Supreme Court Hears Mississippi Case Which Could Impact Mail-in Ballots in 14 or More States [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/03/22/march-23rd-u-s-supreme-court-hears-mississippi-case-which-could-impact-mail-in-ballots-in-14-or-more-states/] American Democracy Minute - The Supreme Court’s Conservatives Appear Likely to End Mail-In Ballot Grace Periods, Affecting Dozens of State Laws and Millions of Voters [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/03/24/the-supreme-courts-conservatives-appear-likely-to-end-to-mail-in-ballot-grace-periods-affecting-dozens-of-state-laws-and-millions-of-voters/] Groups Taking Action: Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC [https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/publication/what-watson-v-rnc-means-asian-american-voters],  ACLU MS [https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/supreme-court-protects-mail-voting-and-preserves-states-authority-over-ballot-receipt-rules], Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights [https://civilrights.org/2026/06/29/the-leadership-conference-responds-to-the-supreme-courts-decision-in-watson-v-rnc/], Campaign Legal Center [https://campaignlegal.org/press-releases/campaign-legal-centers-danielle-lang-supreme-court-ruling-watson-v-rnc-win-voters] Register or Check Your Voter Registration: U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State [https://www.eac.gov/voters/register-and-vote-in-your-state] Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [http://www.americandemocracyminute.org/] #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #USSupremeCourt #SCOTUS #Mississippi #WatsonvRNC #MailInBallots

Episode 1065: SCOTUS Lets Stand an 8th Circuit Decision Disallowing a ‘Private Right of Action’ in Voting Rights Cases. It May Be the Next VRA Domino to Fall

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 30, 2026 SCOTUS Lets Stand an 8th Circuit Decision Disallowing a ‘Private Right of Action’ in Voting Rights Cases. It May Be the Next VRA Domino to Fall The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a case from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals June 22nd which takes another step toward striking down a “private right of action” for Voting Rights Act cases.  For the moment, it impacts only seven states, but it may be the next VRA domino to fall. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [https://americandemocracyminute.org] Today’s Links Articles & Resources: U.S. Supreme Court -  Decline of 8th Circuit's ARKANSAS UNITED, ET AL. V. THURSTON [https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/062226zor_g314.pdf] U.S. 8th Circuit  Court of Appeals - ARKANSAS UNITED, ET AL. V. THURSTON [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26032480-arkansas-united-2025-07-28-8th-circuit-panel-opinion/] MALDEF (via Democracy Docket) - (2023) ARKANSAS STATE CONFERENCE NAACP v ARKANSAS BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT, ET AL., [https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Bipartisan-group-of-supporters-of-the-1982-voting-rights-act-amicus-brief-in-support-of-appellants.pdf?inline=1] NPR - Supreme Court allows a ruling that ends a tool to protect minority voters in 7 states [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/22/nx-s1-5863532/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-private-right-arkansas] Related ADM Reports: American Democracy Minute - (2024) Look for 2025 Conservative Challenges to a ‘Private Right of Action’ for Voting Rights Cases, Attempting to Dismantle the Voting Rights Act [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2024/12/26/look-for-2025-conservative-challenges-to-a-private-right-of-action-for-voting-rights-cases-attempting-to-dismantle-the-voting-rights-act/] American Democracy Minute - (2025) Eighth Circuit ‘Private Right of Action’ Ruling Temporarily Halted by Justice Kavanaugh in Case by North Dakota Tribal Nations [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2025/07/22/eight-circuit-private-right-of-action-ruling-temporarily-halted-by-justice-kavanaugh-in-case-by-north-dakota-tribal-nations/] American Democracy Minute - (2023)  Radical Federal Court of Appeals Ruling Deals Another Blow to Voters, Democracy Groups and the Voting Rights Act [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2023/11/21/radical-federal-court-of-appeals-ruling-deals-another-blow-to-voters-democracy-groups-and-the-voting-rights-act/] Groups Taking Action: Arkansas United [https://arkansasunited.org/en/home],  Native American Rights Fund [https://narf.org/cases/north-dakota-redistricting-map/] Register or Check Your Voter Registration: U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State [https://www.eac.gov/voters/register-and-vote-in-your-state] Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [http://www.americandemocracyminute.org/] #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #PrivateRightofAction #Arkansas #SCOTUS #USSupremeCourt #8thCircuit #VRA #VotingRights

Episode 1064: Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration from Implementing Key Parts of Executive Order on Elections as Unconstitutional Overreach

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 29, 2026 Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration from Implementing Key Parts of Executive Order on Elections as Unconstitutional Overreach Attorneys general from 23 states challenged President Donald Trump’s March 31st executive order on elections under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution.  June 25th, a federal district court judge blocked the administration and U.S. Postal Service from implementing key sections of the order. U.S. District Court for Massachusetts (via Court Listener) - Ruling in California v. Trump [https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.298518/gov.uscourts.mad.298518.191.0_1.pdf]U.S. District Court for DC (via Court Listener) – League of Women Voters v. Department of Homeland Security [https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.285454/gov.uscourts.dcd.285454.111.0_1.pdf] The White House – ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.298518/gov.uscourts.mad.298518.191.0_1.pdfU.S. Postal Service via The Federal Register – Proposal to Comply President Trump’s Executive Order: POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 111 Ballot Mail for Federal Elections [https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10968.pdf] Brennan Center for Justice – Analyzing the President’s Executive Order on Mail Voting [https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/analyzing-presidents-executive-order-mail-voting]   [https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.298518/gov.uscourts.mad.298518.191.0_1.pdf] NPR - Judge blocks Postal Service proposal to restrict mail-in voting under Trump's order [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/nx-s1-5869755/judge-blocks-postal-service-proposal-to-restrict-mail-in-voting-under-trumps-order] Related ADM Reports: American Democracy Minute - Federal District Court Rules Use of Social Security and Other Federal Data for SAVE Database Violates Multiple Federal Privacy Statutes [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/06/23/federal-district-court-rules-use-of-social-security-and-other-federal-data-for-save-database-violates-multiple-federal-privacy-statutes/] Groups Taking Action: ACLU MA [https://www.aclum.org/press-releases/federal-court-allows-challenge-to-executive-order-restricting-mail-in-voting-to-proceed-with-respect-to-the-midterm-elections/], League of Women Voters [https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/voting-rights-groups-applaud-ruling-declaring-2026-executive-order] Please follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/americandemocracyminute/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/americandemocracyminute/], and Bluesky Social [https://bsky.app/profile/democracyminute.bsky.social], and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [http://www.americandemocracyminute.org/] Subscribe for FREE [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/about-the-american-democracy-minute-radio-report-podcast/subscribe-to-the-american-democracy-minute-podcast/] at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms. #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TrumpExecutiveOrder #MailInVoting #USPS #ProofofCitizenship #Unconstitutional

Episode 1063: As Threatened, Trump Holds Up Passage of Long-Awaited Bipartisan Housing Bill, Demanding the Senate Pass the Restrictive SAVE America Act

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 26, 2026 As Threatened, Trump Holds Up Passage of Long-Awaited Bipartisan Housing Bill, Demanding the Senate Pass the Restrictive SAVE America Act In our June 19th report we told you about President Donald Trump’s threat to not sign the bipartisan housing or FISA homeland security bills unless the Senate passed the SAVE America Act. The Senate passed the housing bill – without the SAVE Act attached – and its signing ceremony was abruptly cancelled. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [https://americandemocracyminute.org] Today’s Links Articles & Resources: The Hill - Senate overwhelmingly passes sweeping bipartisan housing affordability bill [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5935003-housing-affordability-bill-senate/] The Post & Courier - US Sen. Tim Scott’s bipartisan housing bill stopped cold as Trump refuses to sign it [https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/tim-scott-housing-bill-trump-sc/article_2a672488-b003-4732-b50a-dbd12ac54251.html] MSNow - Housing Bill Sponsor Sen. Elizabeth Warren Speaks on Cancelation of Bill Signing [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JSacb0w7GY] U.S. Congress – Text of H.R.7296 – SAVE America Act [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7296/text] Campaign Legal Center – What You Need to Know About the SAVE Act [https://campaignlegal.org/update/what-you-need-know-about-save-act] Related ADM Reports: American Democracy Minute - Trying to Resurrect the SAVE America Act, President Donald Trump Demands Attaching it to Bipartisan FISA and Housing Bills [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/06/18/trying-to-resurrect-the-save-america-act-president-donald-trump-demands-attaching-it-to-bipartisan-fisa-and-housing-bills/] American Democracy Minute - The GOP’s Restrictive SAVE America Act is Stalled, and Slipping It into a Budget Reconciliation Bill was Blocked.  Is it Dead? [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/04/26/the-gops-restrictive-save-america-act-is-stalled-and-slipping-it-into-a-budget-reconciliation-bill-was-blocked-is-it-dead/] Groups Taking Action: Declaration for American Democracy [https://dfadcoalition.org/takeaction/], National Coalition for Accessible Voting [https://ncavote.org/resource/nosaveact/], AARP [https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/save-america-act-guide/], NAACP Legal Defense Fund [https://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/save-america-act-saves-no-one-voter-suppression-bill-explained/] Please follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/americandemocracyminute/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/americandemocracyminute/], and Bluesky Social [https://bsky.app/profile/democracyminute.bsky.social], and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [http://www.americandemocracyminute.org/] Subscribe for FREE [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/about-the-american-democracy-minute-radio-report-podcast/subscribe-to-the-american-democracy-minute-podcast/] at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms. #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #SAVEAmericaAct #VoterSuppression #Disenfranchised #FreedomtoVote

Episode 1062: Trump’s DHS, Having Had State SAVE Database Compliance Blocked by Courts, Reportedly Turns to Withholding State Election Security Funding

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 25, 2026 Trump’s DHS, Having Had State SAVE Database Compliance Blocked by Courts, Reportedly Turns to Withholding State Election Security Funding There’s another development in the deployment of the expanded, and notoriously inaccurate, SAVE database, repurposed to verify citizenship for voting purposes.  The Trump administration, having lost multiple court challenges, is reportedly proposing to withhold CISA state election security funding for noncompliance. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [https://americandemocracyminute.org] Today’s Links Articles & Resources: CNN - Exclusive: Trump administration plans to use homeland security funds to pressure states into election changes [https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/22/politics/homeland-security-grants-election-changes] Brennan Center for Justice - Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information [https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/tracker-justice-department-requests-voter-information] Legis1 - Election Security Funding Crisis Exposed at House Hearing [https://legis1.com/news/election-security-funding-crisis-exposed-at] NOTUS - Trump Tries a New Tactic to Change Election Rules [https://www.notus.org/donald-trump/election-rules-save-america-act] Protect Democracy – The SAVE tool, explained [https://protectdemocracy.org/work/save-tool-explained/] Related ADM Reports: American Democracy Minute - Federal District Court Rules Use of Social Security and Other Federal Data for SAVE Database Violates Multiple Federal Privacy Statutes [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/06/23/federal-district-court-rules-use-of-social-security-and-other-federal-data-for-save-database-violates-multiple-federal-privacy-statutes/] American Democracy Minute - Federal Circuit Courts Block Trump DOJ from Obtaining California and Oregon Voter Data [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2026/01/19/federal-circuit-courts-block-trump-doj-from-obtaining-california-and-oregon-voter-data/] Groups Taking Action: League of Women Voters [https://campaignlegal.org/cases-actions/challenging-consolidation-and-distribution-federal-citizenship-data-voter-purges], Electronic Privacy Information Center [https://epic.org/league-of-women-voters-epic-renew-call-for-court-to-protect-privacy-and-voting-rights-in-case-challenging-illegal-save-overhaul/], ACLU [https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/voting-rights-groups-sue-doj-to-block-national-voter-surveil-and-purge-database] Please follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/americandemocracyminute/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/americandemocracyminute/], and Bluesky Social [https://bsky.app/profile/democracyminute.bsky.social], and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org [http://www.americandemocracyminute.org/] Subscribe for FREE [https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/about-the-american-democracy-minute-radio-report-podcast/subscribe-to-the-american-democracy-minute-podcast/] at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms. #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #SAVEDatabase #CISA #DHS #ProofofCitizenship #VoterSuppression