Tag: elections

Chicago City Council Passes Ordinance to Conceal Election Workers Identities From Public

In a 42-8 vote, Chicago’s City Council voted to pass the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance.  The ordinance will essentially ban the doxing of government workers, especially election workers, and bolster requirements for landlords to provide secure mailboxes in accordance with United States Postal Service rules.

An earlier version of the ordinance included the creation of “democracy zones,” which would have forbidden federal immigration officials from entering the areas outside of polling places.  That provision, however, was removed prior to its passage.

The doxing stipulation claims the information can be used by those who wish to cause “death, bodily injury, stalking, harassment, or intimidation” to the government workers.  Those whose information was disclosed would be able to bring civil action for “damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney’s fees.”

Last year, local officials in Chicago were calling for federal agents tasked with tracking down dangerous foreign gang members and detaining violent criminals to remove their masks and to provide identification upon request.  Two Chicago-area U.S. Representatives co-sponsored the “No Secret Police Act,” requiring ICE agents to wear identifying information on their uniforms, as reported by WTTW.

CBS News reported that the debate got contentious with some fierce language slung amongst the aldermen, with one claiming  that a threat of putting “a knife to your throat” if the ordinance is not passed was made:

Debate over the ordinance grew heated, as some alders expressed fears about potential voter suppression in the upcoming November elections, while others said it’s already the role of the Chicago Board of Elections to make sure polling places are secure from voter interference.

“This federal government is going to rig the elections this November. Make no mistake about it. So, choose a side. You’re on the side of history, when Reverend Jackson was fighting to encourage voting rights and protect them, or you are on the side of the fascists taking those rights away,” said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th).

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), who argued the ordinance was not yet ready for a vote by the full City Council, and said it’s already the job of the Chicago Board of Elections to secure polling places and protect voter privacy, said the threatening tone some of his colleagues used to pass the measure [was concerning.]

“It’s not about creating this situation here where dissent over a poorly drafted ordinance is something that should equate to divisive language that should be halted on the opinion of one person in this council,” he said. “One of the other comments yesterday, probably by one of the drafters, was if you don’t pass this, we will have a knife to your throat, and that kind of set me back a little bit when I was sitting in that committee meeting, because I heard that and I thought the same people who want me to vote on something recognizing the achievements of what is hopeful to be the long-lasting legacy of Jesse Jackson said, ‘If you don’t pass this we will have a knife to your throat.’”

Keep reading

THEY’RE NOT HIDING IT ANYMORE: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Comes Out and Says She’s Open to Letting NON-CITIZENS Vote in City Elections – “We Need to Explore It!”

Radical Democrat Mayor Karen Bass just admitted on camera that she’s willing to hand voting rights to non-citizens in Los Angeles.

Bass responded to a question about far-left Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez’s push to let non-citizens vote in local elections by declaring: “Well, I think we need to explore it.”

The exchange, which took place during a Politico California Playbook discussion, laid bare the Democrats’ desperate endgame.

Soto-Martínez, who has endorsed Bass, wants to rewrite the city charter to allow non-citizens – including those here illegally – to cast ballots in city council and school board races. Bass didn’t shut it down. She didn’t call it unconstitutional. She didn’t say it would destroy election integrity.

Instead, she leaned in.

Bass tried to soften the blow by claiming some cities only let “legal” non-citizens who pay taxes vote, but she quickly pivoted to defending sanctuary city policies she rammed through even after Trump’s first election.

California Bureau Chief Melanie Mason:
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who has endorsed you, wants to explore ways to let non-citizens vote in city elections. I know that some cities already do this, but, you know, politics is all about timing. With Donald Trump in the White House, is this the right time for Los Angeles to go down this path?

Karen Bass:
Well, I think we need to explore it. Now, I’ve not seen exactly what he’s calling for. I have a little familiarity with what happens in other cities. For example, some cities will allow people to vote in city council and school board elections because they pay local taxes. But they are not necessarily undocumented. They might be here completely legally but have not finished the citizenship process. So, we’ll wait and see.

But, you know, I mean, some questioned that around sanctuary cities too. But we made that into law even though Trump had been elected. And it was because our population of vulnerable immigrants were terrified. That provided a measure of security for a minute. And no one anticipated we’d have the military roll up on us.

Keep reading

HOW CURIOUS: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger Signing Executive Order to Keep ICE Away From Polling Places 

Virginia’s new Democrat Governor Abigail Spanberger has just announced that she is signing an executive order to keep ICE agents away from polling places.

Why do you suppose such a thing would be necessary?

Democrats assure us that illegal aliens are not voting because they are forbidden from doing so by law. So why would they be worried about ICE showing up at polling places? It just doesn’t make any sense.

NBC News reported:

Virginia Gov. Spanberger to sign order on dealing with federal agents at polling places

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger said Tuesday that she plans to issue an executive order on Wednesday to help election workers respond if federal agents show up at polling sites in Virginia.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank, Spanberger said the order would include details on “how Virginia state employees or people working in support of Virginia’s state-run elections can react to, in this particular case, federal agents who might be appearing at a location where the worry is that they’re principally there to intimidate or scare people.”

Some election officials and Democratic politicians have worried that President Donald Trump — who routinely makes false claims of widespread voter fraud — might interference in this year’s midterm elections, which are run by the state and local officials across the country.

“Throughout history, we have seen efforts at intimidating voters. My worry is that we will continue to see those heightened,” Spanberger said. “The reality is that the challenges and the fear that people might have when going to the polling place is real.”

Keep reading

Raffensperger fails to secure runoff spot in Republican primary for Georgia governor

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger failed Tuesday night to clinch enough votes for one of the two spots in the runoff for the Republican primary for Georgia governor, losing to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and health care executive Rick Jackson.

Raffensperger secured just 14% of the vote, according to the Associated Press, compared to Jones’ 37% and Jackson’s 34%. Jones is considered the favorite to win the nomination after President Donald Trump endorsed his campaign.

Another closely watched race in Georgia is its Senate race, where Republicans are hoping to defeat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. The race has not yet been called, but GOP Rep. Mike Collins is in the lead for the GOP nomination. 

The results come on one of the busiest primary nights of the 2026 season, with six states holding their respective primaries. The other states are Alabama, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Polls have already closed in Kentucky, where GOP Rep. Andy Barr won the Republican nomination for governor and GOP Rep. Thomas Massie lost his reelection bid for the House to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein.

Keep reading

LONG OVERDUE: Republican Nancy Mace Introduces Legislation to Ban Naturalized Citizens Like Ilhan Omar From Serving in Congress

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation designed to ban naturalized U.S. citizens from running for the House and Senate, and from holding any position that requires Senate approval.

Having something like this in place would have prevented people like Ilhan Omar, Pramala Jayapal and others from ever running in the first place.

This is long overdue. It’s the type of law that people just kind of assumed already existed but it doesn’t. Every single Republican should get on board with this.

The New York Post reports:

Nancy Mace unveils legislation to ban naturalized citizens – like Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar – from serving in Congress

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) unveiled legislation Wednesday aiming to ban foreign-born US citizens from serving in Congress and other high levels of the federal government.

The South Carolina congresswoman singled out Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Shri Thanedar (D-Ill.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) in announcing her joint resolution to add an amendment to the US Constitution that would prohibit naturalized US citizens from becoming federal judges, holding Senate-confirmed positions or serving in the House or Senate.

“All born in foreign countries, none were citizens by birth. All sitting in the United States Congress. All making clear every single day their loyalty is not to America,” Mace said of the trio of Democratic reps.

Mace noted the proposed amendment would impose the “very same standard the President and Vice President are already required to meet” on lawmakers and top government officials.

“The people writing America’s laws, confirming America’s judges, and representing America on the world stage should have one loyalty: America. Not any other country,” she argued.

“For too long we have allowed foreign born members to hold seats in this government while making clear they are America last, not America first,” Mace added. “We see it every day.

Keep reading

Lamont Signs Legislation To Provide No-Excuse Absentee Voting For All, Restrict Federal Law Enforcement At Polling Locations

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law legislation providing no-excuse absentee ballots for all.

The legislation, Public Act 26-42, revises previously enacted state statutes that limited this option to voters who were unable to appear in-person at their polling place on election day for several specific reasons, which they were required to confirm when applying for an absentee ballot, including due to active service in the U.S. Armed Forces, absence from their town, sickness, physical disability, religious conflicts, or their service as an elections worker.

The change became effective immediately upon receiving Governor Lamont’s signature.

“This change puts us in line with the overwhelming majority of states that have allowed all voters to cast absentee ballots for many years,” Governor Lamont said. “We should be doing everything we can to encourage qualified voters to participate in elections and have their voices heard, and this is a responsible step forward in that direction. I appreciate Senator Mae Flexer and Representative Matt Blumenthal for leading this effort to get this bill passed so that I could sign it into law.”

“Ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot to elect their representation is fundamental to a healthy democracy,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “By expanding access to absentee ballots, we are removing unnecessary barriers and making it easier for people to participate in the process that shapes their communities. Thank you to the partnership of legislative leaders who worked to make this long overdue reform a reality.”

Keep reading

Supreme Court Directs Lower Courts To Reexamine Decisions In Voting Rights Act Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court on May 18 ordered lower courts to reconsider rulings in two redistricting cases that concern whether private individuals may sue to enforce a federal law that bans discriminatory voting practices.

The court directed the lower courts to take another look at the cases from Mississippi and North Dakota in light of its recent landmark ruling limiting the use of race in redistricting efforts.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from both new rulings.

In Louisiana v. Callais, a majority of the court had said April 29 that race may not be the predominant, overriding reason for how congressional district lines are drawn. The case focused on the Pelican State’s decision to add a majority-black district after a lower court said omitting the district would violate the Section 2 nondiscrimination provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.

On Monday, the nation’s highest court summarily disposed of the two cases, State Board of Election Commissioners v. Mississippi State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe, in unsigned orders. The court did not explain its decisions.

Lawyers call this process, which disposes of cases without holding an oral argument, GVR, which stands for grant, vacate, and remand.

The Supreme Court follows this procedure when it wants lower courts to reconsider their rulings using a new legal framework from a recent decision without delving deeply into the specifics of the cases.

Keep reading

Trump Asks DOJ to Launch Investigation Into Maryland After 500,000 Mail-In Ballots Were Sent Out in “Error”

President Trump on Monday afternoon asked the Justice Department to investigate Maryland officials for sending out “500,000 illegal mail-in ballots.”

Last Friday, Maryland election officials said they will be issuing 500,000 new ballots after a vendor made an error in sending out the first batch of ballots for the state’s gubernatorial primary election.

Statement from the Maryland State Board of Elections:

In order to maintain the highest level of confidence and accuracy in mail-in voting, SBE is working with the vendor to send replacement mail-in ballots. While it is possible only a small number of voters received the wrong ballot, and most voters received the correct ballot, all voters must be issued a replacement ballot. This action of resending ballots maintains the integrity and security of mail-in voting.

This error affects only voters who were mailed a ballot before May 14, 2026. If a voter requested and received their mail-in ballot by web delivery (Print at Home ballot), their ballot will not be affected. All affected voters will be notified.

“We are diligently working to address this error and provide clear instructions to those affected as quickly as possible,” said Maryland State Administrator of Elections, Jared DeMarinis. “The State and Local Boards of Elections remain committed to running an election that is verified, secure and accurate. Mail-in voting is an integral facet of the electoral process. With over
500,000 voters requesting mail-in ballots, we want to eliminate any doubt in its integrity or accuracy that is why I have arranged the sending of replacement ballots.”

On Monday, Maryland election officials insisted the first batch of ballots would be sequestered and voided.

President Trump said Maryland sent out illegal ballots.

Keep reading

Woman Caught on O’Keefe Undercover Camera Illegally Paying People to Register to Vote on Skid Row Federally Charged

A woman who was caught on O’Keefe Media Group’s undercover camera illegally paying people to register to vote on Skid Row in Los Angeles, California, has been federally charged.

The Justice Department on Monday announced that Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong was charged with one felony count of paying another person to register to vote. She is facing a max of five years in federal prison.

“False registrations undermine Americans’ faith in elections – even more so when payoffs are involved,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

“This Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all U.S. elections are fair and free from illegal meddling – so that all Americans can accept the results with confidence,” she said.

Keep reading

Rev. Al Sharpton Pushes Jim Crow FEARMONGERING as Democrats Melt Down Over Redistricting Fight

Rev. Al Sharpton appeared on MSNOW Sunday and pushed the left’s latest political narrative: Republican redistricting is supposedly the modern version of the civil rights battles of the 1960s.

The segment focused on a protest in Montgomery, Alabama, where civil rights and faith leaders gathered under the banner “All Roads Lead to the South.” 

Sharpton and the panel framed the fight over redistricting as a direct attack on black and Latino voters, comparing current political disputes to Selma, Jim Crow, and the historic fight for voting rights.

But the entire argument showed exactly how Democrats use race when they cannot win a normal political debate.

Redistricting has always been political. Democrats draw maps to benefit Democrats. Republicans draw maps to benefit Republicans. That does not suddenly become Jim Crow when the map benefits Republicans instead of Democrats.

Yet on MSNOW, the left tried to make the issue sound like a national civil rights emergency. 

Keep reading