NPR Topics: Voting https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=g-s1-148094 Track how federal and state governments are reshaping voting rules. Follow NPR's coverage on voter access legislation, legal fights, redistricting and election integrity laws. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sun, 25 Oct 2026 01:02:10 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Topics: Voting https://www.npr.org/sections/voting What's behind the early voting surge? It's more than voter enthusiasm, expert says Nearly 21 million Americans have voted early in the midterms. MIT political scientist Charles Stewart explains what's driving the surge and why it may not mean higher overall turnout. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:42:03 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/23/nx-s1-6012308/midterm-elections-early-voting-data https://www.npr.org/2026/10/23/nx-s1-6012308/midterm-elections-early-voting-data

Nearly 21 million Americans have voted early in the midterms. MIT political scientist Charles Stewart explains what's driving the surge and why it may not mean higher overall turnout.

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]]> A Martínez Federal judge restricts DHS field operations looking for noncitizen voters The judge found the department's field operations to identify noncitizens who voted likely violated the Voting Rights Act, which bars voter intimidation. Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:16:20 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/22/nx-s1-6012682/judge-dhs-noncitizen-voting-operations https://www.npr.org/2026/10/22/nx-s1-6012682/judge-dhs-noncitizen-voting-operations

The judge found the department's field operations to identify noncitizens who voted likely violated the Voting Rights Act, which bars voter intimidation.

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]]> Jude Joffe-Block The Justice Department begins notifying counties where it wants to monitor elections The department has long deployed election monitors, but the Trump administration's unprecedented steps to try to wrestle control over elections have led to new concerns about DOJ monitoring this year. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:18:47 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6009896/justice-department-monitors https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6009896/justice-department-monitors

The department has long deployed election monitors, but the Trump administration's unprecedented steps to try to wrestle control over elections have led to new concerns about DOJ monitoring this year.

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]]> Miles Parks Some on DOJ's 20,000 'likely' noncitizen list in California appear to be U.S.-born Election officials in Los Angeles County say their preliminary analysis of the federal government's list of 20,000 "likely" noncitizens registered to vote in California shows the list is "unreliable." Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:15:50 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/20/nx-s1-6009873/california-doj-voter-rolls-noncitizens https://www.npr.org/2026/10/20/nx-s1-6009873/california-doj-voter-rolls-noncitizens

Election officials in Los Angeles County say their preliminary analysis of the federal government's list of 20,000 "likely" noncitizens registered to vote in California shows the list is "unreliable."

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]]> Miles Parks DOJ charges 28 in California with voting crimes as election tensions escalate The DOJ also filed an emergency request in federal court to stop California from processing ballots returned by people on the voter rolls the federal government says are "likely noncitizens." Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:10:06 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/19/nx-s1-6007908/election-tensions-escalate-in-california-as-doj-charges-28-people-with-voting-crimes https://www.npr.org/2026/10/19/nx-s1-6007908/election-tensions-escalate-in-california-as-doj-charges-28-people-with-voting-crimes

The DOJ also filed an emergency request in federal court to stop California from processing ballots returned by people on the voter rolls the federal government says are "likely noncitizens."

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]]> Miles Parks The real reason it's going to take a while to know who won in some midterm races Hint: It's not <em>only </em>because California counts slowly. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/19/nx-s1-5982027/california-vote-counting-margins https://www.npr.org/2026/10/19/nx-s1-5982027/california-vote-counting-margins

Hint: It's not only because California counts slowly.

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]]> Miles Parks Civil rights advocates plan to send thousands of observers to midterm polling places For many election cycles, civil rights groups and political parties have fanned out to monitor polling places, but the charged midterm environment has many organizations stepping up efforts this year. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/14/nx-s1-5991802/election-polling-place-observers https://www.npr.org/2026/10/14/nx-s1-5991802/election-polling-place-observers

For many election cycles, civil rights groups and political parties have fanned out to monitor polling places, but the charged midterm environment has many organizations stepping up efforts this year.

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]]> Ashley Lopez Why mailing a ballot close to Election Day may get it rejected for a late postmark If you're using the U.S. Postal Service to return a ballot close to Election Day, officials recommend getting it postmarked at a post office to avoid getting caught up in mail processing changes. Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/09/nx-s1-5984981/mail-in-ballot-usps-postmark https://www.npr.org/2026/10/09/nx-s1-5984981/mail-in-ballot-usps-postmark

If you're using the U.S. Postal Service to return a ballot close to Election Day, officials recommend getting it postmarked at a post office to avoid getting caught up in mail processing changes.

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]]> Hansi Lo Wang A congressman wants his House colleagues to pledge to accept election results Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., is co-leading an effort to get colleagues to pledge they'll accept this fall's election results and oppose any effort to block the seating of fellow members next year. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:19:55 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/08/nx-s1-5995371/a-congressman-wants-his-colleagues-to-pledge-to-accept-election-results https://www.npr.org/2026/10/08/nx-s1-5995371/a-congressman-wants-his-colleagues-to-pledge-to-accept-election-results

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., is co-leading an effort to get colleagues to pledge they'll accept this fall's election results and oppose any effort to block the seating of fellow members next year.

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]]> Marc Rivers Trump officials changed forms for overseas voters amid a GOP push to restrict voting The Pentagon made last-minute changes to forms that many overseas U.S. citizens use for absentee voting, removing a category of citizens that Republicans have been pushing to block from voting. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:32:12 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/09/30/nx-s1-5978976/military-voter-registration-overseas-citizens-absentee-voting https://www.npr.org/2026/09/30/nx-s1-5978976/military-voter-registration-overseas-citizens-absentee-voting

The Pentagon made last-minute changes to forms that many overseas U.S. citizens use for absentee voting, removing a category of citizens that Republicans have been pushing to block from voting.

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]]> Hansi Lo Wang