Maine Sec. of State again tells DOJ to ‘jump in the Gulf of Maine’ after lawsuit to seize private voting data

• Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) directed the DOJ once again to “jump in the Gulf of Maine” and told Democracy Docket the department is targeting her state for political reasons. Bellows said Maine “won’t back down.”

• The DOJ sued Maine and Oregon for refusing to hand over their full, unredacted voter registration lists. As more states push back against federal overreach in their elections, the DOJ is now suing to force access to sensitive voter data.

Left-leaning nonprofits band together in face of Trump’s crackdown threats

• Over 100 progressive groups warned in a letter that the Trump administration’s recent threats to target progressive political activity in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder “undermine…democracy and harm all Americans.”

Mississippi appeals ruling striking down discriminatory state Supreme Court map

• Last month a federal court ruled the Mississippi Supreme Court electoral map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting strength, and ordered the state to redraw its map. Today the state appealed the decision to the 5th Circuit. 

A loss for South Carolina voters 

• The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering doesn't violate the state constitution, precluding future litigation on claims of partisan gerrymandering in the state’s congressional redistricting process.

But a win for Alabama voters

• A federal court struck down Jefferson County, Alabama's county commission map, ruling it violates the 14th Amendment's prohibition on racial gerrymandering.
  
  
• This means the 2021 map can no longer be used in future elections. The court has directed the parties to submit a joint report within 30 days outlining the process for creating a remedial redistricting plan.

And a win in the fight against Trump’s anti-voting executive order

• A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Democratic-led states challenging Trump's anti-voting executive order. As a result, the case will move forward.

Mixed results in Arizona

• In a win for democracy, the 9th Circuit upheld a provision of Arizona’s 2023 Election Procedures Manual that allows the secretary of state to certify statewide election results when local officials refuse to do so.
  
  
• However, in a loss for Arizona voters, the three-judge panel also blocked a separate provision that bars political activity that could intimidate voters in or near polling places. The provision cannot be enforced for now.

Texas voters appeal ruling upholding Tarrant County map

• Black and Latino Texas voters appealed to the 5th Circuit after a district court refused to block Tarrant County’s new GOP-drawn commissioners map, which dilutes minority voting power and likely secures Republicans an expanded majority.

Beto O’Rourke on the most extreme voter suppression in America

• Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke joined Marc to expose how Republicans are trying to steal the midterm elections, and what he’s doing to stop them.

Coming up tomorrow

• The 8th Circuit will hear arguments over Arkansas’ requirement for a handwritten signature on voter registration applications, also known as a “wet signature” requirement.