Voter suppression in the United States

DFL incumbent Steve Simon, seeking a fourth term as Minnesota secretary of state, debated Republican challenger Tad Jude at Minnesota Public Radio's St. Paul studio. Jude called for tighter voter requirements, including provisional ballots for same-day registrants, saying "an illegal vote is a stolen vote." Simon cited studies ranking Minnesota first nationally on election performance and showing only three illegal votes among 13.4 million cast from 2015 to 2024. Simon pressed Jude on Trump's unsubstantiated claims of winning Minnesota; Jude acknowledged certified results but stopped short of refuting Trump. Both addressed a DOJ lawsuit over Alaska's Senate certification and debated the state's redesigned flag. Election Day is November 3.

Alongside candidate races, North Carolina voters are deciding three constitutional amendments. One would extend the state's existing in-person photo voter ID requirement to absentee-by-mail ballots, building on a 2018 amendment that survived years of litigation before the state Supreme Court upheld it in 2023. A second would cap the state income tax rate at 3.5%, below the current 3.99% flat rate. A third would limit how much local governments can raise property taxes annually. Polling shows strong public support for all three measures, though critics warn the tax caps could constrain future lawmakers and local governments during downturns. None of the changes take effect immediately after Election Day.

Kalamazoo Public Schools voters will see four names on the November ballot for three open Board of Education seats, though one candidate, retired finance supervisor Karen Morton, is no longer seeking the position after missing the withdrawal deadline because she is moving out of the district.

The remaining active candidates are Mariah Bryant, a Voters Not Politicians programs director and Kalamazoo County Democratic Party chair; board president TiAnna Harrison, who has served since 2014; and Patti Sholler-Barber, a 20-year board veteran and former longtime board president. Board member Carol McGlinn is not seeking re-election, leaving her seat open.

Candidates outlined priorities including early childhood education and literacy (Bryant), continued academic rigor and mental-health support (Harrison), and sustained "safely achieved academic excellence" (Sholler-Barber). All emphasized school safety, parental engagement, and building on the district's recent record graduation rate. The election takes place Nov. 3.

Small rural townships across Michigan are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain the local clerks who administer elections, maintain voter rolls and process absentee ballots. In Hillsdale County's Fayette Township, no clerk has served since January after the previous clerk resigned, citing burnout compounded by public backlash over a contested solar farm proposal. No candidates filed for a special election, and the township board found no one willing to be appointed, forcing a neighboring city clerk to manage both jurisdictions' elections and a second special election planned for May.

Officials in Michigan, one of eight states that administer elections locally rather than through counties, say rising workloads, low part-time pay often under $12,000 a year, and increased harassment of election workers are driving clerks out. A bipartisan bill passed the state House that would let townships contract with any accredited Michigan resident to run elections, but it has stalled in the Democratic-led state Senate, leaving the staffing crisis unresolved ahead of future elections.

Ohio's 2026 governor's race will determine who signs off on any further changes to the state's voting rules, after years of tightening under outgoing Gov. Mike DeWine, including a shrinking early-voting window, voter ID requirements, a one-drop-box-per-county limit, and proof-of-citizenship rules at BMV offices.

Democrat Amy Acton says she would largely preserve existing rules, emphasizing a balance between security and access, and has backed Issue 3, the GOP-authored measure enshrining voter ID in the state constitution. Libertarian Don Kissick wants automatic voter registration at age 18 and would consider trimming early-voting and drop-box hours, though he opposes Issue 3. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who has not answered questions on the topic from local reporters, previously called as a presidential candidate for ending most early voting and requiring paper ballots, but hasn't repeated those positions on the campaign trail. Separately, the race for secretary of state pits a Republican nominee seeking to eliminate drop boxes against a Democrat who wants them at every polling place. Early voting for the 2026 election begins October 6.