Story perspectives

Supreme Court Rejects Trump Bid to Tighten Mail Voting

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 2:58 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The United States begins in-person early voting for the 2026 midterm elections on Friday, Sept. 18.
Virginia starts early voting Friday; Idaho, Minnesota and South Dakota allow in-person absentee voting.
Illinois opens early voting on Sept. 24, while South Carolina’s runs Oct. 19-31 with registration deadlines Oct. 2-5.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to tighten mail-in voting rules.
Voters worry about cost-of-living, immigration, the war in Iran, and artificial-intelligence impacts.

History

Historical Context

In August 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, banning literacy tests and imposing federal preclearance to protect Black voters. The law spurred registration of about 250,000 new Black voters that year. After the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision weakened preclearance, states such as Virginia and South Carolina expanded in-person early voting, echoing the Act’s goal of ballot access.

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Story summary

The United States begins in-person early voting for the 2026 midterm elections on Friday, Sept. 18.
Virginia starts early voting Friday; Idaho, Minnesota and South Dakota allow in-person absentee voting.
Illinois opens early voting on Sept. 24, while South Carolina’s runs Oct. 19-31 with registration deadlines Oct. 2-5.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to tighten mail-in voting rules.
Voters worry about cost-of-living, immigration, the war in Iran, and artificial-intelligence impacts.

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