Monday, October 6, 2025

Amazon Sent One Woman Hundreds of Ballots in This Dem State.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Maine woman received 250 unused state election ballots in an Amazon package she ordered, prompting an investigation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), Maine House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, and voters in the state.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Newburgh, Maine, just days before mail-in voting begins for a state referendum on absentee voting regulations.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Safe and secure elections are my top priority. Law enforcement is working diligently to determine who is responsible, and they will be held accountable.” – Shenna Bellows

🎯IMPACT: The incident has raised serious concerns about election security, with calls for federal investigations and tighter voting regulations.

IN FULL

A woman in Newburgh, Maine, was stunned to discover 250 unused state election ballots inside an Amazon package she had ordered, which was supposed to contain coffee, rice, and paper plates. Speaking anonymously, the woman said the package appeared to have been opened and resealed before it arrived at her home.

After finding the ballots, she contacted local authorities, who helped transfer them to the Newburgh town clerk’s office. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) confirmed that an investigation has been launched into how the ballots ended up outside the official chain of custody. “Safe and secure elections are my top priority. As soon as we became aware of allegations of ballots being received outside of the appropriate chain of custody, I immediately initiated an investigation through my secretary of state’s law enforcement division,” Bellows said in a statement.

The incident has triggered calls for broader investigations. Maine House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham is urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel to open a federal probe. “The discovery of hundreds of authentic state ballots in a private Amazon delivery is beyond alarming. When ballots appear in household shipments of rice and toys, trust is shattered. Mainers deserve answers, accountability, and immediate action,” Faulkingham said.

Notably, Bellows attempted to unilaterally ban Donald J. Trump from appearing on Maine’s presidential primary ballots in 2023, alleging he had violated the Constitution’s insurrection clause. This suggests to some conservatives that she is a partisan actor who cannot be relied upon to uphold election integrity.

The campaign group Voter ID for ME reacted strongly to the scandal on social media, writing, “HUNDREDS of ballots are now turning up in Amazon packages?? This isn’t satire, fear mongering or political hyperbole. It’s reality. And it’s very likely not a one‑off, either. This is HUGE and means our elections are even MORE unsafe than we thought.”

The incident adds to a growing list of ballot-related concerns across the country. In Rhode Island, a Democrat lawmaker was recently accused of distributing misleading “sample ballots” that omitted opposing party candidates. In Pennsylvania, thousands of overseas military ballots have been challenged due to discrepancies. A 2025 FBI report also concluded that China attempted to exploit mail-in ballots to influence the 2020 election.

This has all fueled efforts to restrict mail-in voting, including a campaign by President Donald J. Trump calling for a ban on mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines.

Image via Stock Catalog.

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Trump DOJ Sues Democrat States for Withholding Voter Data.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed lawsuits against Oregon and Maine to obtain sensitive voter registration data, including partial Social Security numbers, after the states refused to comply with federal requests.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The DOJ, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read (D), Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), and the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuits were announced Tuesday, targeting Democrat-led states Oregon and Maine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “States simply cannot pick and choose which federal laws they will comply with.” — Harmeet Dhillon

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuits highlight ongoing Democrat efforts to resist and undermine President Donald J. Trump’s election integrity initiatives.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced late Tuesday that it filed lawsuits against Oregon and Maine after the states refused to comply with requests for voter registration lists. These lawsuits mark the first legal actions against states resisting such requests.

“States simply cannot pick and choose which federal laws they will comply with,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, when announcing the legal action. She added: “American citizens have a right to feel confident in the integrity of our electoral process, and the refusal of certain states to protect their citizens against vote dilution will result in legal consequences.”

The DOJ argues the data is necessary to ensure compliance with federal voter registration maintenance laws. Further, the department alleges that Oregon and Maine election officials have failed to provide adequate answers and sufficient evidence to determine whether they’re acting in accordance with federal election law.

Responding to the lawsuits, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read (D) stated, “If the President wants to use the DOJ to go after his political opponents and undermine our elections, I look forward to seeing them in court.” Similarly, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) claimed her office is concerned about voter data security, calling the DOJ’s actions a “fishing expedition.”

Election officials in other states have also resisted similar requests from the DOJ, citing privacy and security concerns. It remains unclear whether the DOJ will pursue legal action against additional states that have declined to provide voter data.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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Anti-Trump Brad Raffensperger Enters Georgia Governor Race.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-Trump Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced his candidacy for governor in a video on Wednesday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Brian Kemp, President Donald J. Trump, Brad Raffensperger, and other Republican and Democratic candidates.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on September 17, 2025, in Georgia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I follow the law and the Constitution, and I’ll always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what.” – Brad Raffensperger

🎯IMPACT: The race for Georgia’s gubernatorial seat is expected to be highly competitive in a state that has become a key battleground.

IN FULL

Anti-Trump Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) announced Wednesday that he is running for governor. “I’m a conservative Republican, and I’m prepared to make the tough decisions,” he claimed in an announcement video, adding: “I follow the law and the Constitution, and I’ll always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what.”

The current governor, Brian Kemp (R), is term-limited, making the race open for new contenders. Raffensperger gained national attention after rejecting President Donald J. Trump‘s request to review voter irregularities in Georgia following the 2020 presidential election. Subsequently, the Georgia Secretary of State positioned himself as a staunch opponent of the America First leader.

Raffensperger insisted he was following the law during an interview on Meet the Press in 2021, saying, “I followed the law, I followed the Constitution. And they believe that’s the honorable thing to do.”

The National Pulse reported in October 2024 that Raffensperger was fundraising for a nonprofit lawfare group that he claimed would target any activists or election officials who raise concerns regarding voter fraud. Election Defense Fund, Inc.—a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization—was founded in 2023 and appeared to be run by Ryan Germany, the former General Counsel for Raffensperger. The group specifically targeted Georgia State Election Board members Dr. Jan Johnson, Janelle King, and Rick Jeffries. The three election officials spearheaded several significant election integrity efforts and changes to the state’s election rules regarding ballot counting.

The Republican primary will include other candidates such as Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) and Attorney General Chris Carr (R). On the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) and former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (D), who recently switched parties, are in the running, along with State Sen. Jason Esteves (D) and State Rep. Derrick Jackson (D).

Image by Patrick Farrell.

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Judge Drops Charges Against Trump Electors in Michigan.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A Michigan judge dismissed charges against 15 people accused of signing a document saying President Donald J. Trump won the state in the 2020 election, citing a lack of evidence to prove criminal intent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D), District Court Judge Kristen Simmons, and 15 defendants including Kathy Berden and Meshawn Maddock.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Tuesday in a Michigan court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a fraud case, and [you] have to prove intent. And I don’t believe that there’s evidence sufficient to prove intent.” – Judge Kristen Simmons

🎯IMPACT: The decision ends the prosecution’s case against the 15 accused.

IN FULL

Fifteen people accused of signing a document asserting President Donald J. Trump defeated former President Joe Biden in Michigan during the 2020 election will not face trial, following a state judge’s ruling that prosecutors failed to demonstrate criminal intent. The decision came Tuesday from Michigan District Court Judge Kristen Simmons, who stated, “This is a fraud case, and [you] have to prove intent. And I don’t believe that there’s evidence sufficient to prove intent.”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) had charged the group with eight felony counts, including forgery, alleging that they knowingly submitted a signed document claiming Trump had won. Among the defendants were Republican National Committee (RNC) member Kathy Berden and former Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Meshawn Maddock. Nessel expressed her dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying, “The evidence was clear. They lied. They knew they lied, and they tried to steal the votes of millions of Michiganders.”

The charges stemmed from a 2020 meeting at the Michigan Republican Party headquarters, where the defendants signed the document before it was submitted to the National Archives and the United States Senate ahead of the presidential election certification. Prosecutors argued that the group intended to deceive officials by making the document appear to be an official state government form. However, Judge Simmons concluded that the evidence did not support that claim. She noted that the document lacked the governor’s signature or a fraudulent seal, indicating it was not presented as an official document.

Judge Simmons emphasized that the defendants appeared to genuinely believe they were fulfilling their constitutional duties amid concerns about alleged election irregularities. “Right, wrong, or indifferent, it was these individuals and many other individuals in the state of Michigan who sincerely believe, for some reason, that there were some serious irregularities with the election,” she said.

The ruling effectively ends the case against the 15 accused.

Image by Katrin Bolovtsova.

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Court Blocks GOP Redistricting Reforms to Preserve Black ‘Voting Power.’

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Judges for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Louisiana’s request to enforce a congressional redistricting map, alleging it is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Louisiana’s Republican-majority legislature, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other plaintiffs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued recently, and the case centers on Louisiana’s congressional map drawn after the 2020 census.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is no legal basis for this proposition, and the state offers no evidence that conditions in Louisiana have changed,” the court stated.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling is a temporary win for the ACLU and plaintiffs, with the Supreme Court expected to issue the final decision.

IN FULL

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Louisiana‘s request to enforce its congressional redistricting map, initially passed by the Republican-majority legislature in 2022. Judges ruled the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the votes of black residents through practices described as “packing” and “cracking” black voters, undermining their voting power.

Notably, 83 percent of black voters nationwide backed Democrat candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The court rejected Louisiana’s argument that race-based remedies are no longer necessary, stating, “There is no legal basis for this proposition, and the state offers no evidence that conditions in Louisiana have changed.” One judge issued a stay before the decision could take effect, though the Supreme Court had already stayed the map earlier in the year.

The Supreme Court is also currently reviewing the case in Louisiana v. Callais and has requested additional arguments from both sides. The focus remains on whether Louisiana’s redistricting efforts were narrowly tailored to meet constitutional requirements. Justices are expected to weigh in further during the fall term.

The litigation comes amid broader redistricting battles across the country, with both Republican- and Democrat-led states revising their maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. States like Texas and California are engaged in legal and political fights over their congressional maps, and the outcomes of these disputes could significantly impact the balance of power in Congress during the next election cycle.

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Trump Mounts Campaign to Ban Mail-In Ballots and Voting Machines.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a campaign to eliminate mail-in voting and replace voting machines with more secure, traditional voting methods.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Democrats, and voters in the United States.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Monday morning on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The proposed changes aim to address concerns over election integrity and prevent alleged voter fraud.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump unveiled a new initiative on his Truth Social platform early Monday to eliminate mail-in ballots, denouncing their widespread use as a source of “MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD.”

The expansion of mail-in voting surged before the 2020 election, with Democrats citing the COVID-19 pandemic as their rationale for its necessity. While states like Colorado and Washington already relied on mail-in voting, others were unprepared with adequate safeguards to ensure election integrity for the surge in remote ballots.

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES,” Trump declared. He proposed adopting “accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper” to streamline the voting process and ensure more precise election results.

Trump warned that Democrats, whom he accused of depending on these systems to secure victories, would fiercely resist efforts to abolish mail-in voting and problematic voting machines. “ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS,” he asserted.

The America First leader also revealed plans to issue an executive order to promote “HONESTY” in the 2026 midterm elections, insisting that states must adhere to federal mandates to protect election integrity. “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he argued, concluding: “REMEMBER, WITHOUT FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, AND STRONG AND POWERFUL BORDERS, YOU DON’T HAVE EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF A COUNTRY.”

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Smartmatic OANN

Smartmatic Co-Founder Charged with Bribing Top Venezuelan Official.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors accused Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate of bribing Venezuela’s top election official with a luxury residence in exchange for political favors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Roger Piñate, election chief Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, and unnamed co-conspirators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Allegedly between April and July 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have always operated lawfully, ethically, and transparently. We stand by our two-decade track record of integrity.” – Smartmatic statement

🎯IMPACT: The allegations raise further scrutiny of Smartmatic’s business practices globally and its involvement in elections.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors have charged Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate with multiple counts of bribery and money laundering. They allege he provided a luxury residence in Caracas to Tibisay Lucena Ramírez, Venezuela’s top election official at the time, in exchange for political favors.

Prosecutors claim the property was transferred to Lucena Ramírez through a foreign shell company between April and July 2019, allegedly facilitated by an unnamed co-conspirator. This transfer reportedly occurred despite Smartmatic’s public claim that all business activities in Venezuela had ceased in 2017.

Smartmatic had pulled out of Venezuela after accusing the Maduro regime of committing electoral fraud during the 2017 National Constituent Assembly election. The company said it terminated operations in the country following that incident.

Prosecutors included these Venezuela-related allegations in a separate court filing connected to a $1 million bribery scheme involving Philippine election official Juan Andrés Donato Bautista. In that case, Piñate is accused of inflating the prices of voting machines and diverting the surplus into secret accounts used for bribes.

The U.S. government submitted the Venezuelan allegations to illustrate what they describe as a “pattern of alleged criminal behavior” by Piñate.

Smartmatic has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, the company said: “As an example, the government’s citation of an alleged bribe in Venezuela in 2019 is untethered from reality. Smartmatic ceased all operations in Venezuela in August 2017 after blowing the whistle on the government and has never sought to secure business there again.” The company added, “We have always operated lawfully, ethically, and transparently. We stand by our two-decade track record of integrity.”

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Texas Voter ID Law Upheld at Appeals Court.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: A federal appeals court upheld a Texas law requiring voters using mail-in ballots to include a state ID number or partial Social Security number.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge James Ho, and the state of Texas.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued Monday, impacting Texas election laws.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mail-in ballots are not secure.” – Judge James Ho

🎯IMPACT: The decision reinforces Texas’s voter ID requirements and aligns with prior rulings emphasizing election integrity.

IN FULL
On Monday, Texas saw a significant election integrity win as a federal appeals court affirmed a state statute mandating that voters submitting mail-in ballots must provide a state ID number or a portion of their Social Security number. A panel of three judges unanimously overturned a lower court’s ruling, determining that the provision does not infringe upon the Civil Rights Act of 1964, since it is relevant to verifying voter eligibility.
In the unanimous decision penned by Judge James Ho, he declared, “Mail-in ballots are not secure,” citing insights from Veasey v. Perry, which evolved into Veasey v. Abbott. The litigation emphasized that “mail-in ballot fraud is a significant threat,” an issue previously affirmed by the Fifth Circuit in earlier decisions.

Ho elaborated in the opinion that the ID number mandate is “obviously designed to confirm that each mail-in ballot voter is precisely who he claims he is.” He further noted that this stipulation is clearly pertinent to assessing voter eligibility according to state regulations. The court also followed the Third Circuit’s established ruling, which holds that materiality clauses are limited to evaluations of voter qualifications.

Although the plaintiffs contended that there was a lack of substantial proof demonstrating that the ID number rule would substantially curb voter fraud, Texas countered this view. “Our precedents compel us to side with Texas. We have made clear that states have a legitimate interest in combating voter fraud, and thus enjoy ‘considerable discretion in deciding what is an adequate level of effectiveness to serve [their] important interests in voter integrity,’” Ho stated.

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California Plans to Cut 5 GOP House Seats Through Gerrymandering.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: California Democrats are proposing new political maps that could reduce five Republican-held House seats while strengthening Democratic margins in battleground districts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), California’s Democratic congressional delegation, and Republican Representatives Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, and Doug LaMalfa.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was discussed on Monday in California, with a potential special election planned for the first week of November.

💬KEY QUOTE: “California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

🎯IMPACT: If approved, the new maps could increase Democratic seats in California from 43 to 48, further tipping the balance of the U.S. House in their favor.

IN FULL

California Democrats are advancing a draft proposal to redraw the state’s congressional district lines in a way that could significantly weaken Republican representation, while shoring up Democratic advantages in competitive regions. If enacted, the changes could increase the number of Democratic-held seats in California’s 52-member U.S. House delegation from 43 to 48.

Though the plan hasn’t been formally unveiled, it’s expected to target several Republican-controlled districts by reducing the number of conservative voters and boosting liberal turnout in those areas. Districts currently held by GOP Representatives Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, and Doug LaMalfa would be among those affected. On the other hand, seats held by Democrats Dave Min, Mike Levin, and Derek Tran would likely become more secure under the proposed boundaries.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has indicated he’s prepared to move forward with the partisan redistricting effort, including calling a statewide vote on the matter. “California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away,” Newsom said on August 4, underscoring his frustration with redistricting moves in other states, particularly Texas. He added that a special election could be scheduled for early November to allow voters to weigh in. Still, he emphasized he would reconsider if Texas Republicans paused their redistricting campaign.

This effort comes as a direct response to Texas Republicans’ push to reshape their state’s congressional map, which some claim is being done in favor of the GOP ahead of the 2026 elections. Democrat lawmakers tried to disrupt the process by fleeing the state to avoid voting on the redistricting plans. In response, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the arrest and return of any member caught abandoning their duties.

California’s proposal aims to counterbalance those moves by strengthening Democratic margins in politically mixed regions such as Orange County, San Diego County, and parts of the Central Valley.

Still, the redistricting push faces hurdles. State lawmakers must approve the plan, and voters, who previously opted to hand over redistricting responsibilities to an independent commission, may be wary of what they perceive as a return to partisan gerrymandering.

Image by Gage Skidmore. 

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ActBlue Officials Are Being Subpoenaed Amid Fraud Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: House Republicans issued subpoenas to two current and former ActBlue officials over alleged fraud on the Democrats’ largest fundraising platform.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: An unnamed ActBlue senior workflow specialist, former Vice President of Customer Service Alyssa Twomey, and House GOP committee leaders James Comer, Jim Jordan, and Bryan Steil.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Subpoenas were issued on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Testimonies are scheduled for July 14 and July 23.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Congress has a specific interest in ensuring that bad actors, including foreign actors, cannot make fraudulent or illegal political donations through online fundraising platforms,” GOP leaders stated.

🎯IMPACT: The investigation highlights concerns over ActBlue’s security practices and potential foreign influence in U.S. elections.

IN FULL

House Republicans have issued subpoenas to two current and former ActBlue officials in connection with alleged widespread fraud on the Democratic Party’s largest online fundraising platform. Subpoenas were sent to an unnamed current ActBlue senior workflow specialist and former Vice President of Customer Service, Alyssa Twomey.

The letters, signed by House committee chairman James Comer (R-KY), Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Bryan Steil (R-WI), follow a Justice Department (DOJ) investigation initiated under an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump. The order mandated a DOJ report on the allegations within 180 days.

Attorney Danny Onorato, representing the ActBlue employees, requested a delay in interviews until the DOJ completes its probe. However, House Republicans rejected the request, stating, “Many congressional investigations have occurred in parallel to Executive Branch investigations of the same or related matters.”

Internal records cited in the subpoenas suggest ActBlue relaxed security standards during the 2024 campaign season, including not requiring credit card verification codes. A report from the House Oversight and Administration Committee found nearly 1,900 fraudulent transactions and 237 prepaid cards linked to foreign IP addresses during a two-month span in 2024.

ActBlue responded by calling the investigations politically motivated, stating, “The Trump administration and GOP’s targeting of ActBlue is part of their brazen attack on democracy in America.”

Twomey is scheduled to testify on July 23, and the senior workflow specialist on July 14.

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