Latest Voting News

Democrats and voting groups say a bid to toss out North Carolina ballots is an attack on democracy

Jan. 25, 2025 08:32 AM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Copland Rudolph cast a ballot in the November election, just as she has for years, with her vote counting on a long list of North Carolina contests that were settled soon after. Nearly three months later, she's still not sure it will count for one of the...

Senate heads toward confirming Noem as Trump's homeland security secretary

Jan. 25, 2025 07:30 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is heading toward a vote on confirming Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and President Donald Trump's plans to clamp down on illegal immigration. ...

Hegseth confirmed as Trump's defense secretary in tie-breaking vote despite turmoil over his conduct

Jan. 24, 2025 23:00 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation's defense secretary late Friday in a dramatic tie-breaking vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women. Rarely...

FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims made by Trump during his first week back in office

Jan. 24, 2025 17:49 PM EST

President Donald Trump stepped back into the presidency this week moving quickly to set a new agenda, but from his inaugural address continuing through a flurry of executive actions, press conferences and interviews Trump relied on an array of false and misleading information to support his case. ...

Democrats' Minnesota House boycott echoes earlier walkouts in other states

Jan. 24, 2025 17:45 PM EST

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democrats in the Minnesota House who have boycotted daily sessions are using tactics that lawmakers around the country have tried at least two dozen times before to thwart their opponents. It's not even a first for the state. Minnesota Democrats are trying to...

German opposition leader plans migration proposals to parliament in risky pre-election move

Jan. 24, 2025 12:30 PM EST

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's opposition leader said Friday his party will bring motions to toughen migration policy to parliament next week in one of its last sessions before the country's election, a risky move if they go to a vote and pass with the help of a far-right party. Friedrich...

New York county agrees to redraw voting lines that lawsuit said disenfranchised residents of color

Jan. 23, 2025 19:50 PM EST

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (AP) — A New York county has agreed to redraw its voting map after a lawsuit claimed its political boundaries disenfranchised residents of color. Nassau County reached a settlement Thursday in which the suburban region, located just east of New York City borough...

Hegseth told senator he paid $50,000 to woman who accused him of 2017 sex assault

Jan. 23, 2025 18:32 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, according to answers he provided to a senator during his confirmation process that The Associated Press has obtained. The...

Senate advances Pete Hegseth as Trump's defense secretary, despite allegations

Jan. 23, 2025 17:50 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump's defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military. ...

Georgia asks federal appeals court to tighten Voting Rights Act

Jan. 23, 2025 14:47 PM EST

ATLANTA (AP) — The state of Georgia is seeking another Supreme Court showdown over the Voting Rights Act, asking a federal appeals court on Thursday to interpret the 1965 law in a way that could make it much harder to prove minority votes have been illegally diluted. A lawyer for...