Yesterday, the DNC sued the Trump administration over the Department of Defense (DOD)’s attempt to disenfranchise eligible American citizens who were born and remain abroad. DOD proclaimed a false “emergency” to justify changes to the Federal Post Card Application, which eligible U.S. citizens use to register and request mail ballots. The DNC will continue to hold the Trump administration accountable for its efforts to rip away Americans’ fundamental right to vote.
Take a look at some of the coverage below:
The Guardian: DNC sues Trump administration over last-minute changes to overseas voting form
[Sam Levine, 10/1/26]
“The Trump administration broke the law when it pushed through a last-minute change to the form overseas citizens use to register and request absentee ballots, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said in a lawsuit filed on Thursday.
“Until recently, the form, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), gave overseas voters four options to choose from when describing their geographic location. Voters could say they needed an overseas ballot because they were on active military service, living outside the US with an intent to return, or living outside the US and uncertain about their return. […]
“‘Trump and Republicans are so desperate to hang on to power that they are trying to eliminate the way some American citizens abroad register to vote and request mail ballots. They know that Americans, both at home and abroad, are going to reject their destructive agenda, and they are scrambling to disenfranchise as much of the electorate as possible by any means necessary,’ said Ken Martin, the chair of the DNC.”
New York Times: The D.N.C. sues the Defense Department over changes to a form for overseas voters.
[Tim Balk, 10/1/26]
“Lawyers for the D.N.C. wrote that the changes could make it ‘impossible’ for some citizens to use a Federal Post Card Application to register.
“The complaint described the alterations as ‘an attempt to fence out these voters from the electorate and advance the interests of the Republican Party.’ It said the changes were approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget on an emergency basis to skirt a required public notice.”
Washington Post: Democrats sue over Pentagon’s changes to voter forms for Americans overseas
[Maegan Vazquez, 10/1/26]
“Democrats filed a lawsuit Thursday over the Trump administration’s recent use of an emergency measure to make changes to the federal voter-registration form used by U.S. service members abroad and citizens residing outside the country, arguing that it’s an attempt to disenfranchise eligible American voters. […]
“The lawsuit follows concerns by advocates for American citizens overseas, who said the changes will spark confusion among eligible voters abroad and officials within U.S. election offices. The Pentagon has said the changes are meant to align the form with federal law. More than 2 million Americans living abroad are eligible to cast their ballots in U.S. elections.”
Associated Press: Trump administration’s quiet move makes it harder for some US citizens abroad to vote, lawsuit says
[Nicholas Riccardi, 10/1/26]
“The Democratic National Committee on Thursday filed a lawsuit alleging that President Donald Trump’s administration secretly changed a postcard used by U.S. citizens overseas in a way that makes it harder to register to vote.
“The lawsuit contends that the Department of Defense made the change by declaring an emergency, which allowed it to eliminate a specific box on the form. That box is typically checked by potential voters who acknowledge they are U.S. citizens but who have never lived in the United States.”
NPR: Trump officials changed forms for overseas voters amid a GOP push to restrict voting
[Hansi Lo Wang, 10/1/26]
“On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee filed a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon in an attempt to block the revised forms. The DNC argues the Trump administration’s changes were ‘arbitrary and capricious’ and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.”
Bloomberg Law: DNC Challenges Defense Department Overseas Voter Rule Change
[Alex Ebert, 10/1/26]
“Rapid adoption of changes to voter rules for overseas US citizens by the Defense Department and the Office of Management and Budget violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Democratic National Committee alleges in a complaint filed Thursday.
“The lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia alleges that required notice-and-comment procedures were skipped when the Defense Department in August changed the application and write-in absentee ballot that military and overseas US citizens use to vote.
“The changes remove a voter classification for US citizens born abroad who have never resided in the United States. Dozens of states, through their state election laws, permit these citizens to vote in federal and local elections in the states in which those abroad citizens are registered.”
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