{
  "id": 1248267,
  "title": "Donald Trump Is Still Trying to Make It Harder to Vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/donald-trump-is-still-trying-to-make-it-harder-to-vote",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The New Yorker",
    "slug": "the-new-yorker",
    "url": "https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/08/24/donald-trump-is-still-trying-to-make-it-harder-to-vote"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Donald Trump continues to employ tactics aimed at making it more difficult for Americans to vote. Despite the Senate rejecting the \"Save America Act\" proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the effort to restrict voting rights is far from over. The bill, which seeks to mandate the use of \"documentary proof\" of citizenship for voter registration, has been opposed by several Republican senators, including Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis. The bill's requirements, such as presenting a photo ID on Election Day or sending a copy of one's ID with mail-in ballots, have raised concerns about privacy and accessibility, particularly for rural voters who might find it challenging to obtain the necessary documentation.\n\nTrump's strategy also involves an executive order aimed at mail-in voting, which, if implemented, could disenfranchise many eligible citizens and potentially undermine the Postal Service. This order mandates a complex process where the Department of Homeland Security would compile a list of citizens based on various databases, and states would then provide lists of eligible voters to the Postal Service, which would then determine whether to deliver ballots. Critics argue that this system is unconstitutional and would require significant reevaluation of the existing mail-in-voting process.\n\nMoreover, Trump's approach to election security is characterized by its punitive nature. He has threatened to prosecute individuals involved in alleged voter fraud, including election workers and citizens with incomplete paperwork. The administration has also filed lawsuits against several states to obtain voter information, further intensifying the contentious atmosphere surrounding the elections. Trump's ultimate aim may be to create disorder or the perception of disorder, which could benefit him should the midterms result in a significant setback to his presidency.",
  "summary": "The SAVE America Act is just one part of a package that includes an executive order and threats of prosecution, all in an effort to make Trump’s math work.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}