PROTECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE
PROJECT DEMOCRACY 2026
The current administration almost always tells us what they are going to do in advance — and their plans for the midterms are no exception. They will exercise every option at their disposal to disrupt your right to vote, with every intention of silencing the will of the people.
Don't let them. Plan your vote now.
"THE BIG RIG": MAGA's plans for the midterms
As polling grows more and more troublesome for the GOP, MAGA is pulling out all of the stops to rig the 2026 midterms in their own favor— making sure they never face consequences for any of their actions from the general public.
A very big part of that plan is overwhelm. The fascists among us are doing everything they can to make the anti-MAGA portion of the electorate feel helpless, hopeless, and deeply fearful — with the end goal of depressing Democratic (and democratic) turnout.
We must not let them. No matter what it takes.
Part of our mission at Door-to-Door Democracy is to keep you as informed as possible - but doing so in a way that doesn't add to the fatigue and trauma that plagues too many of us every day just by watching the news.
From now until November, we will be updating this page with the latest developments from MAGA's "Big Rig" campaign — the steps they are taking, where we stand, and how pro-democracy forces are stepping up and fighting back.
See below for more details.
The nuts & BOLTS of "the BIG RIG"
Vote-by-mail: Trump's executive order #14399
WHAT THEY ARE DOING: In a clear attempt to cherry-pick MAGA voters and design a more favorable electorate for the GOP this November, Trump has issued Executive Order #14399. This EO directs the United States Postal Service to withhold mail-in ballots from voters in all states that refuse to send their voter rolls to the federal government for "verification."
HOW PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES ARE FIGHTING BACK: 24 states and the District of Columbia filed suit to block the USPS directive and rule it unconstitutional.
WHERE WE STAND: The Constitution is clear. Elections are under the sole authority of the states. But that hasn't stopped Trump and his administration from flooding the zone with dubious lawsuits to federalize our elections.
As of September 1, 2026, here are the latest developments with the GOP's various voter suppression efforts in the courts:
*A federal judge has rejected the Trump Administration's attempts to seize New Jersey voter rolls,
*Trump's multi-pronged efforts to weaponize the U.S. Postal Service against blue-state mail voters remain alive but unrealized.
- On Thursday, August 28, Trump's new USPS rules for mail-in ballots were frozen by a district court judge.
- The Department of Justice, the Trump Administration, and USPS appealed this decision to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals the next day. They also asked the district court judge who issued the freeze to reconsider and lift the restriction temporarily. She refused.
- Bottom line: Sit tight. These competing lawsuits must be resolved through the courts before the Trump Administration can implement new rules for mail-in balloting.
- There is no final resolution on the constitutionality of what Trump is proposing — and there may not be a definitive answer in time for the midterm elections.
- In New Jersey, mail-in ballots are still scheduled to drop on Saturday, September 19.
- Follow us here for the latest details and developments on Trump's war on Vote-by-Mail.
For the latest news on Trump's war on VBM or more guidance on how to proceed as a mail voter, read statements by New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and New Jersey's county clerks, or see our quick 2026 VBM guide below.
VOTER REGISTRATION: The save america act
WHAT THEY ARE DOING: Through the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (otherwise known as the SAVE America Act), the Trump Administration is targeting, with pinpoint-like precision, the most anti-MAGA slices of the electorate for blatant voter suppression.
The mechanism: burdening eligible women, low-income Americans, and racial and ethnic minorities with often insurmountable proof-of-citizenship paperwork requirements — setting up obstacle after obstacle when they try to register to vote, re-register to vote, or change their voter information.
This bill also codifies into law a critical component of Trump's Executive Order #14399 — mandating that states turn over their voter rolls to the federal government for final say on who gets to vote and who doesn't.
HOW PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES ARE FIGHTING BACK: Countless voting rights organizations have worked to join forces with ordinary citizens and ramp up the pressure on our representatives in Washington to reject the SAVE America Act.
WHERE WE STAND: The House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act earlier this year, but it has stalled in the Senate, where it currently does not have the 67 votes needed for passage.
Trump has tried various ways to muscle this legislation through the Senate. He has called for his Senate majority to use any number of dubious tricks, techniques, and procedural maneuvers that could lower the number of votes required to pass the bill. He has refused to sign other bills unless and until the Senate rams the SAVE America Act through. He has also tried to bully the Senate into cancelling August recess to continue debate on this legislation.
Earlier this month, the Senate adjourned for summer recess without passing the SAVE Act, making it highly unlikely that this legislation will pass in time to make a difference for November's midterms.
If anything changes on this front, we will update you here.
FLOODING THE ZONE with lies: CHAOS, CRUELTY, & CONFUSION
FLOODING THE ZONE with lies: CHAOS, CRUELTY, & CONFUSION
WHAT THEY ARE DOING: The Trump Administration is just doing what they have always done, but on steroids. Through time-tested authoritarian propaganda techniques, they actively work to gaslight and silence the citizenry into submission — perhaps even getting people to suppress their own votes.
Here's their basic playbook:
- Feed the electorate nonstop lies, blurring and distorting the lines between fantasy and reality
- Bombard the public daily with rapid-fire developments to confuse and overwhelm
- Use Trump's bully pulpit and growing media echo chamber to reinforce
- Cast constant, undue suspicion on the fairness and validity of our elections
- Demonize and dehumanize the opposition
- Intimidate with threats and acts of violence against out-groups, creating a de facto police state
HOW PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES ARE FIGHTING BACK: Since MAGA first came on the scene a decade ago, a pro-democracy cottage industry has sprung up to meet the moment — from a blossoming community of independent journalists to grassroots groups like ours. We are all committed to promoting truth and cutting through the noise and lies, and we will not stop or give up.
WHERE WE STAND: The forces of misinformation are stronger than ever, but so are we.
A SPECIAL LOOK: THE BIG RIG AND MAIL-IN VOTING
WHERE WE STAND
Earlier this month, the Senate adjourned for summer recess without passing the SAVE America Act, Trump's signature voter suppression legislation.
This makes it almost impossible for the SAVE Act to pass in time to make a difference for November's midterms.
But we are not out of the woods yet. Trump is not so easily dissuaded.
Trump is now attempting to hand-pick the perfect MAGA electorate through Executive Order #14399, focusing with laser-like precision on disenfranchising blue-state voters who cast their ballots by mail.
The good news: On Thursday, August 28, Trump's new USPS rules for mail-in ballots were frozen by a district court judge. The administration also asked the district court judge who issued the freeze to reconsider and lift the restriction temporarily, and she refused.
The not-so-good news: The block by the lower court judge was met swiftly by the Trump Administration with an appeal to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. That case is still pending.
BOTTOM LINE: Sit tight. These competing lawsuits must be resolved through the courts before the Trump Administration can implement new rules for mail-in balloting. There is no final resolution on the constitutionality of what Trump is proposing — and there may not be a definitive answer in time for the midterm elections.
As of now, things are proceeding normally in New Jersey, with mail-in ballots dropping on Saturday, September 19. But Trump is injecting a lot of noise and confusion into the system for VBM voters in blue states like ours.
As always, we will keep you posted here.
QUICK VBM VOTING GUIDE for 2026
If you vote by mail, don't worry — we are here to help you navigate the chaos. Here are some simple best practices you can adopt to protect your vote — and your peace of mind — this fall.
• Read the latest statement by New Jersey AG Jennifer Davenport for updates and guidance.
• Check your voter registration status regularly.
• Make sure you are actually signed up for VBMs — sometimes voters confuse the sample ballots for in-person voting with actual mail-in ballots. To access this information, you can create an account at New Jersey's My Voter Information portal.
• When you receive your ballot, complete and return it as quickly as possible. Do not wait until the last minute to fill it out. You can get help with completing your ballot here.
• We recommend putting your completed ballot in an official county ballot drop box or hand-delivering your ballot to your county Board of Elections.
• If that is not feasible, please place your ballot in your mailbox as soon as you've completed it.
• To ensure your ballot gets to your county Board of Elections safely and in a timely fashion, we suggest turning it around immediately — on the same day if possible, but no later than two weeks before Election Day (Tuesday, October 20).
• Make sure you track your ballot at the My Voter Information portal after you turn it in.
• If you don't receive your mail-in ballot by early October (or have problems with your ballot after receiving it), make sure you call your county board of elections to get the problem fixed.
• If all else fails, don't forget that you can always cast a provisional ballot at the polls on Tuesday, November 3. Polls are open from 6 AM until 8 PM.
Please continue to follow The Conversation (our email and online newsletter) and check this website frequently for updates on these and other election-related developments, as well as for further actions you may have to take.
D2DD's VOTER HUB: Your One-stop shop for NJ voter info
check your voting status
register to vote by mail (VBM)
check your voting status
Click on the picture above for more information on your voter registration status. Even if you are certain you are registered, we recommend checking this site periodically to make sure you have not been removed from the rolls for any reason.
register to vote
register to vote by mail (VBM)
check your voting status
Click on the image above for general voter registration information.
*Access your county's paper application here.
*Learn about the three ways to vote in NJ.
*Obtenga información en español aquí.
*Solicitud de Inscripción de Votante
register to vote by mail (VBM)
register to vote by mail (VBM)
register to vote by mail (VBM)
Click on the photo above for general information on voting by mail (VBM).
*Download your county's VBM paper application here.
*Learn how to fill out your VBM ballot here.
*Solicitud de boleta para votar por correo
We do not recommend using the U.S. postal service to return your ballots. Please hand-deliver your ballot to your closest county drop box or to your county's Board of Elections.
CHAnge your party affiliation
voting faqs: 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
register to vote by mail (VBM)
Want to join the Democratic Party? Click on the picture above to change or declare your party affiliation ONLINE.
track my VBM ballot
voting faqs: 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
voting faqs: 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
VBM voters, click on the photo above for more information on how to track your ballot once you've cast it.
voting faqs: 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
voting faqs: 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
voting faqs: 2026 GENERAL ELECTION
Click on the image above for more detailed information in our Q&A section for the 2026 primary elections.