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Voters mostly don’t like AI and data centers, but neither party seems to have an edge
NYT/Siena poll of 1,503 likely voters finds 61% oppose AI data center construction, yet the issue ranks below 1% among midterm priorities.
A New York Times/Siena University poll of 1,503 likely voters conducted in early September found 61% oppose constructing data centers to power AI, with only 14% strongly supportive. Opposition drivers include environment/water usage (32%), local community impact (21%), and general distrust of AI (18%); 56% of opponents favor limits while 38% want a total ban. Trump 2024 voters split nearly evenly (49% support vs 45% oppose) while Harris voters opposed at 74%. Despite the sentiment, AI and data centers registered under 1% as a top midterm issue for most demographics, and neither party holds a clear trust advantage (42% Republicans vs 40% Democrats).
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Supreme Court denies Trump request to allow USPS mail ballot changes
Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's emergency request to implement USPS mail ballot changes before the 2026 midterms, calling it arbitrary and capricious.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected 7-2 the Trump administration's petition to change how the U.S. Postal Service handles mail-in ballots for the 2026 midterm elections. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote the administration was unlikely to succeed, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh cited unreasonably short timelines for state election officials. The blocked executive order would have required USPS citizenship verification, barcode tracking of ballot envelopes, and DHS-compiled "State Citizenship Lists"; a whistleblower alleged a rushed effort to install three restrictive IT verification systems. Justices Alito and Thomas dissented, arguing states and organizations lacked standing.
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Whistleblower says USPS deploying new, ‘untested’ IT systems governing mail
A whistleblower alleges USPS is rushing untested IT systems that could reject thousands of mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A whistleblower complaint released by Sen. Richard Blumenthal says USPS is deploying three new, largely untested IT systems — including the Federal Ballot Mail Portal — that could reject entire ballot batches over single scan errors. The systems were developed in weeks without standard testing or interoperability checks, and USPS allegedly continued work despite court injunctions against its rule changes. House Oversight Democrats demanded USPS halt implementation, and election experts warn the design could lead to new lawsuits and mass ballot denials.
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ICE Wants the Country’s Voter Data
ICE seeks a federal contractor to access national voter registration and history files, citing fraud detection ahead of the midterm elections.
Procurement records reviewed by 404 Media show ICE seeking a federal contractor to provide access to US voter registration and voter history data to help detect fraud. Observers question whether the data will support immigration enforcement actions ahead of the midterms, given the administration's use of fraud as a pretense. The paywalled article provides few further details.
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