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ProPublica reporter covering voting, elections and democracy. Former @votebeatUS @azcentral @stateline_news @frednewspost. Tips: DMs open/ Signal jenafifield.01
Articles by Jen Fifield
Ballot rejections soared in rural counties after USPS reduced mail service
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Reporting Highlights Rural Cuts: Delays resulting from the U.S. Postal Service’s cost-cutting measures have endangered the validity of ballots cast in rural areas, a ProPublica analysis found. Rejected Ballots: The rates of ballots rejected for arriving late this year doubled or tripled in areas affected by the cuts compared to the 2022 primary. That wasn’t the case elsewhere.
Ballot rejections soared in rural counties after USPS reduced mail service Original
This story was first published by ProPublica. In early August, election workers north of Spokane, Washington, went across the street to the post office to check for late mail-in ballots. It was three days after the primary and they were expecting no more than a few dozen. Instead, their mailbox was brimming with envelopes — more than 500 of them, each a vote that wouldn’t count. The sight was “jarring,” said Auditor Lori Larsen, a Republican who oversees voting in Stevens County.
Ballot Rejections Soared in Rural Counties After USPS Reduced Mail Service
Reporting Highlights Rural Cuts: Delays resulting from the U.S. Postal Service’s cost-cutting measures have endangered the validity of ballots cast in rural areas, a ProPublica analysis found. Rejected Ballots: The rates of ballots rejected for arriving late this year doubled or tripled in areas affected by the cuts compared to the 2022 primary. That wasn’t the case elsewhere. Extraordinary Measures: Postal Service leaders say special procedures in place for the Nov.
Ballot Rejections Soared in Rural Counties After USPS Reduced Mail Service
19 hours ago The decision means the Bureau of Prisons can’t move forward with a policy that would bar gender transition surgery, hormone treatments or social accommodations. WASHINGTON — In a blow to President Donald Trump, the Supreme Court said Wednesday that his administration cannot enforce a new policy that …
The Untold Origins of Trump’s Plan to Sharply Restrict Mail-In Voting
Elections Legal national news News podcasts politics Top Stories The Untold Origins of Trump’s Plan to Sharply Restrict Mail-In Voting A Decrease font size. A Reset font size. A Increase font size. ProPublica’s reporting reveals for the first time the extent of the White House’s role in trying to dictate how mail-in ballots are processed, spurring behind-the-scenes drama that played out for nearly a year. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
The untold origins of Trump's plan to sharply restrict mail-in voting
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump restricting voting by mail in ways that could have thrown the upcoming midterms into chaos. But the White House originally had far more disruptive plans, ProPublica has learned.
The Untold Origins of Trump’s Plan to Sharply Restrict Mail-In Voting
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump restricting voting by mail in ways that could have thrown the upcoming midterms into chaos. But the White House originally had far more disruptive plans, ProPublica has learned.
U.S. Postal Service Failed to Properly Handle Some Ballots During This Year’s Primary Elections, Audit Finds
Some U.S. Postal Service facilities failed to properly handle ballots during this year’s primary elections, according to a new audit from the agency’s Office of Inspector General. Election experts say the findings call into question the agency’s ability to meet even greater demands for the November election that are under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. The audit, which is dated Sept.
US Postal Service failed to properly handle some ballots during this year’s primary elections, audit finds
By Jen Fifield, ProPublica, https://www.propublica.org This story was originally published by ProPublica. Some U.S. Postal Service facilities failed to properly handle ballots during this year’s primary elections, according to a new audit from the agency’s Office of Inspector General. Election experts say the findings call into question the agency’s ability to meet even greater demands for the November election that are under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. The audit, which is dated Sept.
U.S. Postal Service Failed to Properly Handle Some Ballots During This Year’s Primary Elections, Audit Finds
Some U.S. Postal Service facilities failed to properly handle ballots during this year’s primary elections, according to a new audit from the agency’s Office of Inspector General. Election experts say the findings call into question the agency’s ability to meet even greater demands for the November election that are under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. The audit, which is dated Sept.
U.S. Postal Service Failed to Properly Handle Some Ballots During This Year’s Primary Elections, Audit Finds
Politics 7 hours ago Vance’s Dallas dance POLITICO - By DASHA BURNS, ADAM WREN and WILL STEAKIN • 7h With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner Good Thursday morning from Dallas, where we’re wondering what shocks might come from the convention stage today after John Fetterman’s surprise appearance and Donald Trump’s pledge to send Americans $5,000 checks if Republicans keep control of … Politics 16 hours ago California, other states warn Supreme Court of ‘chaos’ if it lets USPS mail...
USPS Officials Warned New Mail Voting Rules Could Mean Mass Disenfranchisement
Top U.S. Postal Service officials tasked with issuing new regulations on mail voting expressed concerns in internal meetings about how the rules they were drafting could delay or block ballots from reaching large swaths of eligible voters for the upcoming midterms, but the rules moved forward anyway, ProPublica has learned.
Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt for Noncitizen Voters
Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt for Noncitizen Voters Published September 4, 2026 It was late March when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections.
New mail voting rules moved forward despite USPS officials' concerns about mass disenfranchisement
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New Mail Voting Rules Moved Forward Despite USPS Officials’ Concerns About Mass Disenfranchisement
A United States Postal Service logo sign is seen on a delivery truck in Chicago, Illinois, United States, on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they're published.
Inside Trump’s failed hunt for noncitizen voters Original
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6:00 News Story Reprinted with permission from ProPublica. It was late March when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections.
By Peter Elkind Verified, Jen Fifield Verified, Doug Bock Clark Verified, Ken B. Morales, Andy Mannix Verified
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Minnesota Reformer
Jen Fifield, Author at Ohio Capital Journal
Inside Trump’s failed hunt for noncitizen voters This story first appeared in ProPublica. It was late March when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections. Agents […]
Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt For Noncitizen Voters
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. It was late March when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections.
Ken B. Morales
President Trump is taking unprecedented action to catch so-called illegal voters—but the effort has produced meager results.
Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt for Noncitizen Voters
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Read the story here. by Peter Elkind, Jen Fifield, Doug Bock Clark, Ken B. Morales and Andy Mannix IT WAS LATE MARCH when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections.
ProPublica | Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt for Noncitizen Voters
It was late March when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, a massive federal law enforcement agency, had been dispatched to work leads across the country, including hundreds in Minnesota.
Elections, election security, non-citizen voting, DHS's HSI
DEMOCRACY WATCHHow Trump’s Unprecedented Effort to Prosecute Noncitizen Voters Fell Apart Published 15 August 2026 Since Trump regained the White House, his administration has launched a series of unprecedented initiatives to find and prosecute voting by noncitizens, which he’s long claimed, without evidence, is rampant.
How Trump’s unprecedented effort to prosecute noncitizen voters fell apart
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It was late March when Joe Teirab, the second-in-command at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, received an urgent email from Washington. The federal government was scrambling to find criminal cases to back up President Donald Trump’s claims that illegal voting by noncitizens was tipping the scales in American elections. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, a massive federal law enforcement agency, had been dispatched to work leads across the country, including hundreds in Minnesota.
By Peter Elkind Verified, Andy Mannix Verified, Ken B. Morales, Doug Bock Clark Verified, Jen Fifield Verified
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Salon
Verified
Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt for Noncitizen Voters
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Liberal View 2 hours ago People are betting on wildfires on Polymarket. What could go wrong? Vox - by Cameron Peters • 2h Lawmakers are warning that predictions markets could make a bad wildfire season worse. This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. Subscribe here.
By Peter Elkind Verified, Jen Fifield Verified, Doug Bock Clark Verified, Ken B. Morales, Andy Mannix Verified
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Flipboard
How Trump’s Unprecedented Effort to Prosecute Noncitizen Voters Fell Apart
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Pop Culture 5 hours ago Selena Gomez sued for alleged fraud over mental health company bbc.co.uk - Osmond Chia, Lucy Hooker • 5h Hollywood actress and singer Selena Gomez is being sued by five investors who backed Wondermind Global, a mental health business she founded with her mother.
By Peter Elkind Verified, Jen Fifield Verified, Doug Bock Clark Verified, Ken B. Morales, Andy Mannix Verified
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Flipboard
Inside Trump’s Failed Hunt for Noncitizen Voters
Reporting Highlights Inflated Claims: HSI deployed its tech platform to find noncitizens on voter rolls, despite warnings from agency insiders that it would lead to an “ungodly” number of false positives. Privacy Concerns: DOJ leaders ignored internal concerns that transferring voter lists to HSI for criminal investigation might not be legal.
Republican: 'Kids playing wizard in the park' have better grip on reality than Trump
After days of speculation among election officials and experts about what President Donald Trump might say in a heavily hyped primetime speech on elections, Trump on Thursday night delivered a mix of familiar claims, grievances, and assertions about election security that stopped short of alleging that votes had been altered or that results had been changed. This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.
Trump Pushes Out Remaining Members of Bipartisan Election Commission Ahead of Midterms
President Donald Trump has pushed out the three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the bipartisan agency in limbo as he rushes to remake how elections are run before this year’s midterms. Trump fired Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks, the Democrats on the commission, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ProPublica, which was the first to report the actions on its social media accounts.
Trump Pushes Out Remaining Members of Bipartisan Election Commission Ahead of Midterms
This story was originally published by ProPublica. President Donald Trump has pushed out the three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the bipartisan agency in limbo as he rushes to remake how elections are run before this year’s midterms. Trump fired Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks, the Democrats on the commission, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ProPublica, which was the first to report the actions on its social media accounts.
Trump Pushes Out Remaining Members of Bipartisan Election Commission Ahead of Midterms
President Donald Trump has pushed out the three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the bipartisan agency in limbo as he rushes to remake how elections are run before this year’s midterms. Trump fired Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks, the Democrats on the commission, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ProPublica, which was the first to report the actions on its social media accounts.
Trump Pushes Out Remaining Members of Bipartisan Election Commission Ahead of Midterms
E. Jean Carroll 9 hours ago Judge Orders Trump to Stop ‘Stalling’ and Pay E. Jean Carroll $5 Million, Plus 3 Years of Interest, for Sex Abuse Verdict People - Ingrid Vasquez • 9h President Donald Trump‘s request to delay the payment of over $5 million to E. Jean Carroll has been denied. On Wednesday, June 8, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an order, reviewed by PEOPLE, denying Trump’s motion for an administrative stay of the ruling …
Jessica Huseman, Votebeat
Posted inMichigan Government Letters sent to a growing and bipartisan group of states threaten criminal liability, but election officials and experts say they look more like pressure than prosecution. Posted inMichigan Government The new mandates, including a proof-of-citizenship requirement and revised voting machine standards, would override the powers of Congress, states, and independent agencies. Elon Musk’s team would investigate voter rolls.
A noncitizen says she was told she could vote. Then CBP detained her at the airport
Estelle, who’s long held permanent resident status in the U.S., is a veteran at navigating the reentry process when she returns from visiting relatives in her native France. But on her most recent trip through customs in mid-March, officers detained the 57-year-old Lawrence, Kansas, resident for 30 hours, forced her to spend the night in a holding cell on a concrete slab and threatened her with deportation. Why?
A Noncitizen Says She Was Told She Could Vote. Then Customs Detained Her at the Airport and Threatened to Deport Her.
15 hours ago SHOTLIST: WASHINGTON DC, US (MAY 12, 2026) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING: "Well, they're not doing well. Cuba is not doing well. It's a failed nation. And we'll be talking about Cuba at the right time. …We're going to get them all out. And I'll tell you what, Delcy's (Delcy Rodriguez) doing a great job. The people of Venezuela are thrilled with what's happened. They can't even believe it. They're dancing in the streets.
A Noncitizen Says She Was Told She Could Vote. Then Customs Detained Her at the Airport and Threatened to Deport Her.
Estelle, who’s long held permanent resident status in the U.S., is a veteran at navigating the reentry process when she returns from visiting relatives in her native France. But on her most recent trip through customs in mid-March, officers detained the 57-year-old Lawrence, Kansas, resident for 30 hours, forced her to spend the night in a holding cell on a concrete slab and threatened her with deportation. Why?
Jen Fifield, ProPublica
Inside Trump’s effort to ‘take over’ the midterm elections BY: Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica and Jen Fifield, ProPublica - April 18, 2026 This story was originally published by ProPublica. In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim, fortified room at the Justice Department’s downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters. They had been summoned by Attorney General William Barr.
Doug Bock Clark - ProPublica
Inside Trump’s Effort to “Take Over” the Midterm Elections In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim, fortified room at the Justice Department’s downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters. They had been summoned by Attorney General William Barr. Over the preceding weeks, Donald Trump’s claims that the presidential election had been stolen from him had reached a […]
Inside Trump’s Effort to “Take Over” the Midterm Elections Original
In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim, fortified room at the Justice Department’s downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters. They had been summoned by Attorney General William Barr. Over the preceding weeks, Donald Trump’s claims that the presidential election had been stolen from him had reached a crescendo.
Jen Fifield - ProPublica
Inside Trump’s Effort to “Take Over” the Midterm Elections In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim, fortified room at the Justice Department’s downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters. They had been summoned by Attorney General William Barr. Over the preceding weeks, Donald Trump’s claims that the presidential election had been stolen from him had reached a […]
Democracy watch, election integrity, m id-terms, Trump's interferecne
ELECTION INTEGRITYInside Trump’s Effort to “Take Over” the Midterm Elections Published 14 April 2026 In late 2020, Attorney General William Barr was one of many federal officials — most of them Trump appointees — who refused to bend to the president’s demand that they support his brazen lies about the fiction of a stolen elections. Ultimately the institutional guardrails of American democracy held — barely.
Inside the secret meeting that almost stopped Trump
Doug Bock Clark, Jen Fifield, ProPublica In mid-December 2020, federal officials responsible for protecting American elections from fraud converged in a windowless, dim,fortified roomat the Justice Department's downtown Washington, D.C., headquarters. They had been summoned by Attorney General William Barr. Over the preceding weeks, Donald Trump's claims that the presidential election had been stolen from him had reached a crescendo.
Inside Trump’s Effort to “Take Over” the Midterm Elections
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Safeguards Destroyed: In advance of this year’s midterm elections, President Donald Trump has systematically demolished federal guardrails that prevented him from overturning the 2020 election. Changing of Guard: At least 75 career staff are gone. Two dozen appointees, including many from the election denial movement, have been hired.
As Trump demands voter data, this fiercely independent red state says no
The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has demanded states hand over voter rolls. Idaho’s Republican secretary of state has refused to comply, saying, in part, that he needs to protect sensitive voter data. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn’t fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance. It wasn’t President Donald Trump’s administration applying pressure.
Democracy watch, voter data, voting requirements
DEMOCRACY WATCHAs Trump Demands Voter Data, This Fiercely Independent Red State Says No Published 24 March 2026 Wary of federal intrusion, Idaho passed a law three decades ago allowing it to sidestep so-called motor-voter laws. The exemption and the sentiment behind it are fueling resistance to President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn’t fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance.
As Trump demands voter data, this fiercely independent Red State says no
This story was originally published by ProPublica. States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn’t fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance. It wasn’t President Donald Trump’s administration applying pressure. It was the early 1990s, and President Bill Clinton had signed the “motor voter” law requiring states to offer voter registration when someone applies for a driver’s license.
A fiercely independent red state just said 'no' to Trump
States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn't fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance. It wasn't President Donald Trump's administration applying pressure. It was the early 1990s, and President Bill Clinton had signed the “motor voter” law requiring states to offer voter registration when someone applies for a driver's license. Idaho, with its fiercely independent streak, didn't want to participate.
A fiercely independent red state just said 'no' to Trump
States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn’t fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance. It wasn’t President Donald Trump’s administration applying pressure. It was the early 1990s, and President Bill Clinton had signed the “motor voter” law requiring states to offer voter registration when someone applies for a driver’s license. Idaho, with its fiercely independent streak, didn’t want to participate.
As Trump Demands Voter Data, This Fiercely Independent Red State Says No
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week. States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn’t fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance. It wasn’t President Donald Trump’s administration applying pressure.
Experts: Election records handed over to FBI in Maricopa County could be fatally flawed
ProPublica Maricopa County ballots cast in the 2020 general election are examined and recounted by Cyber Ninjas contractors. This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Election Records Handed Over to the FBI in Maricopa County, Arizona, Could Be Fatally Flawed, Experts Say
This week, when 2020 voting information from Maricopa County, Arizona, was handed over to the FBI, it might have seemed like a replay of the agency’s late January raid in Fulton County, Georgia. Both are large counties in swing states that voted for Joe Biden in 2020, and both have long been targets of President Donald Trump’s claims that that year’s presidential election was stolen from him.
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