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October 2020

Record numbers of Americans are voting early and by mail this year, but when these ballots can be processed and counted varies from state to state. Notably, in two key battleground states—Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—election officials cannot begin processing or counting early ballots until Election Day at the earliest. CNN has created a map illustrating when early ballots can be processed.Visit CNN to learn more. 

In a 5-3 decision, the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision and allowed Alabama counties to ban curbside voting pending an appeal. The decision effectively ensures that the accommodation will not be available for the 2020 election. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor praised the district court’s ruling as a “modest” and “reasonable accommodation”, noting that the order didn’t require counties to offer curbside voting.Visit the SCOTUSblog to learn more.Image credit: Jake Kitchener via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Millions of Americans who sat out the 2016 election are choosing to vote in 2020. Opinion polls and early voting returns suggest that these voters are backing Democrats by wide margins, but Republicans are working to register and turn out infrequent and first-time voters as well. Some experts believe that President Trump’s polarizing policies and behavior may lead to a higher voter turnout than in 2016. Visit the Reuters to learn more.