The question has hung around like a murky storm cloud for months now: Can Donald Trump slap restrictions on mail ballots in advance of the 2026 midterms?
On Monday a Supreme Court majority answered: NO.
NO, Trump can’t push through a rush-job of a rulebook designed to “undermine the states’ established vote-by-mail systems and throw our elections into chaos,” in the words of New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport.
YES, states now can get busy sending out mail-in ballots using the same processes they’ve always used. As they should.
“States run elections, not Donald Trump,” said our governor, Mikie Sherrill. “This decision reinforces what we've long known: vote-by-mail is a safe, secure, and reliable way to vote. Another win for New Jersey voters. Another loss for Donald Trump's attempt to rig elections.”
Damn straight.
So VBM is safe (for now) from Trump’s obsessive efforts to restrict it. VBM ballots are already being mailed out in New Jersey. But VBM voters still have something to be vigilant about: New USPS postmarking rules.
Since late last year, USPS now postmarks mail with the date it is processed at a facility, not the date it is dropped off in a mailbox. More on this new policy here. This absolutely affects whether time-sensitive mail is considered late or on-time.
VBM voters need to remember three things:
- Use a county drop box to return your ballot, not USPS, if at all possible. Find your closest drop box here.
- If you must use USPS, get your ballot in the mail as early as possible, and no later than October 27th, which is 7 days before the election.
- Monitor when your ballot is received at Track My Ballot.
Note that any VBM voter *can* vote in person using a provisional ballot at an early voting location or on Election Day. Provisional ballots are counted, just like any other ballot. However, given this Court ruling, we continue to trust our excellent vote by mail system, and recommend that all vote-by-mail voters vote early, at a drop box or via USPS. Those ballots will be counted before any provisional ones. Personally, we’d rather know the results of close races sooner rather than later because our nerves are very delicate.
From Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin:
The battle for the right to vote by mail isn’t over. Trump’s shenanigans will likely end up in the courts again ahead of the 2028 elections. But right now? It’s all about 2026.
FORTY-SEVEN DAYS TO ELECTION DAY
Stuff we’re thinking about:
Did you see the latest polling in NJ 7? Turns out Tom Kean Jr. is even less popular than Trump. Time to show Junior the door. Check the events section for how to help Rebecca Bennett!
We were sitting outside at our local sushi place yesterday evening. There is a gas station across the street. While we were eating, the price for both regular and diesel went up $.10. A gallon of regular at that particular station has gone up $.60 in just the last month. Have you filled up your car lately? Thank Trump for that sticker shock, and Tom Kean Jr and Jeff Van Drew for enabling him.
Congresswoman Mejia is hosting a community Town Hall on Friday, sign up here.
NO KINGS OCTOBER 17. That’s right, the next NO KINGS day of action is coming up next month. This is NOT a rally/ protest event! The October 17th NO KINGS will focus specifically on EARLY VOTING. We are planning on a day of action–Informing voters about Early Vote options. We want to table EVERYWHERE. We’re making postcards right now (ahem, donations, anyone? Now would be the time!) and we are going to BLANKET NJ’s whole 11th district with early voting dates and locations.
Want to help out? We will need folks for tabling ideas we are working on. We need folks with their own tabling ideas (your kid’s soccer game, maybe?). Want a stack of postcards to pass out at school, the gym, the nail salon? We need you too! Drop us an email and let us know what you’re thinking. Want to help out and you don’t have any ideas? We want you too so drop us an email! [email protected].
Before we get to NO KINGS, we are also thinking about DemCon 26, the NJDSC’s annual convention happening in Atlantic City, Sept. 30- Oct. 2. There are panels and workshops (maybe you’ll see our own Mara Novak talking about grassroots organizing!), dinners, receptions, a mechanical bull, and over 500 NJ Dems ready to bring home the win this November. Get your tickets here and make sure you come visit the NJ 11th for Change table in The Pier, DemCon’s advocacy village. Be there or be square!
Events…
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Montclair Dems: Calls for Rebecca
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Virtual event; join from anywhere
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Phone Bank with Team Mejia (M, W, Th)
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Virtual event; join from anywhere
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Friday, September 18, 2026
Community Town Hall with Analilia Mejia at the Islamic Center of Morris County
7:15 PM - 9:00 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Make Calls to Elect Democrats in Morris County
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Follow the link to sign up!
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Vote by Mail Weekend of Action: Morris County
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Team Rebecca Weekend Phone Banks
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Virtual event; join from anywhere
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Palm Card at the Montclair Farmers Market with Team Mejia
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Follow the link to sign up!
Hit the Doors to Elect NJ Democrats: Morris County
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Follow the link to sign up!
Montclair Carpool to CD7 for Rebecca Bennett
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Montville, Boonton & Parsippany Area Carpool to CD7 for Rebecca Bennett
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
SOMA Area Carpool to CD7 for Rebecca Bennett
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Drivers Needed: Montclair Area CD7 Carpool for Rebecca Bennett
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Vote by Mail Weekend of Action: Morris County
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Team Rebecca Weekend Phone Banks
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Virtual event; join from anywhere
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Hit the Doors to Elect NJ Democrats: Morris County
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Follow the link to sign up!
Monday, September 21, 2026
Phone Bank with Team Mejia (M, W, Th)
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Virtual event; join from anywhere
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
All Votes on Deck: A Panel on American Democracy and the Future of Voting Rights
Experts will discuss voting rights, civic engagement, and the future of voting in elections to come.
7:00 PM at Montclair Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Ave, Montclair NJ
Follow the link for details!
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Phone Bank with Team Mejia (M, W, Th)
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Virtual event; join from anywhere
Follow the link for details and to sign up!
Save the date…
September 30 - October 2, 2026
Follow the link for the sign-up page!
Request a Lawn Sign for Analilia!
Follow the link to submit your pre-order for later pickup!
Montclair Protest: Standing Up to Trump!
Sundays at 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street in Montclair. Come from any/all surrounding communities. Come this Sunday, next Sunday, any Sunday, every Sunday for a peaceful protest of this outrageous regime.
