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Watchdog, GOP lawmaker warn NY voter registration systems lacks key safeguards

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One blue state is failing to enact adequate voting safeguards and refusing to correct its mistakes ahead of November’s midterm elections, an election integrity watchdog warns.

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Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE), a nonpartisan organization focused on election security, alleges the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) stonewalled a request to fix the state’s voter registration form to comply with federal voting law.

The watchdog sent the NYSBOE a letter in late 2025 outlining several violations they claimed could undermine the state’s election integrity if left unaddressed. 

After the board failed to correct most of the violations, RITE and Tenney are demanding the board hand over comprehensive records and data to identify additional shortcomings in the state’s voter registration system.

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Kathy Hochul, governor of New York, speaks during a news conference at the WIN NYC family shelter in New York, US, on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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 «Your lack of a response is troubling and disregards the need to ensure public trust that New York is maintaining accurate voter rolls as required by federal law,» they wrote in a letter to the NYSBOE earlier this week that was obtained by Fox News Digital. 

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If the board does not meet their May 2026 deadline, RITE and Tenney say they are prepared to go to federal court to enforce compliance with federal law.

The watchdog alleges two errors in New York State’s voter registration forms that violate the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

First, New York State did not instruct individuals that they must provide their driver’s license information if they have one. It also continued registering individuals who did not provide a driver’s license, the last four digits of their Social Security number or a declaration that the applicant has neither, as required by federal law.

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Rep. Claudia Tenney and a poll booth

Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., has accused the New York State Board of Elections of failing to implement adequate safeguards in its voter registration system. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images ; Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

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These errors have, in part, led to millions of New York voters providing incomplete information during the registration process, making it more difficult for the state to accurately maintain voter lists, according to RITE.

RITE and and Tenney also allege the board did not perform a requested audit to identify how many incomplete voter registration applications have been processed.

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A 2022 report from the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation found that at least 3.1 million New York registered voters have not provided a driver’s license or Social Security number on their application form.

«The law is clear: states may not accept registration forms that lack required identifying information,» RITE President Justin Riemer said in a statement. New York’s own regulations direct officials to do exactly that. This flagrant violation of an important federal safeguard significantly erodes the integrity of New York’s voter registration system.»

«We are committed to getting answers about the breadth of the problem and ensuring the state fixes it,» Riemer added.

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People walking towards a polling site in Manhattan, New York City

People walk towards a polling site during early voting in the New York City mayoral election in Manhattan in New York City, Oct. 27, 2025. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

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Tenney, who is chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, said she has called for an investigation into the NYSBOE since 2022.

«Transparency and accurate voter rolls are essential to maintaining public trust in our elections,» the New York Republican said in a statement. «The people of New York deserve answers, accountability, and full compliance with HAVA to ensure the integrity of every vote.»

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The New York City Board of Elections system has also come under recent scrutiny for failing to enact adequate safeguards.

One of its employees declined to block a reporter who was posing as a noncitizen from attempting to register to vote, according to video footage obtained by Fox News Digital in February.

Fox News Digital reached out to the New York State Board of Elections for comment.

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elections disputes, midterm elections, voting, elections state and local, voter fraud concerns

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Iran threatens to halt Red Sea traffic in response to US military blockade of ports

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An Iranian general warned Wednesday that Tehran could shut down traffic in the Red Sea and other regional shipping lanes if the U.S. military’s blockade of Iranian ports continues. 

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The remarks from Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, which is Iran’s top military command, were aired by Iranian state television, according to the Middle East Eye. 

Aliabadi said if the U.S. blockade continues, it «creates insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers» and constitutes «a prelude» to violating the ongoing U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the news outlet reported. 

«The powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea,» Aliabadi reportedly added.

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LIVE UPDATES: US MILITARY MAINTAINING BLOCKADE ON IRANIAN PORTS AS PEACE TALKS ARE SET TO BEGIN

Units from Iran and Russia conduct joint naval drills at the Port of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz in Hormozgan, Iran, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Iranian Army/Anadolu/Getty Images)

The White House, when asked by Fox News Digital for comment, provided a statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt that said, «President Trump, Vice President Vance and the negotiating team have made the U.S. redlines very clear.»

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«The Iranians’ desperation for a deal will only increase with President Trump’s highly effective Naval blockade now in effect, which is sending oil tankers towards the big, beautiful Gulf of America,» Leavitt said.

U.S. Central Command released a statement Wednesday saying the U.S. stopped nine vessels attempting to break the blockade on Iranian ports. Fox News is told all nine were oil tankers.

A senior U.S. defense official also confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday a report from Reuters that a U.S. destroyer interdicted two oil tankers that were trying to leave Iran on Tuesday. 

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TRUMP SAYS US COULD ‘TAKE’ IRAN’S URANIUM AFTER STRIKES: HOW IT WOULD WORK

US destroyer sailing in Middle East

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that «U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are among the assets executing a blockade mission impacting Iranian ports.» (CENTCOM)

A U.S. official told Reuters that the ships left Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman before being contacted by the U.S. warship through radio communication.  

«During the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past U.S. forces,» U.S. Central Command said Wednesday.

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Vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz in Oman

A ship is seen passing through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)

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«Additionally, 9 vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area,» it added. 

Fox News’ Liz Friden contributed to this report. 

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us navy, middle east, iran, sanctions, military

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Republicans rip 4 blue states for keeping taxes on tips, overtime after Trump reprieve

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Four Democrat-led states that rejected President Donald Trump’s policy of no taxes on tips and overtime pay are getting called out by Republicans for going against efforts to increase affordability.

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The governors of the three largest Democrat-run states, California, New York and Illinois, are continuing to tax tips and overtime against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while Colorado will require taxpayers to report how much is deducted federally so it can be added back for state taxes in future years.

«Gov. Hochul and Albany Democrats believe your money is their money: They are picking the pockets of waitresses, bartenders, and first responders who work overtime just to make ends meet in a state that already has the highest tax burden in the country,» Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital.

«No wonder working people and jobs continue to flee New York in record numbers, and we’re consistently among the worst in outmigration every year.»

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AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700 MIDWAY THROUGH FILING SEASON, TREASURY SAYS

Democrat Govs. JB Pritzker, Jared Polis, Gavin Newsom and Kathy Hochul were all called out on Tax Day for rejecting President Donald Trump’s efforts to address affordability through no tax on tips or overtime. (Getty Images)

With «affordability» a key political issue, Republicans countered with a Tax Day narrative against the governors of those four blue states that are facing midterm gubernatorial campaigns, including Hochul, who is running for re-election and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out this year.

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«California Democrats talk a lot about making life more affordable, but when given the chance to let hardworking Californians keep more of what they earn, Gov. Newsom and the state legislature refused to update the state’s tax code,» Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., told Fox News Digital.

«No tax on tips or overtime would provide real relief to service workers, first responders, and families across our state, and it’s disappointing to see Sacramento turn its back on them.»

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Governor Gavin Newsom speaking at a press conference at San Lorenzo High School

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference at San Lorenzo High School as he signs an executive order to expand women’s access to capital and wealth-building opportunities on March 18, 2026, in San Lorenzo, Calif. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu)

Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi says that while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is running for re-election in the nation’s third-largest blue state, he is really positioning himself for a 2028 presidential campaign on the agenda of obstructing Trump.

«Last year, President Trump delivered the largest tax cut in American history, putting millions of dollars back in the pockets of Americans; this commonsense legislation is good for Illinois, but wannabe president, JB Pritzker would rather slam the door shut on opportunity and relief, knowing full well that he supported and empowered Joe Biden’s economic disaster,» Salvi told Fox News Digital.

«The sad truth is that if President Trump is for it, JB Pritzker will always be against it.»

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NASHVILLE ARTISTS PRAISE TRUMP’S NO-TAX-ON-TIPS POLICY ONE YEAR INTO PRESIDENCY

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker answering questions at Union Station in Chicago

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker answers questions at an event at Union Station in Chicago on Dec. 16, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who is termed out and among names potentially running in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, was called out by Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., for action to tax overtime pay in future years.

«As a former cop in Colorado, I know firsthand how important overtime pay is to first responders, blue-collar workers, and hardworking families across America — that’s why I was proud to stand with Republicans to deliver no tax on overtime at the federal level,» Evans told Fox News Digital.

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«But while we fought to give Coloradans relief, Gov. Polis and state Democrats held a special session to re-tax overtime pay, ensuring families never see the benefits they earned. The contrast couldn’t be clearer.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Hochul, Newsom, Pritzker and Polis for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

SCOOP: HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON’S ALLIES UNLEASH $10M CAMPAIGN TO SPOTLIGHT TRUMP TAX CUTS

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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaking at the National Governors Association meeting in Colorado Springs

Gov. Jared Polis speaks to the National Governors Association at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 25, 2025. (AP)

While the governor’s seats in those four blue states are likely safe due to deep Democratic voter registration advantages, down-ballot races do have a narrative to carry under the Trump banner and the no tax on tips or overtime policy.

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The Senate Finance Committee charted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act «wins» in all 50 states, including those four blocked by Democratic leaders where there still remains a permanent 20% deduction for many small business owners and a $1,500 increase in the standard deduction for millions of families.

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  • California: More than 3.1 million small business owners and 15.3 million families benefited.
  • New York: More than 1.5 million small businesses, nearly 8.6 million families.
  • Illinois: More than 1 million small businesses, almost 5.5 million families.
  • Colorado: Almost 600K small businesses, nearly 2.6 million families.

governors, republicans elections, taxes, california, jb pritzker

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Israel intensifica sus bombardeos en el Líbano en medio de versiones y desmentidas sobre un diálogo optimista

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Estados Unidos se mostró optimista sobre las negociaciones con Irán y prosiguió sus esfuerzos de mediación entre Israel y Líbano, afirmando que sus «líderes» conversarán este jueves. La información fue reiterada por una ministra israelí. Pero poco después, el presidente libanés lo rechazó de plano.

El primer ministro de Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, «hablará» con el presidente libanés, Joseph Aoun, declaró este jueves la ministra israelí de Innovación, Gila Gamliel, en la radio militar.

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«El primer ministro hablará por primera vez con el presidente del Líbano tras tantos años de ruptura total del diálogo entre ambos países, y cabe esperar que esta iniciativa conduzca finalmente a la prosperidad y al desarrollo del Líbano como Estado», declaró Gamliel sin precisar cuándo ni cómo lo harán.

El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, había anunciado antes que los «líderes» de Israel y Líbano iban a hablar el jueves.

Trump escribió el miércoles en su red Truth Social que Washington está «intentando dar un poco de espacio para respirar entre Israel y Líbano».

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«Hace mucho tiempo que los dos líderes no se hablan, unos 34 años. Será mañana (jueves). ¡Genial!», anunció.

Este anuncio se produce tras el encuentro el martes entre los embajadores de ambos países en Washington, en el contexto de la guerra entre Israel y el grupo libanés proiraní Hezbollah.

Sin embargo, una fuente libanesa echó por tierra las expectativas. «El presidente libanés rechazó una llamada directa con Netanyahu» e informó de ello al secretario de Estado estadounidense, Marco Rubio, afirmó, y precisó que Estados Unidos «entendió la postura» de Líbano.

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Sigue la ofensiva

Sin embargo, pese a los anuncios de diálogo, el Ejército israelí intensificó este jueves sus ataques contra la zona de Bint Jbeil, en el sur del Líbano. Según un comunicado castrense, la «intensificación» en el pueblo de Bint Jbeil continúa, con soldados de las unidades Egoz y Yahalom y la destrucción de «70 infraestructuras en tan solo un minuto» que el Ejército asocia con Hezbollah.

Los principales enfrentamientos entre Israel y la milicia shiíta libanesa se están produciendo estos días en Bint Jbeil, el segundo municipio más grande de la gobernación sureña de Nabatiye, de aproximadamente 30.000 habitantes.

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Aquí, las fuerzas israelíes siguen demoliendo viviendas, según publicó la agencia oficial de noticias libanesa (NNA), además de atacar el campamento de refugiados palestinos Borj El Chmali (sur de Beirut) y bombardear la ciudad de Tebnine (sur), provocando daños graves a su hospital.

Por su parte, Hezbollah, citado por NNA, reivindicó siete nuevos ataques contra posiciones militares israelíes como cuarteles, bases logísticas y radares en el norte del país.

Los ataques se producen en un momento de incertidumbre, y según el Ejército en ellos han matado a «decenas» de milicianos de Hezbollah, la milicia apoyada por Irán.

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Los enfrentamientos no cesan pese al acercamiento entre las autoridades de Israel y del Líbano esta semana. El martes, el embajador de Israel en Estados Unidos, Yechiel Leiter, y su homóloga libanesa, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, mantuvieron un encuentro de dos horas y media en Washington, en presencia del secretario de Estado estadounidense, Marco Rubio.

Las conversaciones celebradas el martes en Washington entre Líbano e Israel -dos países técnicamente en guerra desde hace décadas- fueron el primer diálogo directo de alto nivel entre ambos desde 1993.

Un puente destruido por los bombardeos de Israel, en la frontera con Líbano, este jueves. Foto: REUTERS

Estas conversaciones se producen tras seis semanas de enfrentamientos entre Hizbollah e Israel en territorio libanés, que han dejado más de 2.000 muertos y más de un millón de desplazados, en una nueva guerra que el gobierno de Netanyahu justifica por el lanzamiento de cohetes de la milicia shiíta el 2 de marzo en apoyo a Irán.

Israel se ha negado a incluir al Líbano dentro de la tregua que Estados Unidos declaró con Irán la semana pasada.

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Las discrepancias entre ambas delegaciones son notables, ya que el gobierno libanés pide un alto el fuego inmediato que permita un diálogo más amplio, pero Israel lo descarta y exige el desarme total de Hezbollah y la creación de una «zona de seguridad» en el sur del Líbano que le permita controlar la franja entre la frontera y el río Litani.

El reclamo del Líbano

El presidente libanés reiteró este jueves en un comunicado la importancia de un alto el fuego, calificándolo del «punto de partida natural para las negociaciones directas entre ambos países», sin confirmar su celebración.

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Las fuerzas israelíes ocupan actualmente partes del sur de Líbano, y su gobierno se ha resistido a considerar cualquier cese al fuego hasta que Hezbollah sea desmantelado.


«El desmantelamiento» de Hezbolá es el primer objetivo de las negociaciones entre Israel y Líbano, reafirmó el miércoles Netanyahu.

Estados Unidos presiona para que se ponga fin al conflicto en Líbano, por temor a que pueda poner en peligro el alto el fuego con Irán que rige desde el 8 de abril y una solución al conflicto, que ha sacudido la economía mundial.

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Tras el fracaso de las negociaciones con Irán el fin de semana en Islamabad, Washington anunció que está discutiendo una segunda ronda de discusiones en la capital de Pakistán.


«Esas conversaciones se están llevando a cabo», pero no hay nada oficial todavía, declaró la portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, quien precisó que su gobierno es «optimista respecto a las perspectivas de un acuerdo».

El portavoz de la diplomacia iraní, Esmail Baqai, confirmó que las partes beligerantes se intercambiaron «varios mensajes a través de Pakistán» en los últimos días.

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No obstante, se mantuvo firme en una exigencia clave de Irán: el derecho del país a un programa nuclear civil, abriendo únicamente la puerta a debates sobre «el nivel y el tipo de enriquecimiento» de uranio.

Otro de los principales puntos de conflicto entre Estados Unidos e Irán es el estratégico estrecho de Ormuz, por donde antes de la guerra transitaba el 20% del petróleo y el gas mundial.

Sobre el terreno, Teherán sigue cerrando el estrecho y Washington impone desde el lunes un bloqueo a los barcos que zarpan de o se dirigen a puertos iraníes.

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Estados Unidos aseguró el miércoles que impidió a 10 barcos salir de los puertos iraníes y anunció un refuerzo de sus sanciones contra el sector petrolero iraní.


En respuesta, el ejército iraní esgrimió la amenaza de un bloqueo del mar Rojo, además del estrecho de Ormuz.


Mohsen Rezaei, consejero del Guía Supremo iraní, amenazó también con hundir los barcos estadounidenses si intentaban hacer de «policía» en el estrecho.

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