American Democracy Minute A 90 second radio news report & podcast on U.S. democracy issues %

New Jersey Assembly Advances ‘John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act.’ If Passed by the Senate and Signed, It Becomes the 10th State VRA

March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

The New Jersey Assembly advanced the “John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act” March 23rd on a 53 to 20 vote. If passed by the senate and signed as expected, New Jersey would become the 10th state to pass a state voting rights act.

Elections Expert Testifies in DOJ Seizure of Fulton County, Georgia Ballots that Evidence Used to Justify the Warrant had ‘No Basis in Reality’

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

After the FBI seized hundreds of boxes of 2020 election records from Fulton County, Georgia in January, county officials sued to get back their ballots. Expert testimony in the case suggests the justification cited by a Trump administration official to obtain the warrant had “no basis in reality.”

California Sheriff Obtains Warrant from Judge He Endorsed, Then Seizes More than 650,000 Ballots for ‘Recount’ of 2025 Redistricting Referendum

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026

A California county sheriff running for governor obtained a warrant from an elected judge he endorsed, then seized over 1,000 boxes of ballots from last November’s Proposition 50 redistricting referendum. After a warning from the state attorney general, he seized 426 more.

MO Supreme Court Upholds Legislature’s Mid-Decade Redistricting Authority, But a Pending Ballot Measure May Yet Invalidate its Map

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled March 24th that the state legislature did have the authority to redistrict mid-decade, and not just after the release of the decennial U.S. Census. The legislature’s HB 1 gerrymandered Congressional map diluted majority-Black Kansas City to gain one GOP-leaning seat.

President Trump Ties Ending the Partial Government Shutdown to Passage of the SAVE America Act. The Draconian Voting Bill Still Doesn’t Have the Votes.

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026

March 22nd, President Donald Trump tied ending the partial government shutdown to passage of the GOP’s draconian voting bill, the Save America Act. It still doesn’t have the votes.