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

South Carolina Legislators Advance Map Flipping the State’s Only Blue Seat, Likely Delaying the Congressional Primary at a Cost of $6 Million

May 21, 2026May 21, 2026

South Carolina legislators advanced a new congressional redistricting map May 20th, after Governor Henry McMaster ordered a special session. The map, which likely flips South Carolina’s 6th congressional district and only blue seat, passed the full House, a Senate committee and is under consideration in the full Senate.

Missouri SOS Still Apparently Scheming to Derail November Ballot Initiative to Overturn New Gerrymandered Congressional Map Splitting Kansas City

May 20, 2026May 20, 2026

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told the Associated Press last December he would do “Everything I can to protect Gov. Kehoe’s Missouri First Map,” UNQUOTE. “Everything” apparently means slow-walking certification of a citizen ballot initiative aimed at overturning the map.

Could SCOTUS Have the VRA’s ‘Private Right of Action’ In Their Sights? The Court Returns Two Cases to Lower Courts for ‘Further Consideration’

May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

May 18th, the U.S. Supreme Court returned two cases to lower courts which challenge Voting Rights Act provisions allowing an individual to sue for violations, called a “private right of action.” But the cases may return.

Amidst Caustic Anti-Democracy Bills Nationwide, Maryland Passes Positive Election Reforms, Including Its First Ranked Choice Voting Rules

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

Overshadowed by the stream of caustic gerrymandering and voter suppression bills nationwide, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed several pro-voter election bills May 12th. One bill includes the state’s first administrative rules for municipalities using ranked choice voting, and protections from election AI deepfakes.

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Virgina’s Hail Mary to Save Its Redistricting Referendum; First Challenge to Florida’s New Map Reaches Court

May 17, 2026May 17, 2026

The Hail Mary stay application by Virginia Democrats to save their congressional redistricting referendum was rejected by U.S. Supreme Court May 15th. The same day, the first challenge to Florida’s map tilting four more seats to the GOP was heard.