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

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.

Redistricting Firefight: SC Gov. Signals Special Session to Bypass Senate Vote; GA Gov. Calls Special Session for 2028 Maps; MD Senate May Reconsider

May 14, 2026May 17, 2026

Like a stubborn, arson-ignited wildfire, partisan gerrymandering keeps flaring up. South Carolina will apparently redistrict after all, after its governor signaled he would call a special session. A special session has been called in Georgia, and legislation stalled in Maryland may rekindle as well.

SC Senate Derails Redistricting of Congressional Map; MO Supreme Court Finds Map Eliminating Majority Black Kansas City District Constitutional

May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

In yet more redistricting news, the South Carolina Senate failed to reach a two-thirds vote to extend their session to redistrict the state’s congressional map. Missouri’s supreme court upheld a new congressional map designed to gain another GOP seat by diluting Black voting power in Kansas City.