The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 16, 2023
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
We have some quick updates on democracy stories we’ve been following in Alabama, Ohio, New York & Connecticut concerning mail-in ballots and constitutional ballot questions.
In Alabama, in addition the U.S. Supreme Court throwing out racially gerrymandered Congressional maps, the bill criminalizing outside assistance with absentee ballots never reached the floor before the term expired. The now-dead bill would have narrowed who could assist voters with filling out and delivering mail-in ballots, and threatened voter advocacy groups with felony charges for helping.
Saying the language was misleading, the Ohio Supreme Court ordered a rewording of the legislature’s partisan State Issue 1, trying to increase the margin to pass future ballot measures to 60%. But, democracy advocates are suspiciously watching the Ohio Ballot Board’s rewrite for more partisan politics. The existing 50%+1 margin has been in place since 1912, and the August 8th referendum is seen as an effort to thwart a reproductive freedom ballot question expected in November.
The New York legislature sent a bill expanding mail-in ballots to Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this week. Last week, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill expanding in person early voting, and the Connecticut legislature recently passed a constitutional resolution ballot question to allow no-excuse mail-in voting. The ballot question goes to the voters in 2024.
We have links to the details, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Bolts – Voting Rights Just Got a Second Surprise Win in Alabama
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio Supreme Court says Issue 1 ballot language must be rewritten
Spectrum News – Early voting expansion to mail-in ballots will head to Hochul’s desk
NBC Connecticut – Governor signs early voting into law in Connecticut
CT Insider – CT has caught up to 46 states that offer early voting. Lamont thinks voting should be even easier.
Democracy Docket – Connecticut Legislature Passes Early Voting and No-Excuse Mail-in Voting
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters AL, No on Issue 1, Common Cause NY, Let NY Vote, Connecticut Citizens Action Group
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