The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 9, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
With narrow margins between Republican and Democratic voters in Wisconsin, both parties are fighting for every inch of ground before the state’s 2024 election, upon which both the Presidency and control of the U.S. House may hinge.
January 2nd, a lower court struck down use of minor errors on mail-in ballots to disqualify voters, and clarified the rules. Democracy Docket reports that Wisconsin’s mail-in ballots require a witness signature and address, and minor errors in the witness information on otherwise qualified ballots were causing the whole ballot to be discarded, due in part to a lack of guidance from the state.
In 2016, the Wisconsin Election Commission had issued guidance, allowing clerks to fill in minor witness address information on otherwise qualified ballots, but Republicans sued to strike down the guidance.
Also brewing is a challenge to a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, striking down Wisconsin’s gerrymandered legislative redistricting maps. The Wisconsin Examiner reports that the court ordered new maps, supervised by a special master, by January 12th. After earlier threatening impeachment of Justice Janet Protasiewicz, state GOP leaders have asked for reconsideration of the case, arguing Protasiewicz should have recused herself for comments about gerrymandering she made during her campaign. They’ve also threatened to take the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court.
See more on the rollercoaster year ahead in Wisconsin at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Associated Press – National Democrats sue to block Wisconsin’s absentee voting witness requirements
Democracy Docket – Wisconsin Court Issues Major Mail-in Voting Victory Ahead of 2024 Election
Wisconsin Examiner – Wisconsin Supreme Court rules state voting maps unconstitutional
Wisconsin Examiner – Republican lawmakers ask Wisconsin Supreme Court to reconsider redistricting ruling
Cap Times – Buckle up: 2024 is sure to be a wild time in Wisconsin politics
PBS Wisconsin – Wisconsin braces for another consequential election cycle in 2024
Groups Taking Action:
Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, Common Cause Wisconsin, Represent.Us WI, Fair Elections Project, Rise, Inc., League of Women Voters WI, Law Forward, Fair Elections Center
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #VotingRights #FairMaps #StopGerrymandering #WisconsinPolitics