The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 18, 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.
In separate rulings October 16th, courts in Alabama and Nebraska sided with voters over zealous state officials, protecting the right to register and vote in the 2024 election.
In August, the Alabama Secretary of State announced a purge of registered voters who had, or once had, a “noncitizens identification number,” issued with a federal “green card” as a legal resident alien. But many of those registered are now naturalized citizens.
A federal district court judge ruled that Alabama must halt that process, and restore the voting rights to those affected, citing long standing federal law requiring purges to be completed 90 days or earlier from an election.
The Nebraska Supreme Court rejected an attempt by the secretary of state to subvert a 20-year-old state law allowing formerly incarcerated Nebraskans convicted of a felony to register and vote. Secretary of State Robert Evnen cited an opinion by the Nebraska attorney general that only the Nebraska Board of Pardons could restore that right. He directed election officials in July to ignore the law and stop registering those citizens.
The state supreme court’s reversal of that order affects as many as 7,000 returning citizens. Those already registered will automatically be restored, and those eligible have until Oct. 25th to register in person.
We have resources for checking voter registration status at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama (via Democracy Docket) – ALABAMA COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE v. WES ALLEN
Alabama Reflector – Federal judge blocks Alabama Secretary of State’s voter removal plan
NPR – A federal judge has ordered Alabama to stop trying to purge voters before Election Day
Nebraska Supreme Court – Gregory Spung v. Robert Evnen, Nebraska Secretary of
State
Daily Nebraskan – BREAKING: Nebraska Supreme Court rules felons eligible to vote upon release
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU Nebraska, Campaign Legal Center, Fair Elections Center, Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice
Check Your Voter Registration:
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
- USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
- Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
- Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #Alabama #Nebraska #VoterPurge #VotingRights