The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 8, 2025
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.
The 2024 election was certified January 6th by Congress with no objections, accusations of fraud, or violent mobs. Why was it, well, blissfully boring?
Vice President Kamala Harris handed each state’s electoral college letters of certification to “tellers,” who then read them out loud. When complete, the total was announced, and Trump declared the winner. The whole process took less than 30 minutes.
What changed? The Electoral Count Reform Act was implemented, making it harder for Congress to derail certification. Election rules were tightened in many states, but in battleground Michigan, where voter access was dramatically expanded over GOP objections and litigation, Trump won. After losing in 2020, he claimed widespread voter fraud in Detroit.
Hand counting activists have also been curiously silent. Were the voting machines different this time? Electronic ballot tabulators, the target of conspiracy theories and multi-million dollar lawsuits, are still on the job and recognized as far more accurate and less costly than hand counting.
What about the legions of undocumented immigrants Trump claimed last October would vote illegally? There was no widespread evidence of noncitizen voting in this or any other U.S. election.
Other Trump not inciting his followers with disinformation and than no criminal conspiracy to overthrow the results, not much did change. Our 2024 election was secured by many of the same heroic election officials doing the blissfully boring work of democracy. We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – It May Be Bumpy, But Most Democracy Experts Think the Electoral Count Reform Act Will Help Protect the Election
NPR – Under the shadow of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, Congress certifies the 2024 election
The Guardian – Kamala Harris says ‘America’s democracy stood’, after certifying Trump’s election victory – as it happened
Associated Press – Highlights from the certification of Trump’s 2024 presidential election
Univ. of Washington Center for an Informed Public – What to expect when we’re electing: A guide to voting machine rumors
CBS News – Trump falsely claims noncitizen voter fraud is widespread. Here are 5 facts.
Brennan Center for Justice – The Damage from Conspiracy Theories About Noncitizen Voting
Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, Campaign Legal Center, League of Women Voters US, Public Citizen
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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