Listen: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/americandemocracyminute/episodes/2022-06-01T08_05_40-07_00
Today’s Links:
Articles on Rhode Island’s No Excuse bill: Narragansett Times, Providence Journal
Articles on Arizona Big Lie bills: Poll of AZ voters on mail-in voting, AP story on HB 2617
Groups taking action: Let Rhode Island Vote, League of Women Voters RI, League of Women Voters AZ, One Arizona, Arizona Wins
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
It’s good news Thursday, with a pending freedom to vote reform in Rhode Island, and the defeat of two Big Lie bills in Arizona.
Rhode Island’s legislature passed a “no-excuse” mail-in voting law which now goes to the Governor. Up to now, Rhode Island has allowed absentee ballots to be cast by mail, but required a reason of disability, absence from town on the day of the vote, confinement to a nursing facility, or military service as an excuse. If signed, the Let Rhode Island Vote Act would eliminate the need for an excuse in order to receive a mail ballot.
In Arizona, where several Big Lie bills have been attempted this term, Governor Doug Ducey vetoed one of the most egregious on May 27th. The Associated Press reports that HB 2617 expanded the reasons that would require a voter to be purged from the voter rolls, and would have required county recorders to launch an investigation anytime someone claims a person’s voter registration is invalid.
Another Big Lie bill failed in the state senate. HB 2238 would have set extreme restrictions on the use of mail ballot drop boxes, by adding costly video surveillance, moving boxes indoors, and prohibiting dropping off ballots from a car. Such restrictions would particularly affect tribal areas. There has been next to no abuse of mail-in ballots, and a March 2022 poll shows that three-quarters of Arizonans support mail-in voting.
There’s more information on the legislation affecting Rhode Island and Arizona voters at AmericanDemocracy Minute.org.
Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”
For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.
