The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 12, 2024
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Bills in Florida and Kentucky would revoke “no-excuse” absentee voting, despite its popularity with voters of all ages. Alleged “voter fraud” is cited, but its motivation is likely more partisan than preventative.
In Kentucky, Senate Bill 61 would eliminate both in-person and mail-in no-excuse absentee voting, used by over 260,000 voters in the Nov. 2023 gubernatorial race. The Kentucky Lantern reports that 133,000 Democrats voted early, and more than 112,000 Republicans.
SB 61 would return the commonwealth to allowing only four qualifying excuses to vote absentee. It also adds penalties for those who vote absentee under false pretenses, making it a Class 3 felony subject to fines and imprisonment.
In Florida, no-excuse absentee voting was implemented under former Governor Jeb Bush in 2002. One third of Florida voters now use it, and a column in the Palm Beach Post notes that more Republicans than Democrats voted by mail in 2014, 2016, and 2018. In 2016, Donald Trump had over 58,000 more mail-in votes than rival Hillary Clinton.
Yet SB 1752 would reinstate just four approved excuses to vote by mail, severely curtailing the popular option. According to a Republican county elections supervisor quoted by WKMG-TV, “It would be a complete disaster.”
No widespread voter fraud is linked to mail ballots in either state.
We have a link to the bills at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
WHAS – (2020) Early, absentee voting led to big turnout in Kentucky | Will they be here to stay?
Kentucky Lantern – More Kentuckians cast early votes as they decide between Beshear and Cameron
WKRC – New bill would eliminate Kentucky’s ‘no excuse’ in-person absentee voting option
Kentucky Senate – Text of Senate Bill 61
Orlando Sentinel – Florida GOP lawmaker wants to end universal mail-in voting
Florida Senate – Text of SB 1752
WKMG-TV – ‘It would be a complete disaster:’ Florida bill would end no-excuse needed mail-in voting
Palm Beach Post – (Opinion/Analysis) Vote-by-mail in Florida is now a nightmare. Thanks, Donald Trump. Thanks, Ron DeSantis
All Voting is Local – Casting, Rejecting, and Curing Vote-byMail Ballots in Florida’s 2020 General Election
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters FL, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #VotingRights #AbsenteeVoting #KentuckyPolitics #FloridaPolitics