The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for January 4, 2023
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – 2022 ballot measures
Michigan House – Promote the Vote Initiative
Business Insider – Results: Nevadans approve Question 3 to add ranked choice general and top-five primaries to the state’s elections
Connecticut Insider – Connecticut residents approve early voting ballot question
Arizona Public Media – After overwhelming voter OK, political ‘dark money’ law hailed as model
BallotPedia – Arizona 2022 ballot measures
Brennan Center – Voter Access Ballot Initiatives in 2022
Groups Taking Action:
Bolder Advocacy – Ballot Measures Toolkit
Movement Advancement Project – DIRECT CITIZEN INITIATIVE STATES
Today’s Script: (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
This week, we’re making predictions on what state democracy legislation we’ll see in 2023. Last year, some of the most significant state democracy reforms came from citizen ballot initiatives – so we predict you’ll see anti-voter legislatures attempt to make restrictions to the citizen ballot initiative process.
On Nov. 8th, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Connecticut passed pro-democracy ballot measures. Michigan voters approved no-excuse mail-in and early in-person voting, and provided for absentee ballot drop boxes, among other reforms. Arizona voters now require disclosure of Dark Money contributors in state elections. New Mexico voters took the first step toward using single ballot open primaries and ranked choice voting.
But on Arizona’s ballot were three ballot measures proposed by its legislature attempting to curb the power of the ballot measure process itself. One proposed raising the threshold for passage to 60% for any measure expending taxes. Another would have allowed the legislature to change any ballot measure approved by the voters but ruled unconstitutional by the state supreme court. Voters were having none of it, and defeated both of these measures.
Because ballot measure Democracy reforms have successfully bypassed obstinate, partisan legislators, we predict more anti-voter legislatures will propose restrictions on ballot initiatives in 2023.
We have articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.
I’m Brian Beihl.