The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 13, 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.

We have updates on stories we’ve been following, including North Carolina’s  Supreme Court race & a power grab by its legislature, ranked choice voting in Alaska, and more charges in Wisconsin for Donald Trump’s fake elector scheme advisors.

We reported December 11th that a GOP state Supreme Court candidate who lost by 734 votes and failed in two recounts, asked the North Carolina Election Board to invalidate as many as 60,000 voters.  North Carolina Newsline reports that in a 3-2 vote Wednesday, the board rejected that request, though a court appeal is likely.

Also December 11th, the North Carolina legislature overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill designed to strip power from the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general.  In an attempt to retain GOP power before it loses its supermajority, the authority to appoint election board members was shifted to the state auditor, a Republican.  The attorney general was also stripped of any ability to bring suit against legislation proposed by the North Carolina legislature.

In Alaska, a recount of the attempted repeal of ranked choice voting and open primaries is complete.  The repeal failed by 743 votes – one-quarter of one percent.

In Wisconsin, 10 additional felony forgery charges were brought against Trump campaign advisors, attorney Jim Troupis, attorney Kenneth Chesebro, and election day director Mike Roman.

We have links to more on all these stories at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters
NC Newsline – NC Board of Elections rejects GOP Supreme Court candidate’s efforts to throw out thousands of votes
Carolina Public Press – Holdout NC House reps get in line with GOP, override veto
American Democracy Minute – Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting and ‘Top 4’ Open Primaries Survive Repeal Referendum – By a Whisker
Alaska Public Media – The recount is over. Alaska will keep ranked choice voting.

PBS Newshour/AP – Trump lawyers and aide face additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors

Groups Taking Action
Democracy North Carolina, Alaskans for Better Elections, Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W.)

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Wisconsin #Alaska #North Carolina

The post Updates for State Stories We’ve Been Following in North Carolina, Alaska, and Wisconsin appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 12, 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.

After two recounts, an incumbent North Carolina Supreme Court justice was declared the winner by 734 votes, with 5.5 million ballots cast.  Her GOP challenger now claims 60,000 of those voters were ineligible.

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was declared the winner over Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin December 10th, after a machine recount in November didn’t change the margin’s percentage.  Tuesday’s partial hand recount sampling found no evidence to justify Griffin’s request for a full hand recount, according to North Carolina Newsline. 

Griffin has refused to concede the race, and in November appealed to the North Carolina Elections Board to invalidate as many as 60,000 voters.  Newsline reports that his challenge includes voters with felony convictions, despite North Carolina’s voting rights restoration after sentences and probation are completed.  He and the North Carolina GOP are also challenging voters with incomplete registration information, some of whom are even elected officials and have voted for years.  Mail ballots from military and overseas voters have been questioned as well.  

The state election board meets this week to consider the challenges. A spokesperson for the Riggs campaign said in a statement, “ This election has concluded, and the voters have issued a clear verdict in electing Justice Riggs.” 

We have links to even more on this story from local outlets at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Democracy Docket – As Recount Starts, North Carolina Supreme Court GOP Candidate Challenges 60K Ballots
NC Newsline – Supreme Court election protest ensnares voters of all stripes, including some elected officials
WCNC – Even after partial hand recount affirms incumbent Dem Justice Riggs won NC Supreme Court race, Republican challenger still not ready to concede
WRAL – Riggs’ lead grows after 2nd recount in NC Supreme Court race. Elections officials won’t order a third
NC Newsline – No third recount for GOP Judge Griffin as Democrats denounce his effort to throw out ballots

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NorthCarolina #SupremeCourt #VotingMatters 

The post After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 5, 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.

If you ever need proof that your vote matters, consider a Minnesota House race decided by only 15 votes. Or was it?  Twenty-one absentee ballots are missing, and hanging in the balance are not only who wins the district, but who wins control of the Minnesota State House.

House District 54a serves greater Shakopee, a Minneapolis suburb in Scott County.   Minnesota Public Radio reports that after a recount November 21st, the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party’s Brad Tabke gained one vote and led by 15 votes over Republican challenger Aaron Paul.  Tabke was declared the winner. 

During the recount, however, secrecy envelopes for 21 absentee ballots which had been logged as received by election workers in October were unaccounted for.  County officials are still investigating, but don’t think the ballots from those envelopes were counted, and suspect they were accidentally bailed and later shredded sometime before election day.  

Partisan control of the Minnesota House is tied 67 to 67, and the outcome of the Tabke-Paul race has huge consequences for both sides.  November 29th, Paul contested the race in Scott County District Court, claiming county election officials violated Minnesota’s election law, and because of the irregularities, a new election should be conducted.

We have the court challenge and links to detailed local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.  We’re now posting on Bluesky Social @DemocracyMinute.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Minnesota Public Radio – Tabke wins Shakopee-area legislative race after recount, House control still unknown

CBS News Minnesota – Republicans file court challenge in close state House race after officials say 21 ballots likely thrown away
Minnesota Reformer – Commentary – The missing Shakopee ballots: What happened, what should have happened and what should happen now?
Minnesota Reformer – Republican Aaron Paul contests Shakopee House election result, requests special election
Scott County District Court via Election Law Blog – NOTICE OF ELECTION CONTEST UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTE§ 209.021 

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MyVoteCounts #Minnesota #YourVoteCounts

The post Control of the Minnesota House May Come Down to a Race Decided by 15 votes – and 21 Missing Absentee Ballots  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 5, 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.

Election night is unlikely to be “results night”.  Irresponsible candidates may exploit an extended time to declare a winner and say there’s something illicit about the process.  In fact, it’s our patriotic friends and neighbors who serve as poll workers, taking the time needed to get it right.  

Mail-in ballots require extra steps for election officials, as the ballots are checked-in, outer envelopes opened, and identification documents verified. During 2020, folds in mail ballots slowed the tabulation process.  New rules streamlined processing in some states, allowing mail ballots to be processed before election day.  But in some state more layers of ID have been added, and counting can’t take place until election day.

There are also likely to be more challenges to voter eligibility from partisan poll watchers, a voter suppression tactic expanded by some state legislatures under the guise of “election integrity.”  Addressing challenges consumes election officials’ time.

Close races may also trigger an automatic recount, or a candidate may request a recount.  These generally take place after election night, but delay the results, often for days. Such recounts generally start with a second run through a tabulator, then a hand count, if necessary.  

We need to give the checks and balances of our system the time to work, supported by our heroic poll workers.  Find out more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Reuters – Explainer: Why we may not know the winner of the US presidential election on Nov. 5

538.com – When Will We Know 2024 Election Results?
The Hill – When will we know the results of the presidential election?
CNN – How news outlets are bracing for an election night cliffhanger
Washington State Standard – Final results may lag in deadlocked presidential contest, anxious election officials warn
Protect Democracy – The 2024 Vote Count:  What to Expect

Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, Common Cause, Election Official Legal Defense Fund, Public Citizen

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
  
  

Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElectionNight #ElectionResults #ProtectElections

The post Close Races, New Rules, Mail-in Ballots and Election Deniers Mean Election Night is Not Likely to Be Results Night appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 25, 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.

We’re examining ‘Deceive, Disrupt, Deny’, a new report which games out a likely election subversion plan by partisan extremists.  With an effort already underway to spread baseless claims of widespread noncitizen voting, extremists may again be motivated to confront voters and election workers.

Legal and physical protections for voters and election workers have been strengthened since 2020, as have consequences for harassment and intimidation.  But experts from election watchdog Protect Democracy think surveillance of ballot drop boxes, and voter and election worker intimidation by election denier groups may continue to be a factor. Voters can also expect to see more partisan poll watchers for in person voting, looking for opportunities to object to a voter’s eligibility, or obstruct election procedures.

Some of that obstruction may happen in the courts.  Protect Democracy reports that state parties and the Republican National Committee have over 100 pending lawsuits over election procedures, including challenges to mail-in voting, voter registration purges, and hand counting of ballots.

Almost all states are better prepared for the potential of threats, intimidation or violence, and most states have increased transparency to tamp down conspiracy theories.  But what happens when the candidate baselessly denies that he lost?   More on that part of the subversion plan in our next report. 

We’ve linked to Protect Democracy’s report, safeguards and remedies, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Protect Democracy – Deceive, Disrupt, Deny:  2024 election subversion strategies and how to defuse them
Rolling Stone – Right-Wing News Site Recruits Election Deniers to Cover the 2024 Election
Associated Press – The RNC is launching a massive effort to monitor voting. Critics say it threatens to undermine trust
USA Today – Citizen advocates are training to disrupt 2024 elections in the name of election integrity
States United – Replacing the Refs
Brennan Center for Justice – What Georgia Tells Us About the 2024 Election Subversion Campaign

Groups Taking Action:
Protect Democracy, Campaign Legal Center, Brennan Center for 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
  
  

Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers 

The post The ‘Deceive, Disrupt, Deny’ Subversion Plan: After Claims of Widespread Noncitizen Voting Comes Intimidation, Disruptive Poll Watchers & Baseless Lawsuits appeared first on American Democracy Minute.