The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 21, 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.

Early voting is well under way in 22 states, and will be joined by another 11 states Oct. 21st and 22nd.   But if you’re not registered in Pennsylvania, Alabama or South Dakota, your time runs out by the end of day on Oct. 21st.  

On Monday and Tuesday, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, South Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Missouri, Utah, and Wisconsin begin early voting.  Depending on your state’s rules, that could mean early in-person voting, or by mail, or both.   Seven more states, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and New York begin later in the week.

Monday October 21st, voter registration closes in the battleground state of Pennsylvania for the November 5th general election, as do Alabama and South Dakota.   Other states closing registrations later this week are Nebraska, Massachusetts and New York, none of which, for voters who miss those deadlines, offer election-day registration.

Voter registration has already closed in 22 states, and none of those states offer election day registration, either.    

Voting early can mean shorter lines, less hassle and if you’re voting by mail, sometimes a chance to fix minor mistakes on your ballot. 

We’ve linked information on early voting and registration deadlines for all these states at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Voter registration deadlines, 2024

BallotPedia –  2024 election and voting dates
National Conference of State Legislatures – Same Day/Election Day Voter Registration
Vote.gov – Register to Vote by State
Pennsylvania Voter Services – Voter Registration Application
Alabama Secretary of State – Register to Vote / Update Your Information
South Dakota Secretary of State –  Register to Vote, Update Voter Registration or Cancel Voter Registration

Check Your Voter Registration/State Information on Registering:

• 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
  
  

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #EarlyVoting #VoterRegistration #RegistertoVote 

The post Early Voting Begins in 18 States This Week, But Voter Registration Ends in 6 States.  You Can’t Vote If You’re Not Registered.  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 4, 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.

As state deadlines for voter registrations draw near, new registrations across the United States are down compared to 2024, according to political data and advertising firm TargetSmart. But there are increases in certain demographics compared with 2020.

TargetSmart used a combination of state data gathering and modeling, and found that 2024 new voter registrations 8 weeks from the election were 15.7 Million, down 42% from 27.3 Million in 2020.   The 2024 partisan lean model shows that 48.8% of those registering leaned Democratic, 34.3% Republican, and 16.9% unaffiliated.  In 2020, 46.7% leaned Democratic, 37.3% Republican, and 16% unaffiliated. 

Among those new 15.7 Million registered voters, there are increases in Black, Hispanic and Asian American Pacific Islanders, and a decrease in new White voters.  TargetSmart also found a slightly higher percentage of younger voters, though Tufts University’s CIRCLE youth voting research group  found increases in only 8 states.   

There was also a slightly lower percentage of women, although the organization found a surge of registrations among Black and Hispanic women after Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee. 

We’ve linked to TargetSmart’s report at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, where you’ll also find nonpartisan resources where voters can register or check their registration.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
TargetSmart – Smart Voter Registration Dashboard

TargetSmart – Hispanic Voter Registration Surges After Harris Becomes Nominee

Tufts Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) – Youth Voter Registration Increasing; Still Lags Behind 2020

Groups Taking Action:

VOTE.org, Rock the Vote, Native Vote, Vote411, Mi Familia Vota, When We All Vote

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter 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 #RegistertoVote #VoterRegistration 

The post As State Voter Registration Deadlines Draw Near, Data Suggests 2024 New Registrations Still Lagging Behind 2020 appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 1, 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.

Early voting for the 2024 general election has begun in six states, either by mail or in-person. Another nine states begin next week.  But, beware, voter registration begins closing next week in 14 states.   Do you have a plan to vote?

Voting early has advantages.  No lines, more time to make choices, fewer health concerns, and generally less hassle.  And for mail-in or absentee voters, it allows time to “cure” your ballot if you make a mistake, if your state allows it.

Depending on your state’s rules, early voting can be by mail-in absentee or in-person absentee, universal mail-in ballot, or in-person at a designated polling place.  One or more of those options has already begun in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia, Vermont, and Illinois.  The week of Oct. 7th, early voting begins in California, Montana, Nebraska, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Wyoming and Arizona.

But in order to vote early, or on election day, you must be registered.  In the next 10 days, voter registration CLOSES in 14 states for mail, online and in-person registration for the general election.  This includes South Carolina, Alaska, Rhode Island, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Missouri.  In some states, online and mail registration deadlines may differ.  

Find your state deadlines at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Groups Taking Action:

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 Twitter 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 Early Voting Ramps Up in Most States in October, and Voter Registration Deadlines Begin to Close.  What’s Your Registration and Voting Plan? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 19, 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.

Voting in state and local elections is at risk for an estimated 97,000 longtime Arizona voters due to a proof of citizenship data tracking problem at the DMV.   

Three facts to start.  The Arizona Mirror and Votebeat report that Arizonans have had to provide proof of citizenship for driver’s licenses since 1996; state’s driver’s licenses aren’t routinely renewed until after age 65; and Arizona began requiring proof of citizenship for voting in 2005.  

Beginning in 2005, election officials asked existing voters with licenses issued before 1996 for proof of citizenship.  But if a driver’s license issued before 1996 needed to be replaced, it was given a new date of issue. Election officials then didn’t know to ask for citizenship documents for an estimated 97,000 voters.  

The Arizona Secretary of State announced the problem September 17th, and plans to move quickly, with mail ballots due to be mailed in less than a month.  

In addition to its “full ballot” with local, state and federal races, Arizona also has a “federal-only” ballot used by many Native Americans and students, who sometimes don’t have, or have available, citizenship documents.  Worst-case, the 97,000 affected voters could use the federal only ballot but the Secretary of State was advocating for allowing those voters to vote with the full ballot in November. 

We’ve linked to local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Office of Governor Katie Hobbs – Governor Katie Hobbs Statement on Administrative Issue With AVID and Its Interface With MVD

Arizona Mirror/Votebeat – Error with tracking citizenship puts nearly 100,000 Arizona voters’ eligibility in limbo
KATR News – Interview with Maricopa County Recorder

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 Twitter 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 #ArizonaNews #VoterRegistration

The post State Data Mistake Puts Voting in Local & State Elections at Risk for 97,000 Arizonans appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 16, 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.

There are an estimated 81 Million Americans who are NOT registered to vote.  If you’re one of them, National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17th, is a great time to get it done at the municipal election office or voter registration drive in your community.

A study by the Knight Foundation found nonvoters cite many reasons for not registering, among them:  “My vote doesn’t matter, doesn’t count, or won’t make a difference”; “I don’t know how” or “It’s too complicated”; “I keep forgetting to register”; and “I’m too busy.” 

But there are even MORE reasons to register and vote.  The stakes in the Nov. 5th Presidential election are critically important, but so is your voice on how the local taxes you pay are spent by your local officials, the quality of your schools,  and whether your roads get fixed.   

To register, you’ll need to prove that you’re 18 and a resident of your community, usually with a driver’s license or eligible photo ID.  Second, you’ll need to prove where you live.  Utility bills, apartment leases, car registrations, property tax bills, or bank statements are often allowable.  Third, you’ll need to prove you’re a citizen of the U.S., which means showing a birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or naturalization papers.  

Rules vary by state, so visit NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org,  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, or your local election office.  Don’t wait; get it done.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
National Voter Registration Day – Register to Vote/Check Registration
National Voter Registration Day – Trusted Voting Resources
Knight Foundation – Summary – The 100 Million Project : The Untold Story of American Non-Voters
Knight Foundation – Full Report – The 100 Million Project : The Untold Story of American Non-Voters

Knight Foundation – Slide Presentation – The 100 Million Project : The Untold Story of American Non-Voters

Pew Research – (2017) Why Are Millions of Citizens Not Registered to Vote?

Register or 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 Twitter 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 #VoteReady #VoterRegistration  #VoterRegistrationDay

The post Sept. 17 is National Voter Registration Day.  If You’re One of the 81 Million Americans Not Registered, Now is the Time.   appeared first on American Democracy Minute.