The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 17, 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.

Following up our report on states which have passed a voting rights act comes an authorization to collect signatures for the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights, protecting voters from suppression tactics, and implementing reforms like automatic voter registration.  The State of Ohio tried to reject it.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost twice objected to the title of the measure, tactically delaying the measure beginning in early 2024 so it couldn’t make the November ballot.  October 30th, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the AG did NOT have the authority to reject it on the basis of its title.  Then in mid-November, the Ohio Ballot Board, headed by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, approved the measure to collect signatures, AFTER complaining about its content.  

If passed, the constitutional measure, similar to Michigan’s 2022 initiative, would enshrine Ohio voters’ right to vote: Early in person, by mail or on election day, and to do so without intimidation or harassment. It allows voter registration online, at the DMV, or on election day.  It gives municipalities flexibility to expand polling locations and use drop boxes, and directs that state government and the courts should defer to supporting voters’ rights. 

Given the state’s derailment of November’s citizen-led redistricting commission, expect more state-sponsored shenanigans before voters weigh in.  

We have the full text of the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Ohio Attorney General – Full Text of the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights
State of Ohio – Summary – Ohio Voters Bill of Rights
Court News Ohio – Attorney General Not Authorized To Review Proposed Amendment Titles

Ohio Supreme Court – Decision in Dudley v. Yost

Ohio Capital Journal – Ballot board clears Ohio Voters Bill of Rights, organizers can begin collecting signatures

Groups Taking Action:

Ohio Voters Rights Coalition, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, Ohio Unity Coalition, Ohio NAACP 

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, 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 #Ohio #VRA #OHVotersBillofRights #VotingRights

The post Ohio Voters Bill of Rights Ballot Measure Finally Authorized to Collect Signatures appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 9, 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.

The nonpartisan Fair Elections Center released a report to state and local election officials in February suggesting ways voter participation can be expanded.  Recommendations include expanding voter registration options, making use of public/private partnerships to distribute voting information, developing communication plans, and expanding poll worker training.

Fair Elections Center urges local governments to expand access points for online voter registration in the 42 states which offer it.  Instead of just the election department website, it suggests linking voter registration at DMV, employment security and other government sites.  It also suggests libraries and other public places make computers and voter registration forms available for those without broadband or computer access.  

Highly mobile populations often don’t re-register to vote.   Fair Elections Center recommends banks and other lenders, and landlords and other housing providers offer voter registration information.  It also recommends election officials work with schools to conduct voter registration events, and with local organizations in underrepresented communities.   

Voter information outreach continues to be a struggle for smaller election offices. The report recommends a communications plan which includes all modes of social media, voting information in additional languages, and in media for all disabilities.

We’ve linked the report at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. Find us on Bluesky Social @DemocracyMinute.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Fair Elections Center – LOCAL INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE VOTING EXPERIENCE:
Recommendations for Local Elected Officials and Election Officials
U.S. Election Assistance Commission –  Election 2024 Toolkits

Groups Taking Action:
Fair Elections Center, Campaign Legal Center, Brennan Center for Justice

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 #RegistertoVote #BeAPollWorker #ProtectElections

The post Ways Local Officials Can Expand Voter Participation and Recruit Election Workers Using Public/Private Partnerships appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow citizens to register to vote on election day.   But that doesn’t mean that election-day registration is convenient, simple, or that your vote will count in all cases.  

The National Conference of State Legislatures notes that states with election-day registration have an average 5% higher voter participation, including younger voters and voters of color.  Which is why since 2020 some partisan state legislatures have put in more restrictions on same day registration, disingenuously claiming QUOTE, “election integrity.”  There is no evidence of widespread abuse of election day registration.  

While it’s more challenging than it used to be, election day registration is still better than not voting at all.  These states allow election day registration:  California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.  Alaska and Rhode Island allow it to vote for President and Vice President.

Restrictions may include use of a provisional ballot if the voter’s eligibility can’t be established on election day  – which may not count if the voter doesn’t return with proof in a specified time.  For voters registering on election day, best practice is to bring your birth certificate or passport, driver’s license, and proof of where you live, such as apartment rental documents, bank statements, tax documents or utility bills.

Links to information on election-day registration and voting requirements can be found at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

National Conference of State Legislatures – Same-Day Voter Registration
Rock the Vote –  Same Day Voter Registration & Requirements

Ballotpedia – Voter Registration Deadlines
Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst – New Study Finds That States with Same Day Voter Registration Have Higher Black and Latinx Turnout
Montana Free Press – Montana Supreme Court says no to Election Day voter registration
Center for Public Integrity – It’s already too late for thousands of would-be voters: Why that matters

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause US, League of Women Voters US,  Native American Rights Fund

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 #VoterRegistration #SameDayRegistration #ElectionDayRegistration

The post Not Registered to Vote?  Your State May Be One of Nineteen Which Allows Election Day Registration, But You’ll Need to Be Prepared. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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
  
  

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 #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

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 #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.