The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 24, 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 three quick state updates, including a court decision favoring the over 97,000 Arizona voters who didn’t have citizenship documents on file, a promising poll showing Colorado voters may embrace open primaries and ranked choice voting, and a court case by Robert F. Kennedy to sticker out his name in Wisconsin.

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Sept. 20th that over 97,000 Arizonans who, because of a state error were never asked for proof-of-citizenship documents, WILL vote using Arizona’s “full ballot.” The state will work to correct the files after the 2024 election.

Colorado Proposition 131 would implement single ballot open primaries and use ranked choice voting should it pass in November.    A poll of 800 voters by Colorado Voters First found 56% would vote for the initiative, 8% leaning yes, 21% no, and 4% leaning no.  Another 11% were undecided.  Nevada also votes on a similar proposal for the second time, as required by its constitution.  

With hundreds of thousands of ballots printed and some early ballots already sent, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appealed to have his name stickered over on the ballot after the Wisconsin Elections Commission denied his request.  The commission has since asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take the case. 

Votebeat Wisconsin reported that local election officials expressed concern at the time it would take, and the unknown impact it could have on operation of optical ballot readers.  

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Arizona Mirror – AZ Supreme Court won’t limit 97,000 improperly registered voters

Arizona Supreme Court – Decision – MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER STEPHEN v. ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES
Colorado Sun – Colorado’s all-candidate primary and ranked choice general election ballot measure is poised to pass, poll shows
Votebeat Wisconsin – Wisconsin clerks in sticker shock over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request to have name covered on ballot
Wisconsin Examiner – Appeals court will hear RFK Jr. lawsuit to get off presidential ballot
WISN – Wisconsin Supreme Court to take Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ballot challenge

Groups Taking Action:
Colorado Voters First

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
  
  

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ColoradoNews #WisconsinNews #ArizonaNews

The post Updates on 97,000 Registered AZ Voters Without Citizenship Proof, CO Open Primaries & RCV Poll, and Stickering Out RFK Jr. in WI appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 7, 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.

Ohio has an Aug. 7th deadline for November’s candidate certification.  Problem is, Joe Biden wasn’t going to be nominated until the Democratic convention beginning Aug. 19th.   What’s an Ohio legislature to do?  Try and stop citizen ballot initiatives, of course.

State legislatures routinely pass housekeeping bills to accommodate such discrepancies with state law.  But not this year. The legislative majority was spanked by the voters in 2023 after the legislature backed changes to ballot measure rules in August, trying to derail a reproductive rights initiative in November.  

This November’s ballot initiatives include a ballot measure replacing Ohio’s politician-run redistricting commission with a citizen-run body, and enshrining the fundamental right to vote, including early voting and voting by mail. 

The Ohio Capital Journal reports that negotiations for the fix began in early May, passing a House committee.  Seeing a partisan opportunity, extreme Republican Senate leaders rolled in SB 215, a bill expanding a ban on foreign contributions to ballot measures to include foreign nationals living and working legally in the U.S.  The Associated Press reports that a group funding the November Issue 1 reproductive rights campaign received donations from a legal U.S. resident, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.

When national Democrats organized a pre-convention online nomination instead, and DeWine berated his fellow Republicans, Senate leadership offered to pass the fix, if the foreign funder legislation was passed, too.  In a special legislative session, both the fix and ban were passed, and signed by the governor.  

Find more on this unnecessary drama at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Ohio Capital Journal –  (Commentary) An obscure provision of Ohio law could keep Biden off the ballot in November
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio legislative leaders say Biden ballot fix won’t happen through lawmakers
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio House agrees to Biden ballot fix compromise if ‘anti-democratic’ Senate provisions removed
CBS News – (2023) Ohio’s 2023 abortion fight cost campaigns $70 million
Associated Press – Ohio’s Republican governor signs measure ensuring Biden appears on the fall ballot
BallotPedia –  Ohio 2024 Ballot Measures 

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #OhioNews #OhioPolitics #CitizenBallotInitiatives #2024Election

The post Why Was Joe Biden’s Appearance on the Ohio Ballot in Question?  Partisan Politics, and Another Attempt to Derail Citizen Ballot Initiatives.  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 1, 2023

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.

A trial opened Monday in a Denver, Colorado courtroom to determine whether former President Donald Trump should be excluded from the 2024 Colorado ballot.  Similar cases are pending in Minnesota and Michigan.

The basis for all the cases is the 14th Amendment’s Section 3 prohibition of any federal or state office holder who has taken an oath to protect the U.S. Constitution from engaging in “insurrection or rebellion” against the U.S., or giving aid or comfort to its enemies.

The Insurrection Act has been used only a handful of times in American history, primarily to keep former Confederate leaders from holding elected office after the Civil War.  

With the legal help of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, six Colorado Republican and unaffiliated voters sued, alleging that Trump  engaged in an insurrection by inciting a violent mob on January 6th, 2021 in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election.  The former President’s lawyers argue that he did NOT engage in insurrection or rebellion, and framed the suit as “election interference” to stop his current candidacy.  

Legal scholars suggest the lack of precedence, and a resulting debate over whether a President is even subject to the clause, will make it a difficult case to win.

We have the full text of the insurrection act, and articles on the pending cases at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The Atlantic – The Constitution Prohibits Trump From Ever Being President AgainNPR – 5 things to know about the 14th Amendment effort to block Trump from the presidencyColorado Newsline – Trump 14th Amendment trial in Colorado opens with focus on events of Jan. 6
Associated Press – Lawyers argue whether the Constitution’s ‘insurrection’ clause blocks Trump from the 2024 ballot
Reuters – Trump should be disqualified from 2024 ballot over Jan. 6 riot, advocates say at trial
Michigan Advance – Michigan judge fast-tracks lawsuit to force Trump off the ballot in Michigan
Minnesota Public Radio – Minnesota lawsuit seeks to keep Trump off 2024 ballot
Derek Muller, Election Law Blog –   Colorado trial court botches interpretation of Electoral Count Reform Act in rush to get Trump ballot access case to hearing

Groups Taking Action:
C.R.E.W., Free Speech for People, Mi Familia Vota

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #14thAmendment #InsurrectionAct #January6th  #ColoradoPolitics #StoptheSteal

The post Colorado, Minnesota & Michigan Courts Consider “Insurrection Act” Cases Attempting to Keep Trump Off the Ballot appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 30, 2023

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.

A  New Hampshire 2020 U.S. Senate candidate endorsed by former President Trump is questioning Trump’s qualification for the Presidency under the 14th Amendment, Section 3, designed to keep former Confederate leaders from holding office. 

Republican Corky Messner said in a NH Today radio interview that as a Constitutional Conservative, his reading of Section 3 suggests that Trump’s actions in the January 6th insurrection may disqualify him from the New Hampshire Presidential primary ballot, and says it should go to the courts soon.  Section 3 reads:

“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Messner said he is considering a lawsuit to move it quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court.  New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan said he is seeking legal advice in the matter. 

We have legal articles and more on Section 3 at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
National Constitution Center – 14th Amendment, Section 3
WGIR’s NH Today – 8-22 Corky Messner on Trump’s eligibility to run for President
NH Public Radio – Stories about Corky Messner
Univ. of Pennsylvania Law Review – The Sweep and Force of Section Three  (download of PDF for full paper) 
NH Journal – Will ‘Insurrection’ Keep Trump Off NH Ballot?
Politico – N.H. Republicans feud over bid to knock Trump off 2024 ballot
The Atlantic – (Paywall) The Constitution Prohibits Trump From Ever Being President Again
NBC News – Trump supporters flood New Hampshire election office with calls after false claims about ballot access
Democracy Docket – How the 14th Amendment Could Disqualify Trump and His Allies

Groups Taking Action:
Free Speech for People, Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (CREW)

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers

The post State of New Hampshire Seeks 14th Amendment Legal Advice on Whether Candidate Donald Trump Can Appear on the First in the Nation 2024 Primary appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links
Articles:   
PA Capitol Star — Pa. Senate Republicans advance late-night constitutional amendment package on abortion, voter ID
Arizona Legislature — Text of AZ HB 1411
Wisconsin Public Radio — Wisconsin Supreme Court rules absentee ballot drop boxes are illegal in Wisconsin
Groups Taking Action:   
Disability Rights Wisconsin,  Election Protection Arizona, Keystone Votes

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

We have state updates for you on voter ID restrictions in Pennsylvania, ballot tracking in Arizona,  and the banning of dropboxes in Wisconsin.

First to Pennsylvania, where a statewide ballot initiative just got its initial approval from the General Assembly which would ask voters to show government-issued ID when voting, either in person or by mail.  Government-issued IDs sounds good, except for those who may not have one or have the money to get one:  Poor, elderly, or young voters.  And the “by mail” option would require that you make a copy of your ID and send it through the U.S. Postal Service.  Copies are a barrier for the elderly and disabled.  The bill must be passed again in the 2023-24 session to be on the ballot in the 2024 election.  

In Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey signed SB 1411, setting up an infrastructure for voters to track the status of their early mail ballots by the end of 2023, enhancing its current system.  At least 45 states now allow online tracking of mail or absentee ballots.

In Wisconsin, however, mail is your only option for returning mail-in ballots.  The right-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court has found that drop boxes are not permissible under state law, despite the fact that some municipalities have used them for years without incident under the guidance of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.  The ruling also prohibits the delivery of ballots to the clerk’s office by anyone other than the voter.  The likes of Senator Ron Johnson, the National Republican Party and several “liberty” groups signed on to the suit.  

Sorry, Grandma, I guess your vote just doesn’t matter.

We have links to articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  Granny D said “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.” 

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for July 13, 2022: Voter ID Ballot Initiative in PA, Early Mail Ballot Tracking in AZ, &  Banning of Drop Boxes in WI appeared first on American Democracy Minute.