The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 14, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

**Correction in today’s audio report**  The DC Elections Board approved the ballot measure to move forward in JULY, not June, as stated.  Sorry for the error! 

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

Democrats in the District of Columbia have sued the DC Elections Board to prevent a citizen ballot initiative proposing ranked choice voting and semi-open primaries, claiming it would violate the city charter, and confuse Black and Hispanic voters.  

News outlet DCist reports that the Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 was endorsed in July by the elections board to appear on the November 2024 ballot, provided the backers can collect signatures from 5% of all DC voters.

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank a number of candidates in order of preference, allowing for options beyond just major party candidates.  If no candidate has a clear 50% majority, the last place candidate is eliminated and the votes recalculated, in a process which continues until a winner is declared.  In New York City – also a city with a high minority population – 78% of voters said they understood the RCV system “Very” or “Extremely” well, according to 2022 research by Unite America.

The Make All Votes Count Act also provides for partly open primaries, allowing DC’s almost 86,000 unaffiliated voters to vote in either a Democratic, Republican, or Statehood Green party primary.  Major party leaders perceive open primaries as an existential threat to power, despite its popularity with voters.

Arguments are scheduled for November 2023.  We have links to the ballot measure, analysis and RCV explainers at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Make All Votes Count DC – Text of “Make All Votes Count Act of 2024”
DCist – D.C. – Elections Board Gives Initial Green Light To Ballot Initiative On Ranked Choice Voting And Open Primaries

DCist – D.C. Democratic Party Sues To Keep Ranked Choice Voting And Open Primaries Off The Ballot
New York City Campaign Finance Board – (2022)  Report Highlights Ranked Choice Voting in 2021 Elections
Unite America – (2022) Two new reports on Ranked Choice Voting in NYC provide hope amidst a dismal primary season
The Hill – (Opinion) Could election reform in DC help conservatives embrace it nationwide?

FairVote – Explainer on How RCV Works

Bipartisan Policy Center – 2022 Primary Turnout: Trends and Lessons for Boosting Participation (Open Primaries are a recommendation)

Groups Taking Action:
Make All Votes Count DC, More Voice DC, Rank the Vote, Open Primaries, Fair Vote Action

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RCV #OpenPrimaries

The post DC Democrats Attempt to Block Citizen Initiative Proposing Ranked Choice Voting and Semi-Open Primaries in City Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for November 7, 2022

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The 21 States Which Have Same Day Registration:  California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Washington, DC, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and  Wyoming.
U.S. Election Assistance Commission –  Links to Registration Information in Every State
National Conference of State Legislatures  –  Same Day Voter Registration States

Brennan Center –  Study Showing No Increase in Fraud With Election Day Registration
Univ. of Massachusetts/Demos – NEW STUDY FINDS THAT STATES WITH SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION HAVE HIGHER BLACK AND LATINX TURNOUT
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause MA,  American Academy of Sciences, Student Public Interest Research Groups

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

Election Day is upon us, and voter registration in most states is closed.  But if you’re lucky enough to live in one of the 21 states which allow Same-Day registration, you still may be able to vote on election day.

Used to help make voter registration more accessible since the 1990s, Same Day registration has been attacked recently as unsecure, despite the facts.  New Hampshire, which has used Same Day  registration for decades, recently tightened its restrictions with no justification, making same-day registrants use a provisional, rather than a normal, ballot.

Same day registration is used most often by new residents, younger citizens, and eligible voters who are historically underrepresented, such as the Black and LatinX community.  

To register on Election Day, you need these documents in most states:  A state-issued ID;  proof of your citizenship, like a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers;  and proof of your residence, such as rental receipts, property tax bills or utility bills showing your name & address.  Check your state or local election office website before you go.

In some states, you may need to also sign an affidavit, have your picture taken, and may only be able to use a provisional ballot until your address is verified.  But, it may also be your best option to have your voice heard! So use it!

We have links to state Same Day registration information and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org 

Granny D said Democracy isn’t something we HAVE it’s something we DO!

The post <strong>Registration on Election Day Still an Option in 21 States</strong> appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Articles:
Washington, DC:   The Hill – Jan. 6 committee delays hearing schedule until July
Texas:  NPR – Texas GOP’s new platform says Biden didn’t really win. It also calls for secession
Nebraska:  US Justice Dept. – Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Election Official

Massachusetts: WBUR –Gov. Baker signs bill ensuring mail-in ballots, early voting in Massachusetts
California:  San Diego Union Tribune – Ballot measure that could switch San Diego to ‘ranked choice’ voting delayed to 2024
Upcoming June 28th Primaries:  State Primary Dates

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

It’s the end of the week so we’re updating some recent Democracy news from Washington, DC, Texas, Nebraska, Massachusetts and reminding you of June 28th’s state primaries.  

The January 6th Committee has delayed next week’s scheduled hearings until July received, citing new documentary evidence of the Trump family, and new materials on events before and after the U.S. Capitol insurrection. 

At last weekend’s Texas Republican convention, the updated platform espouses that the 2020 election was stolen, that President Biden is only the “acting” President, and calls for Texas to hold a vote secede from the United States. 

A Nebraska man has been found guilty of threatening an election official on the official’s Instagram page, posting, “Do you feel safe? You shouldn’t. Do you think Soros will/can protect you?” The man faces up to 2 years in prison.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill making permanent accommodations for early voting and mail-in voting.  The bill did not include same-day registration however, as was sought by democracy advocates.

Advocates in San Diego have pushed off an effort to implement Ranked Choice Voting for city elections until 2024 because of soft support in the city council.  Meanwhile, Alaska’s first statewide election using RCV is August 16th.

Finally, voters in Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma and Utah should plan to vote in their June 28th state primaries.  Why?

Because 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 June 24, 2022: Roundup of Democracy News from DC, TX, NE, MA, AK & CA + June 28th Primaries appeared first on American Democracy Minute.