The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 9, 2023

Voting Options & Poll Worker Protection Laws Move Forward in Delaware, Connecticut & Oklahoma
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Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) 

Today’s Links now below the script

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

We have three pro-Democracy stories out of Delaware, Connecticut and Oklahoma today, two proposing to expand voting options, and one just signed to protect poll workers from intimidation.

First to Delaware, which last year passed a law to implement no-excuse absentee mail-in voting, only to have its state supreme court strike it down as unconstitutional.  Delaware Public Media reports that Senate Bill 3 proposes to change the state constitution to remove currently required excuses for use of absentee voting.  S3 passed the state senate and now moves to a house committee. 

Connecticut is well on its way to expanding in-person early voting.  One of only four states not offering some form of early voting, the Connecticut Mirror reports bipartisan bill HB-5004 would add 14 days of early in-person voting for general elections, seven days for state and local primaries, and four days for special elections and Presidential primaries.  It’s expected to pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Ned Lamont.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed SB 481 May 1st, making it a misdemeanor to threaten, intimidate or harass election workers, or to release their personal information.  Doing so is punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.  The bill also makes impersonating an election official subject to the same penalties.

We have links to the bills, articles, and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Delaware Legislature –  Bill Information for S 3
Delaware Public Media – Delaware Senate passes first leg of constitutional amendment to allow no-excuse absentee voting
Connecticut Legislature – Bill Information for HB 5004
Connecticut Mirror – House passes bill to bring early voting to Connecticut
Oklahoma Legislature –  Bill Information for SB 481
The Oklahoman – Election Board head praises Senate Bill 481 to protect Oklahoma election officials

Groups Taking Action:
Delaware Voting Rights Coalition,  League of Women Voters DE, Common Cause CT, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Common Cause OK, League of Women Voters OK

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectPollWorkers #VotingRights

The post Voting Options & Poll Worker Protection Laws Move Forward in Delaware, Connecticut & Oklahoma appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles:

Towns Square Live – Delaware Judge Halts Mail-In Voting
Democracy Docket – Delaware Judge Strikes Down No-Excuse Mail-in Voting, Upholds Same-Day Registration
Associated Press –  Judge says Delaware vote-by-mail law is unconstitutional

Groups Taking Action:   Delaware Voting Rights Coalition, League of Women Voters Delaware

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

We reported earlier this summer on the passage of a no-excuse mail-in voting law in Delaware.  September 14th, a Delaware state court judge struck down the law as contrary to the state constitution.

Delaware had passed SB 320 in June, which would allow voters to vote by mail without having to give an excuse.   But the Delaware constitution currently allows for the use of an absentee only when the voter is outside the state, in the armed forces, unable to vote due to job requirements, sick or disabled, on vacation, unable for religious reasons ,or in government service outside the country.

Town Square Live and Democracy Docket report that Republican members of the legislature sued, and Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Nathan Cook ruled that despite Delaware’s tradition of a robust voter participation, the state constitution left him no choice but to issue an injunction on the law.  

Vice Chancellor Cook also noted in his ruling that “it bears repeating that the express purpose of election laws in this state is to provide for ‘free and equal’ elections where Delawareans have an ‘unfettered’ right to vote—one of ‘the most fundamental of our rights.’”   He went on to suggest that the Delaware Supreme Court may want to reconsider past decisions on mail-in voting.

Past attempts at bills changing the state constitution to allow no-excuse mail-in voting have failed.   To read more about the decision and groups taking action, see links at AmericanDemocracy Minute.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 ADM for Sept. 19, 2022: Delaware Court Strikes Down New No-Excuse Vote by Mail Law appeared first on American Democracy Minute.