The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 8, 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 choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Trump’s pick of Senator J.D. Vance raises a question for pro-democracy voters.  How do the VP candidates stand on democracy issues?

In his 2022 U.S. Senate primary, J.D. Vance embraced 2020 election fraud theories when he told the Youngstown, OH Vindicator, “There were certainly people voting illegally on a large-scale basis,” and repeated a conspiracy theory that Meta founder Mark Zuckerburg used election administration grants to manipulate the results.  He recently told the New York Times that the alternate slates of electors should have been debated in Congress.  Newsweek reported Vance HAS called for election day as a national holiday, widely supported by Americans, but as a tool to end mail-in voting. 

Earlier this year, Governor Tim Walz signed a bill including the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, restoring protections stripped from the federal 1965 VRA.  In 2023, he restored voting rights to 55,000 formerly incarcerated citizens and signed the Democracy for the People Act, establishing automatic voter registration, creating a standing mail-in voting list,pre-registering 16 and 17 year olds,  and requiring more disclosure of political advertising funders.  

Upon its signing, Walz said, “Democracy thrives when everyone’s voice is heard. Today, we’re ensuring a strong democracy by prioritizing accessibility and voter protections.”

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – Minnesota Takes More Big Steps in Expanding and Protecting the Right to Vote, Including Passing the Minnesota Voting Rights Act

American Democracy Minute – Minnesota Governor Signs “Democracy for the People Act” Enhancing Voting Access and Protections
VoteBeat – Vice president candidates present stark contrast on voting issues
Democracy Docket – Trump VP Pick JD Vance Has a History of Election Denialism and Anti-Voting Policies
NOTUS – JD Vance Insists He Has Trump’s Confidence
Newsweek – (2022) What J.D. Vance Has Said on Voter Fraud as Ohio Sets Mail-In Ballot Record
The Vindicator – Vance talks voter fraud, conspiracy

New York Times – (Possible paywall) What J.D. Vance Believes

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 #TimWalz #JDVance #DemocracyReform 

The post How Do VP Candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. J.D. Vance Compare on Democracy Issues?   appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 13, 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 bipartisan group in Montana passed a critical court test last month for a Nov. 2024 ballot measure reforming the state’s election system, implementing a “top 4” open primary system.  

Montanans for Election Reform needs 60,000 signatures to place Ballot Initiative 12 on next year’s ballot.  BI-12 would constitutionally change Montana’s primary system to a single ballot open primary similar to Alaska’s, where major party, 3rd party and independent candidates appear on a single ballot, and the top four candidates advance to the general election. The Montana Supreme Court ruled in November that BI-12 is constitutional.   A second initiative, BI-13, would require that candidates win with a majority, not just a plurality, which could necessitate run-off elections. 

While open primary ballots are lengthy, they offer a wider array of choices for voters, allow ALL voters to participate – not just the party faithful, and often result in more moderate winners.  

Unlike Alaska’s system, the Montana proposition does not specify use of ranked choice voting, which is often used with open primaries.  Instead, it allows the legislature to specify what system to use, though a bill passed earlier this year prohibits the use of ranked choice in Montana elections. 

Ten percent of signatures must come from each of 40 state legislative districts by June 21st to qualify 

We have language of the initiatives at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Daily Montanan – Proposal to change primary elections on 2024 ballot advances with MTSupCo order
Missoula Current – PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURES WOULD OVERHAUL MONTANA ELECTION SYSTEM
Montana Free Press – Montana Supreme Court sides with backers of top-four primary ballot initiative, overrules attorney general

State of Montana SOS – 2024 Submitted Ballot Initiatives

Groups Taking Action:
Montanans for Election Reform,  Open Primaries,  RCV Montana, League of Women Voters MT

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #OpenPrimaries #Montana #MontanaPolitics

The post Montana Group Readies Ballot Initiatives for “Top 4” Open Primaries, and Winning by a Majority, Not Just a Plurality appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

Voters in three Michigan cities approved ranked choice voting November 7th, but state law doesn’t yet allow it.   November 15th, the Voter Choice Act was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate, proposing matching funds for state and local governments to implement RCV.

Voters in Kalamazoo, Royal Oak and East Lansing passed changes to their city charters to allow ranked choice voting for mayor and city commission. That’s good news for democracy advocates, who argue that RCV offers more options for voters, guarantees a majority winner, and costs less in the long run by eliminating expensive and low-turnout run-off elections.   

Problem is, current Michigan law doesn’t allow RCV, though Michigan Live reports that a state representative plans to introduce a bill to allow it.

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet of Colorado and Angus King of Maine reintroduced the Voter Choice Act, proposing $40 million dollars in federal matching funds to help states and municipalities implement ranked choice voting systems.   Maine and Alaska currently use it statewide, Nevada and Arizona will vote on it in 2024, and 50 counties and cities have adopted it, making it one of the fastest-growing Democracy reforms.  Passage of the Voter Choice Act is unlikely in the U.S. House because the Republican National Committee recently opposed RCV.

We have more on Ranked Choice Voting and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Michigan Advance – Three localities voted to adopt ranked choice voting. But additional roadblocks remain.
Bridge Michigan – Ranked-choice voting passed in three cities, but Michigan law prohibits it
NBC News – Following a big year, more states push ranked-choice voting
FairVote Action – VOTER CHOICE ACT REINTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

Sen. Michael Bennet – Voter Choice Act text
Represent.Us – Ranked Choice Voting, Explained
University of California Davis – Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: How Voting Aids Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens

Groups Taking Action:

Rank the Vote Michigan, FairVote, Represent.US

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RCV #RankedChoiceVoting #MichiganPolitics #VoterChoiceAct

The post Ranked Choice Voting Wins in Michigan Cities Blocked by State Law; Voter Choice Act RCV Bill Reintroduced in U.S. Senate appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 31, 2023

*Disclosure – Host Brian Beihl is volunteering with Rick Hubbard’s Walking to Fix Our Democracy effort.*

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.

Thursday, August 31st, Vermonter Rick Hubbard will walk the remaining 6 miles to the Round House, New Mexico’s capital building in Santa Fe. At 82 years old, he could be enjoying retirement, but instead, he’s walking across the United States to fix Democracy.

Hubbard says that he started his Walking to Fix Democracy project because our republic’s democratic systems has been warped to elect representatives who put special interests and party politics first, and have forgotten their duty to work for the common good.

Hubbard says, “We CAN make our political system fairer, more inclusive, more competitive, and more representative. Our walk is a nonpartisan effort to make the case in communities across the U.S. that fixing our democracy first is the quickest and most effective way to unlock progress on issues important to us all: Climate change, health care, education, infrastructure, the freedom to vote, campaign financing, and much more.”

He pushes ranked choice voting, open primaries and small donor “democracy dollars” campaign financing as fixes to focus attention on voters instead of special interests.

Hubbard speaks at a rally on the east side of the capital at noon on Friday, September 1st hosted by New Mexico pro-voter groups. He’ll continue his walk into Colorado and Nebraska, and hopes to arrive in Washington, DC by the inauguration in 2025.
We have links to Rick’s website at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org and will continue to follow his progress. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
VT Digger – (Opinion)  Rick Hubbard: Our political system is broken, and we need to fix it
Walking to Fix Our Democracy – Rick Hubbard’s Walking Route
Walking to Fix Our Democracy – Problems & Fixes
Represent.Us – Basics of Ranked Choice Voting
FairVote – Open and Closed Primaries
Brennan Center for Justice – Small Donor Public Financing Explained

Groups Taking Action:
Walking to Fix Our Democracy, Represent.Us New Mexico, Common Cause NM, Indivisible Santa Fe, Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America

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!

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DemocracyDollars #FixDemocracy #OpenPrimaries #RCV

The post This 82-Year-Old Could Be Enjoying Retirement.  Instead, He’s Walking Across the Country to Fix Democracy appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen! https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/americandemocracyminute/episodes/2022-06-22T07_39_03-07_00

Today’s Links
Articles:  Ballotpedia – “United States House of Representatives special election in Alaska, 2022 (June 11 top-four primary)”, Washington Post – “Alaska is having the wildest election of 2022”,  State of Alaska tutorial on Ranked Choice Voting – “ALASKA BETTER ELECTIONS IMPLEMENTATION”
Organizations Taking Action:    Alaskans for Better Elections, Fair Vote

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

You may have heard news reports about a special election in Alaska two weeks ago to replace U.S. Congressman Don Young, who died March 18th.   Most press reports focused on the 48 candidates, including former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and North Pole City Council member Santa Claus.   But the next round of this election is more important for being a frontier in election reform.

Alaska’s June 11th special election was the first “Top Four” Congressional primary in U.S. history.   As of the June 21st final count, Sarah Palin and three other candidates advanced to a second round.  The primary was also an “open” primary, with Republicans, Democrats, third partys and independents on one ballot. 

Now, the top four candidates will face off in the combination special election general and state primary on August 16th, but this time, Ranked Choice Voting will be used by Alaskans for the first time in a statewide election.   RCV was adopted by referendum in the 2020 election, and the State of Alaska has posted sample ballots, instructions and videos to educate Alaska voters.   

After all this, the winner of the election serves out Congressman Young’s term from August 2022 to January 2023.  The midterm general election is November 8th, 2022, where incumbent U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski is running for re-election.

Links to articles on the special election and Alaska’s tutorial on Ranked Choice Voting is at our website, 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 June 23, 2022: Forget Santa Claus; Alaska’s Special Election is Important as the Frontier for Election Reform appeared first on American Democracy Minute.