In 2018, Utah voters approved a ballot initiative establishing an independent redistricting commission to create fair voting districts. The legislature neutralized it, and gerrymandered the maps anyway. It’s now back before a Utah judge.
The post Will Utah’s Voter-Approved Independent Redistricting Commission and Fair Maps Prevail Over the Legislature’s Attempt to Rig Them? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 6, 2025
In 2018, Utah voters approved a ballot initiative establishing an independent redistricting commission to create fair voting districts. The legislature neutralized it, and gerrymandered the maps anyway. It’s now back before a Utah judge.
Better Boundaries Proposition 4 established a commission independent from the legislature charged with creating fair, communities of interest-driven maps for Congress, state legislature, and school districts. The Utah News Dispatch reports that in 2020, the Utah legislature passed SB 200, which made the commission advisory, not independent, then gerrymandered the maps to protect seats and consolidate GOP power.
The Utah Supreme Court found for the voters last July, agreeing that the legislature did not have the authority under state law to override the voters’ decision. In response, the legislature proposed Amendment D, which, if approved by voters, would give the legislature power to do so. The language of that proposition was deemed deceptive by the court, and ruled “void.”
Now the case is back in Utah’s 3rd District Court, where Judge Dianna Gibson heard three hours of testimony January 31st. The League of Women Voters and Mormon Women for Ethical Government argued for the independent commission’s powers to be fully restored, and fair Congressional maps put in place. A decision is expected within weeks.
We have our past reports, local reporting, court filings, and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – Utah Voters Fought Back After Their Fair Voting Districts Constitutional Amendment was Gutted by an Anti-Voter Legislature. They Won.
Utah Supreme Court – LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF UTAH, et al., v. UTAH STATE LEGISLATURE
American Democracy Minute – After Losing in Court and at the Polls, Utah Legislature Approves Nov. Ballot Measure to Veto or Alter Citizen Ballot Measures to Protect Its Power
Campaign Legal Center – Utahns Score Huge Victory Voiding Amendment D
Utah News Dispatch – Will Utah get new congressional maps? Judge hears oral arguments in Utah redistricting case
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters UT, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Campaign Legal Center
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #UtahLegislature #EndGerrymandering #FairMaps
The post Will Utah’s Voter-Approved Independent Redistricting Commission and Fair Maps Prevail Over the Legislature’s Attempt to Rig Them? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>Gerrymandering, the manipulation of voting district boundaries to engineer an election outcome which benefits a particular party, had a significant impact on control of the new Congress, according to a new report.
The post New Report Shows Gerrymandering’s Impact on Control of the New Congress appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 18, 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.
Gerrymandering, the manipulation of voting district boundaries to engineer an election outcome which benefits a particular party, had a significant impact on control of the new Congress, according to a new report.
The Brennan Center for Justice found over four of five Congressional districts were won by a margin over 10%, including 90 percent of the GOP House majority. Within that number, 132 GOP winners were in districts with winning margins of 25% or more, and 112 by a Democrat.
In comparison, only 37 districts nationwide were decided by five percent or less, and only 19 districts were competitive enough to flip.
The Brennan Center points to North Carolina as a state which, after a more liberal Supreme Court was flipped conservative in 2022, replaced the previous court’s 7 to 7 competitive maps, with the legislature’s gerrymandered version, resulting in a 10 to 4 GOP Congressional seat advantage.
The most effective solution to gerrymandering at the moment is citizen-led independent redistricting, which has been successful in producing fairer and more competitive maps in California, Michigan, Utah and a handful of other states. In November, Ohio voters rejected such a commission, due in part to an attempt by elected officials to derail it. Brennan found that independent commissions, citizen-led or otherwise, drew only 82 Congressional districts this cycle, but those districts were three times more competitive.
We have the Brennan Center’s report at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice – How Gerrymandering and Fair Maps Affected the Battle for the House
FactCheck.org – Speaker Johnson’s Partisan Spin on Gerrymandering in the 2024 Election
National Conference of State Legislatures – Redistricting Commissions: State Legislative Plans
Campaign Legal Center – Independent Redistricting Commissions
Campaign Legal Center – Movement to Establish Citizen-Led Redistricting Commissions in the States
California Citizens Redistricting Commission – What is the Commission?
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause, Represent.Us, League of Women Voters US
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
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Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #EndGerrymandering #FairMaps #RiggedDistricts
The post New Report Shows Gerrymandering’s Impact on Control of the New Congress appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>Democracy reform-related citizen ballot initiatives failed November 5th, as high turnout of GOP voters and deceptive messaging overwhelmed a citizen-led redistricting commission, open primaries and ranked choice voting.
The post High Turnout of Conservative Voters Also Led to Losses for Democracy Reform in Ohio, Nevada, Colorado and Potentially Alaska appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 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.
Democracy reform-related citizen ballot initiatives failed November 5th, as high turnout of GOP voters and deceptive messaging overwhelmed a citizen-led redistricting commission, open primaries and ranked choice voting.
Ohio’s Issue 1 citizen-led redistricting commission could not overcome high turnout and a deceptive rewriting of the issue’s ballot description by Ohio’s Secretary of State and Ballot Board. That effort portrayed the reform itself as gerrymandering in an effort to confuse voters, and it failed 46 to 54 percent. The measure proposed a 15-member, cross-partisan independent commission without politicians or lobbyists in an effort to create fair maps, rather than the current flawed politician-led system.
As part of a two-vote constitutional amendment process, Nevada voters considered Question 3, establishing a “top 5” open primary and ranked choice voting system. The second vote failed 45.5 to 54.5 percent after passing it two years ago.
Colorado’s open primary initiative, Proposition 131, received only 44 percent approval, after being opposed by both the Democratic and Republican parties.
As of early November 6th, votes supporting Alaska’s Ballot Measure 2 to REPEAL its “top 4” open primary and ranked choice voting system had edged ahead, with 100,000 votes remaining to be counted.
We’ll update that result and other democracy measures in a future report.
We have links to local analysis and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio voters reject Issue 1, leaving politicians in control over map-making process
Nevada Current – Nevada voters reject open primaries, ranked choice voting system
Colorado Newsline – Colorado voters appear to reject sweeping elections overhaul backed by wealthy donors
Alaska Beacon – Votes to repeal Alaska’s open primaries, ranked choice voting are narrowly ahead
Groups Taking Action:
Yes on Issue 1 Ohio, Yes on 3 Nevada, Yes on 131 Colorado, Alaskans for Better Elections
Check Your Voter Registration:
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
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Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #CitizensNotPoliticians #FairMaps #RankedChoiceVoting
The post High Turnout of Conservative Voters Also Led to Losses for Democracy Reform in Ohio, Nevada, Colorado and Potentially Alaska appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>We’ve reported for months about state officials in heavily-gerrymandered Ohio attempting to derail a citizen-led redistricting commission ballot measure. Despite disinformation from those state officials, polling shows voters are leaning toward passing the constitutional amendment in November.
The post Polling Shows Ohio Voters Lean Toward Passing Citizen-Led Redistricting Commission Ballot Measure, Despite Disinformation from State Officials appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 16, 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’ve reported for months about state officials in heavily-gerrymandered Ohio attempting to derail a citizen-led redistricting commission ballot measure. Despite disinformation from those state officials, polling shows voters are leaning toward passing the constitutional amendment in November.
Issue 1 would ditch the current politician-led commission, which resulted in two years of litigation, as redistricting maps ping-ponged between the commission, legislature, and the courts. Replacing it would be a new citizen-led commission which would include five Democrats, five Republicans and five independents, none of whom can be current or former politicians, party officials or lobbyists. It expressly forbids drawing voting districts for partisan gain, and importantly, has a completely open and transparent process.
The Ohio Ballot Commission, led by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, attempted to mislead voters by rewriting Issue 1’s description, saying that Issue 1 was itself gerrymandering. Signs by opponents of Issue 1 echo that misdirection.
Thanks to reporting and endorsements by the state’s major newspapers and an advertising push to inoculate voters from election day confusion, 60% percent of Ohioans say they plan to vote for Issue 1, 20% no, and 20% undecided in a Bowling Green State University poll. Another Baldwin Wallace University poll has 69% of Ohio voters opposing gerrymandering.
We have links to accurate explainers, local reporting, our past reports, and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Citizens Not Politicians – Summary and Fully Text of Issue 1
Citizens No Politicians – Proposed Description and Full Text as Submitted
Ohio Secretary of State – Rewritten Description of Issue One
Brennan Center for Justice – Ohio’s Legacy of Gerrymandering Could End This November
Cincinnati Enquirer – Ohio Issue 1: Will it end gerrymandering? Top FAQs answered
Columbus Dispatch – State of Ohio Issue 1 explained: What is it? Would it stop gerrymandering?
WCMH Columbus – Majority of Ohio voters favor Issue 1 redistricting amendment, poll shows
Groups Taking Action:
Yes on Issue 1, League of Women Voters OH, Supporting Organizations
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 #Ohio #CitizensNotPoliticians #FairMaps
The post Polling Shows Ohio Voters Lean Toward Passing Citizen-Led Redistricting Commission Ballot Measure, Despite Disinformation from State Officials appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is again under fire, this time for attempting to undercut a citizen-run redistricting commission ballot initiative which threatens to undo politician-drawn gerrymandered maps. Initiative organizers challenged the action in the Ohio Supreme Court August 19th.
The post Ohio SOS Under Fire Again, This Time for Sabotaging the Ballot Measure Description for a Citizen-Led Redistricting Commission appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
]]>The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 22, 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 Secretary of State Frank LaRose is again under fire, this time for attempting to undercut a citizen-run redistricting commission ballot initiative which threatens to undo politician-drawn gerrymandered maps. Initiative organizers challenged the action in the Ohio Supreme Court August 19th.
Citizens Not Politicians submitted a ballot description of the constitutional amendment after Issue 1’s certification in July. But the notoriously partisan LaRose and his staff rewrote the description. Organizers said it, QUOTE, “may be the most biased, inaccurate, deceptive and unconstitutional ballot language ever adopted by the Ohio Ballot Board.”
The measure proposes a 15-member citizen commission of Republicans, Democrats and independents, none of whom can be current or former politicians or lobbyists. It also forbids redistricting for partisan advantage – gerrymandering – and requires a fully transparent process. The new initiative was proposed after multiple gerrymandered maps by legislators resulted in years of litigation.
Among several misleading statements, the secretary of state’s description says it will “Establish a new taxpayer-funded commission of appointees required to gerrymander the boundaries of the state legislative and congressional districts.” UNQUOTE. The Ohio Constitution clearly states that descriptions for ballot measures be “true and impartial.”
With election deadlines only weeks away, Citizens Not Politicians has asked for an immediate judgment. We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Citizens No Politicians – Proposed Description and Full Text as Submitted
Ohio Secretary of State – Rewritten Description of Issue One
Ohio Supreme Court – Citizens Not Politicians v. LaRose
Ohio Capital Journal – Anti-gerrymandering amendment supporters sue Ohio Ballot Board over ballot language
Citizens Not Politicians – Citizens Not Politicians Sues LaRose and Ballot Board to Ensure Accurate Ballot Language for Issue 1
Groups Taking Action:
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 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 #OhioPolitics #OhioSOS #FrankLaRose #CitizensNotPoliticians
The post Ohio SOS Under Fire Again, This Time for Sabotaging the Ballot Measure Description for a Citizen-Led Redistricting Commission appeared first on American Democracy Minute.
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