The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 23, 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 reported in September on concerns from election officials on whether the U.S. Postal Service could meet its mail ballot delivery obligations. The USPS issued its report in early December. How did it do? 

Reasonably well, according to the Postal Service. Election officials’ biggest pre-election concern involved consolidation of sorting centers around the country adversely affecting the Postal Service’s own delivery standards.

In its report issued December 3rd, USPS management paints a picture of an election with few problems, citing a 97.73% delivery from voters to election officials within three days, 99.64% within five, and 99.88% within seven.  But the Postal Service’s own new standard for local first class mail is one to three days, and seven days for mail traveling across the country.   It’s not yet known how many ballots were not delivered on time and not counted. States like Kansas won’t process mail ballots arriving AFTER election day, so despite USPS reminders to return ballots early, a yet unknown number of ballots were not counted. 

USPS was helped by far fewer mail-in ballots in 2024 than in 2020.  Expanded early in-person voting combined with laws making mail voting harder, saw mail-in voting drop to only 5% of ballots cast in Georgia, from 26%, and to 28% in Florida, down from 44%, according to Voting Rights Lab.

USPS says better mail ballot design for automation and visibility, longer timelines by election officials, and more education of mail-in voters will improve delivery.

We have the report linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Census Bureau – What Methods Did People Use to Vote in the 2020 Election?
American Democracy Minute – US Postal Service Slowdowns Concern State Election Officials; Will DeJoy’s Leaner USPS Deliver Ballots in Time?

U.S. Postal Service – 2024 POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS REPORT

U.S. Postal Service –  SERVICE STANDARD CHANGES
Voting Rights Lab – How State Election Laws Shaped Voting Patterns in 2024
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy – Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and AccountabilityPew Research –Voters Broadly Positive About How Elections Were Conducted, in Sharp Contrast to 2020

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #USPS #VotebyMail #VoteatHome

The post USPS Issues Upbeat Report on Ballot Delivery Performance for the 2024 General Election, But Lower Use of Mail-In Ballots was Likely the Biggest Factor appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 12, 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.

After two recounts, an incumbent North Carolina Supreme Court justice was declared the winner by 734 votes, with 5.5 million ballots cast.  Her GOP challenger now claims 60,000 of those voters were ineligible.

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was declared the winner over Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin December 10th, after a machine recount in November didn’t change the margin’s percentage.  Tuesday’s partial hand recount sampling found no evidence to justify Griffin’s request for a full hand recount, according to North Carolina Newsline. 

Griffin has refused to concede the race, and in November appealed to the North Carolina Elections Board to invalidate as many as 60,000 voters.  Newsline reports that his challenge includes voters with felony convictions, despite North Carolina’s voting rights restoration after sentences and probation are completed.  He and the North Carolina GOP are also challenging voters with incomplete registration information, some of whom are even elected officials and have voted for years.  Mail ballots from military and overseas voters have been questioned as well.  

The state election board meets this week to consider the challenges. A spokesperson for the Riggs campaign said in a statement, “ This election has concluded, and the voters have issued a clear verdict in electing Justice Riggs.” 

We have links to even more on this story from local outlets at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Democracy Docket – As Recount Starts, North Carolina Supreme Court GOP Candidate Challenges 60K Ballots
NC Newsline – Supreme Court election protest ensnares voters of all stripes, including some elected officials
WCNC – Even after partial hand recount affirms incumbent Dem Justice Riggs won NC Supreme Court race, Republican challenger still not ready to concede
WRAL – Riggs’ lead grows after 2nd recount in NC Supreme Court race. Elections officials won’t order a third
NC Newsline – No third recount for GOP Judge Griffin as Democrats denounce his effort to throw out ballots

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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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NorthCarolina #SupremeCourt #VotingMatters 

The post After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

Time has run out for mailing a mail-in or absentee ballot, but if it’s already mailed, there are tools for tracking its status.  If it hasn’t been mailed, officials advise delivering it to an election office or official ballot drop box instead.

Internal U.S. Postal Service rules require postal employees to expedite official ballot mail.  Since 2020 though, consolidation of sorting centers has delayed first class mail, particularly in rural areas, and hurricane damage has posed other delivery challenges. 

In Georgia, where a record 3.2 million citizens voted early in person or by mail, election officials now advise absentee or mail ballots be brought to the local election office.   Georgia’s restrictive election law won’t count your ballot after election day, even if it’s properly postmarked.

Eighteen states allow ballots postmarked by election day to be counted after election day.  But the Kansas Secretary of State recently complained to the USPS that in the state’s primary, over 1,000 ballots were delivered without a postmark, and couldn’t be counted under Kansas law.

Five states, Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Dakota and Vermont, require hand-delivered ballots BEFORE election day, though some of those states allow delivery to the precinct before close or election day. 

Find links to Vote.org’s resources on state deadlines and ballot tracking tools at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Postal Service – U.S. Postal Service is Ready to Deliver the Nation’s Election Mail
U.S. Postal Service – Explainer on How the USPS Handles Election Mail
Vote.org – Track Your Ballot or Ballot Application
National Conference of State Legislatures – Receipt and Postmark Deadlines for Absentee/Mail Ballots
Movement Advancement Project – Map of States with Ballot Tracking
U.S. Vote Foundation – Where’s my Ballot? Check your State’s Ballot Tracker.

Fox 5 Atlanta – Georgians urged to drop off mail-in ballots as early voting continues breaking records
Associated Press – Kansas Secretary of State sends letter with concerns over mailed ballots
Spotlight PA – Elections 101: Why some Pa. counties have mail ballot drop boxes and others don’t

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

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #MailBallots #DropBoxes #USPS

The post If Your Mail-In or Absentee Ballot is in the Mail, Here’s How to Track It.  If it’s Not, Hand Delivery to Your Election Office or Drop Box is a Safer Bet.  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 26, 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.

GOP challenges to state laws allowing the counting of properly postmarked mail ballots after the election takes on more significance when considering chronic U.S. Postal Service delays. U.S election officials are worried.

Trump-appointed U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced consolidation of another 30 central sorting facilities earlier this year, of an expected 150 such closings.  DeJoy has since delayed the closings until January 2025.

But in a joint letter September 17th, the National Association of Secretaries of State, and the National Association of State Election Directors pointed out lapses in USPS delivery standards.  QUOTE,  “In nearly every state . . .  local election officials are receiving timely postmarked ballots well after Election Day and well outside the three to five business days USPS claims as the First-Class delivery standard.”  

Other problems cited include poor training and a perceived lack of action from USPS management.  A Kansas election official quoted in the Guardian noted ballots delivered on time, but without postmarks, invalidating them under Kansas law.   To criticism that the USPS is unprepared for the election,  Postmaster General DeJoy told a reporter, “They’re wrong.” Unquote. 

Voting by mail is still safe, secure and convenient.  Allowing 10 days for delivery, and curing of any ballot problems will help make sure your vote counts.

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – GOP Challenge to Mississippi Mail Ballot Deadline Law Likely to Set Up U.S. Supreme Court Challenge with National Consequences
U.S. Postal Service – Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Defines Change Imperative and Touts Modernization Progress in 2024 National Postal Forum Keynote
U.S. Postal Service – List of Sorting Centers Under Review for Closure or Consolidation
National Association of State Election Directors – NASED, NASS, and Local Election Official Associations Send Joint Letter to USPS Postmaster General
The Guardian – US Postal Service delays threaten to disrupt election voting, officials say
The 19th – Voting by mail? Election workers are worried about issues at the Postal Service

Groups Taking Action:
Save the Post Office, Vote at Home Institute, Public Citizen

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 #VotebyMail #USPS #LouisDeJoy

The post US Postal Service Slowdowns Concern State Election Officials; Will DeJoy’s Leaner USPS Deliver Ballots in Time? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links:
Marc Elias essay on Democracy Docket:  A Constitutional Crisis Is Brewing in Pennsylvania
Prof. Derek Muller, Univ. of Iowa on Election Law Blog:  Is mandamus appropriate in the Pennsylvania certification dispute, Chapman v. Berks County Board of Elections? 
Phildelphia Inquirer  Pennsylvania’s in an election results certification crisis over the primary, and the state just sued three counties
Groups Taking Action:   ACLU of PA,  League of Women Voters of PA, Democracy Docket 

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

Remember the undated mail ballot cases in Pennsylvania?  Federal courts mandated the ballots be counted, overriding state law.  Sixty-four counties followed the court’s order after the May 17th primary.  Three counties did not.

Pennsylvania’s legislature passed a law after the 2020 election disallowing the counting of mail ballots with no date.   Ultimately, the Third Circuit Federal Court ruled in a local county case that the date was immaterial, and the ballots must be counted. In a similar case during the state primary between Dr. Oz/David McCormick the courts also ordered undated ballots to be counted.  

But three counties have refused to comply, arguing they believed the state lacks the power to force these kinds of counting orders.  A Democracy Docket commentary by voting rights attorney Marc Elias raises questions on what this could mean for future elections.  If election officials put partisan aims over their duty to run a fair election, wielding rules like Pennsylvania’s “no-date” rule to keep votes from counting could be used to suppress votes and shift elections.  

Lurking in the shadows of all such state voting rights cases is the North Carolina U.S. Supreme Court case which may test the Independent State Legislature theory, giving state legislatures ultimate control over elections – and rules like not counting undated ballots.

The Elias Democracy Docket essay and another Election Law Blog article by Professor Derek Muller on the subject are linked 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 22, 2022: Courts Ordered Undated PA Mail Ballots to Be Counted; 3 Counties Refused appeared first on American Democracy Minute.