The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for January 18, 2023

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Try Out Ranked Choice Voting – Election: Practice Ranked-Choice Voting: Favorite Alaska Wild Animal
NBC News – Following a big year, more states push ranked-choice voting 

CT Mirror/Hartford Courant – Could CT get ranked-choice voting? There’s a bill submitted that calls for it.
Westword – Should Denver Switch to Ranked-Choice Voting?
Alaska Beacon – Five takeaway lessons from Alaska’s first ranked choice election

Groups Taking Action:
FairVote (national), List of State RCV Groups, Alaskans for Better Elections, Democracy Maine

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

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

2023 appears to be a breakout year for Ranked Choice Voting, also known as Instant Run-Off.  The system has a years-long track record in Maine, successful use in Alaska last year, and adoption by over 50 municipalities.   And there are proposed bills in several state legislatures this year.

Instead of voting for just one person, Ranked choice voting allows a voter to vote for multiple candidates, ranking them in order of preference.  If a candidate gets 50% plus 1 vote, they win.  If 50% is not reached by one candidate, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated, and those votes are distributed to the voter’s second choice.  Rounds continue until a candidate exceeds 50% plus one vote.  

Polling after Alaska’s 2022 elections showed that over 85% of Alaskans thought it was simple to do.   So far in 2023, NBC News reports that RCV bills have been introduced in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Missouri, Montana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey, and New York.  Some are considering implementation for federal & state elections, some just for primaries, and others are authorizing use in cities and towns.  In Georgia, legislators are questioning the price tag of a separate run-off Senate election, which could have been avoided in November with Ranked Choice voting. Virginia is already testing it, and has bipartisan support.

Try out ranked choice voting at our website, and find resources to learn more, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post Ranked Choice Voting May Have a Breakout Year in 2023 with Bills Proposed in 9 States 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.

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Today’s Links
Articles:
Washington Post:   What you need to know about delayed election results in Maryland
Washington Post:   Meet the candidates who want to be Maryland’s next governor
WJLA TV:  Maryland 2022 Primary Election: Everything you need to know before you vote
Maryland State Board of Elections:   Primary Elections

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

Maryland voters go to the polls July 19 for what is likely to be the most consequential election in two decades, with races for a new governor, attorney general and comptroller.  Knowing who wins may take some time, as a record numbers of mail-in ballots are counted. 

There are no fewer than nine Democratic candidates vying for governor, including Tom Perez, former Obama administration official and Democratic National Committee chair, and polling shows the race is extremely tight.  There are two Republicans, with outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan endorsing Kelly Schulz, and Donald Trump endorsing, 2020 election-denying Daniel Cox.  The Washington Post reports that Cox and Schulz are in statistical dead heat.   

One of the big stories of the election is the number of mail-in ballots requested, and the unique rules in Maryland that don’t allow processing of them until two days after election day.  The Post reports that almost 497,000 mail ballots were requested by Maryland voters, a record, and that 16.6 percent of registered Democrats and 8.7 percent of registered Republicans requested mail ballots.  Ballots must be postmarked, or dropped in an official drop box, by 8 pm July 19th.

A close race, the two day wait, plus other outdated rules which require hand-opening and tabulation of mail ballots, may mean results will be days and possibly a week or more away.  Democracy can be slow, but when the people are allowed to participate, it’s a good thing. 

More details on the election and how to vote in Maryland are 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 19, 2022: Maryland’s July 19th Primary Features Close Races and Record Numbers of Mail-In Ballots appeared first on American Democracy Minute.