The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 23, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

While President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6th pardons and executive orders have dominated the news, state legislatures have been hard at work on both pro-voter and anti-voter legislation. Democracy legislation tracker Voting Rights Lab counts 432 election bills pending in 32 states, with 100 of those bills restricting voter access, while 205 expand it.

The Wisconsin Senate and Assembly have approved Senate Joint Resolution 2, which would put a proposed voter ID constitution amendment  before the voters in November.  A Pew Research survey found 81% of Americans support a requirement for government issued ID to vote, despite its impact on the poor, disabled and the elderly. 

A New York Senate committee moved three pro-voter bills forward, authorizing county voting centers in addition to local precincts, and requiring the state to join the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, to help keep its voter rolls clean.  Another bill would criminalize spreading misleading election information intended to suppress the vote.

An Arizona Senate committee endorsed SB 1011, making changes to mail-in early voting rules, including when and where ballots may be returned.   The Virginia House approved a constitutional amendment to automatically restore rights to people formerly incarcerated for felonies.  Governor Glenn Younkin had previously ordered rights restoration on a case-by-case basis only.

We’ll be following all these bills in the months to come.

Find a link to the Voting Rights Lab tracker at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Voting Rights Lab – The Markup: January 21, 2025

Voting Rights Lab –  Bill Tracking Search (Registration required)
Votebeat Wisconsin – Wisconsin voters to decide whether to put photo ID requirement in constitution
Albany News 10 – Senate majority pushes legislative package with voting, election reform
Arizona Mirror – More AZ counties back Florida-style early ballot changes backed by Republicans
Virginia Mercury – Historic push for constitutional protections in Virginia gains momentum

Groups Taking Action:
Disability Rights Wisconsin, League of Women Voters NY, Arizona Democracy Resource Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotingRights #VoterID #EarlyVoting #VotebyMail

The post While We Were Distracted with DC Discord, States Advance New Voting Regulations appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 10, 2025

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.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed automatic voter registration into law in December of 2020, to begin in January of  2023.   Pandemic, technical, and bidding delays ensued, but preparation for voter registration at the DMV and other state agencies has finally begun. 

The New York State Board of Elections approved a resolution in December 2024, authorizing the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and other state agencies to create voter registration forms and transmit that data to the Board of Elections database.  The new system allows citizens to opt out of voter registration, but will otherwise register or change registration information during official transactions.   

Gotham Gazette reports that both the implementation of automatic voter registration system, or AVR,  and online voter registration, or OVR, were delayed as technical staff was diverted for pandemic-related IT projects. The OVR system went live in June 2023.  

While the delays are frustrating, getting it right is critical.  Early adopter Oregon recently discovered flaws in its very successful AVR  system, with evidence that ineligible citizens and noncitizens were accidentally registered during state transactions. The state is in the process of a system-wide audit.  

Brennan Center for Justice research finds AVR has increased voter registrations from 9 to 94% in jurisdictions around the country.  In addition to more voters, AVR also keeps state voter rolls up to date as voters move or have life changes.  

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – (2020)Governor Cuomo Signs Automatic Voter Registration into Law in New York
Harvard Political Review – An Automatic Solution: Voter Registration and the Oregon Model
Gotham Gazette – (2023) New York Launch of Online and Automatic Voter Registration Delayed Until at Least May
New York State Board of Elections – Approved Resolution RE Automatic Voter Registration with Regulation
National Conference for State Legislatures – States Adopting Automatic Voter Registration

Groups Taking Action:
Declaration for American Democracy,  Common Cause, 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 #AVR #MotorVoter #NewYork

The post After 2 Years of Delays, Automatic Voter Registration is Finally Coming to New York appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 16, 2024

Brian is gone today.  The current climate suggests that further VRA destruction is imminent, so expect pro-democracy states who’ve not already implemented state VRAs to act rapidly in 2025.

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 recently on the impact of Shelby County v. Holder, the U.S. Supreme Court majority’s decision invalidating Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  Anticipating even more erosion of the VRA, some states have passed their own state VRAs. 

It’s not only the dismantling of Section 5, the preclearance requirements for states with a history of discrimination.  The conservative justices also just made proving racial gerrymandering harder under Section 2, and they’ve made it easier for a state legislature to dilute minority voting power.  And in the lower courts, more cases attempting to keep individual voters from bringing voting rights lawsuits under the VRA are pending. 

With dwindling protections from the federal government, California, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Minnesota, have enacted State VRAs. Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida have efforts underway. 

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund recommends that state VRAs should have preclearance requirements for counties or municipalities which have patterns of discrimination.  Rules should include a prohibition against vote denial or dilution through gerrymandering; strong protections against intimidation or deception; language assistance; a statewide database to make evidence-based decisions on election administration; and a directive to the state judiciary to support pro-voter and pro-democracy decisions.

We have the Legal Defense Fund’s recommendations and links to state VRAs at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund – State Voting Rights Acts Provide Critical Protections to Black Voters and Other Voters of Color
Campaign Legal Center – Protecting the Freedom to Vote Through State Voting Rights Acts
Center for American Progress – The Protection of Voting Rights Requires State Action

State of Oregon via Casetext – Text of the Oregon Voting Right Act
State of Connecticut – Text of the Connecticut Voting Rights Act
NAACP Legal Defense Fund – Proposed Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Voting Rights Act of Florida (FLVRA)
NAACP Legal Defense Fund – The Proposed New Jersey Voting Rights Act (NJVRA)
Democracy Docket – Several States Look To Pass Their Own Voting Rights Acts

Groups Taking Action:

NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU,  Campaign Legal Center, MALDEF, Voters Not Politicians

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and please SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotingRightsAct #StateVRA #FreedomtoVote

The post With the SCOTUS Majority Intent on Dismantling the Voting Rights Act, Pro-Democracy States are Enacting State VRAs appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 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.

New York’s highest court upheld two lower court rulings August 20th, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to routinely vote early by mail without an excuse.  The decision rebuffed state and national GOP leaders who sued to overturn it. 

Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York Early Mail Voting Act in 2023 – a law, not a constitutional amendment.  It allows any eligible voter to apply for an early mail ballot with no excuse, subject to approval by the local board of elections.  Like any absentee ballot, it must be returned or postmarked by election day.  

NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and state and national Republicans sued, arguing that the Early Mail Voting Act was unconstitutional because the state constitution specified in-person voting only.  They also argued that a constitutional amendment ballot initiative authorizing no-excuse absentee was rejected by voters in 2021.   

A seven-justice panel reviewed decisions from two lower courts and found that since the mid-1960s, the legislature had implemented absentee accommodations without a constitutional amendment, and agreed that the legislature had the authority to enact the law.  One justice dissented.

Earlier this year, the New York Board of Elections opened an online portal for citizens to apply for an Early Mail Ballot, no later than 10 days prior to an election.  

New Yorkers, we’ve linked to the state’s Early Mail Ballot portal at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

State of New York Court of Appeals (via Democracy Docket) – Opinion in Elise Stefanik, et al. v. Kathy Hochul, et al.
Courthouse News Service – Republicans lose fight against mail-in voting in New York high court
Gothamist – You can vote early by mail in New York, state’s top court rules
New York Board of Elections – Voting by Early Mail Ballot or Absentee Ballot
Democracy Docket – New York’s Highest Court Upholds Law Expanding Mail-in Voting, Rejects GOP Challenge

Groups Taking Action:

Vote Early NY,  League of Women Voters NY, Let NY Vote Coalition, Common Cause NY

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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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NYPolitics #NYNews #VotebyMail #EarlyMailBallot

The post New York Court of Appeals Upholds Constitutionality of New Early Mail Ballot Law appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 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.

New York Republicans challenged a new voting law in state supreme court July 30th, allowing citizens to vote by mail during the state’s early voting period. The law has been upheld in two lower courts.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York Early Mail Voting Act in 2023, effective last January;  a law, not a constitutional amendment.  It allows any eligible voter to apply for an early mail ballot with no excuse, subject to approval by the local board of elections.  Like any absentee ballot, it must be returned or postmarked by election day.  

But, the New York Constitution Article II, Section 2 stipulates a voter must suffer from “illness or physical disability” to vote by absentee. NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and state and national Republicans sued, arguing that the Early Mail Voting Act was unconstitutional.   

The lower courts found that another section, Section 7, gives the legislature the authority to make election law, and upheld the Act.  QUOTE  “[a]ll elections by the Citizens . . . shall be by ballot, or by such other method as may be prescribed by law, provided that secrecy in voting be preserved.” 

Oral arguments in the case are heard July 30th, and a decision in the case will likely come quickly, given the State of New York is already receiving Early Mail applications. 

We’ve linked to articles, the appellate court opinion, and constitutional analysis at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Democracy Docket – New York’s Highest Court to Hear Latest GOP Challenge to State’s Mail-In Voting

FindLaw – New York State Constitution Article II, Section 2
FindLaw – New York State Constitution Article II, Section 7
State of NY Supreme Court, Appellate Division (Via Democracy Docket)  – STEFANIK et al. v. KATHY HOCHUL Opinion & Order

Elections NY – Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

Groups Taking Action:
Vote Early NY,  League of Women Voters NY,

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 #VoteEarly #VoteatHome  #VotebyMail #NYPolitics 

The post New York’s Early Mail-In Voting Law Heads to State Supreme Court, Challenged by State & National GOP Leadership appeared first on American Democracy Minute.