The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 27, 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 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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotingRightsAct #StateVRA #MDVRA #MIVRA #FLVRA #NJVRA

The post The SCOTUS Majority is Bent on Dismantling the Voting Rights Act.  Lacking Federal Protection, Pro-Democracy States are Enacting State VRAs appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 9, 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.

Three bills signed by Oregon’s governor August 4th expand Automatic Voter Registration, protect voters who move within the state from losing eligibility, and allow the state to seek federal funding for dropbox security.

Voting Rights Lab reports that Gov. Tina Kotek signed HB 2107, making the Oregon Health Authority one of the state’s automatic voter registration locations.  Residents enrolling in the state’s Medicaid programs will also automatically be registered to vote, unless they opt out.  Another provision allows citizens registering to vote online to submit an electronic signature.

Governor Kotek also signed SB 166, which protects the eligibility of voters who move within the state.  You’ll recall our report last week about Georgia’s purge of registered voters, tens of thousands of whom had only moved within the state and were still eligible, but were disenfranchised in the 2020 and 2022 elections.  SB 166 also allows voters who are out of state when ballots are mailed to request ballots earlier.

Since 2000, Oregon votes primarily by mail.   But the hyperfocus on dropbox security since 2020 led to the signing of SB 1094, authorizing the state to seek federal funding for live streaming video of dropboxes, as well as in ballot counting facilities.  

We have links to the new laws, the history of Oregon’s successful vote by mail system, and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Voting Rights Lab’s “The Markup” – August 7, 2023
Oregon Legislature – Final version of HB 2107
Oregon Legislature – Final version of SB 166
Oregon Legislature – Final version of HB 1094
Bolts – Oregon Wants to Register Medicaid Recipients to Vote. Will Biden Officials Allow It?
Democracy Docket – Former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown:  Oregon’s Universal Mail-In Voting Transformed Civic Participation. Here’s How
Oregon Secretary of State – Voting in Oregon

Groups Taking Action:
Vote at Home Institute,  Next Up Oregon, Coalition of Communities of Color, Disability Rights Oregon,

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VoteatHome #OregonPolitics #VotingRights #FreedomtoVote

The post Oregon Expands Automatic Voter Registration, Protects Voters Who Move In-State From Losing Eligibility, and Seeks Funding for Dropbox Security appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May, 22, 2023

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

Today’s Links now below the script

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

One third of Oregon’s Senators are now ineligible to run for re-election, in a dramatic showdown to block passage of gun safety, reproductive health and Trans rights legislation.  

The Oregon House and Senate must have a two-thirds quorum to conduct business, according to the state constitution.  The Oregon Capital Chronicle reports a constitutional amendment passed by voter referendum in November 2022 allows 10 unexcused absences from full House or Senate “floor sessions,” after which the legislator forfeits re-election.  

By thwarting quorum in the previous 13 days, Senate Republicans are attempting to block passage by the Democratic majority of four bills protecting reproductive and transgender rights, and another gun safety bill increasing the minimum age to buy most firearms from 18 to 21, ban untraceable “ghost guns,”  and give municipalities the power to ban firearms in public buildings.  As of May 19th, nine Republicans and one independent crossed the 10-absence threshold, making themselves ineligible for re-election.  

Thus far, the bills have been blocked, but so have all other bills before the Oregon Senate.   The Republican minority leader indicated the Senators would return for a vote on the state budget.  The Senate’s president pleaded in Friday’s ill-fated session, QUOTE, “This walkout must end.  The people of Oregon desire it. Democracy demands it.” 

We have links to articles and Oregon’s new attendance amendment at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Oregon Capital Chronicle – One-third of Oregon Senate now ineligible for another term as Republican walkout continues
Oregon Public Broadcasting – Oregon Republican walkout: 6 more senators are potentially ineligible for reelection

Oregon Secretary of State’s Office – Ballot Measure 113 – LEGISLATORS WITH TEN UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
FROM FLOOR SESSIONS DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING NEXT TERM OF OFFICE

Groups Taking Action:
ACLU Oregon, Our Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews 

The post One-third of Oregon’s Senate Now Ineligible for Re-election in High Stakes Quorum Showdown appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 10, 2023

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

Today’s Links now below the script

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

We have ANOTHER democracy lawsuit  to watch, this time in Washington State.  The case challenges the Washington Voting Rights Act, the state’s response to portions of the FEDERAL Voting Rights Act being struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

May 11th, the Washington Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Portugal v. Franklin County.  The Brennan Center for Justice reports that many Washington counties use an at-large method of electing county commissioners, instead of voting districts.  In 2020, Latino voters sued Franklin County because its at-large system made it difficult for Hispanic candidates to get elected and represent their communities’ interests.  One-third of eligible voters in the county are Hispanic, and 54% of the population. The county settled and agreed to create voting districts.

A county resident challenged the Washington State Voting Rights Act under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause.  He claims the minority population isn’t sufficiently concentrated to draw districts as the federal Voting Rights Act prescribes, and therefore gives unfair treatment to minorities over other county voters. 

Voting rights groups worry that should the case reach the current anti-voter U.S. Supreme Court, it could further erode protections of minority voters in states like California, Oregon, New York, and Virginia, which adopted similar state voting rights protections.

We’ll keep you updated.  We have links and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice – Washington Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to State Voting Rights Act
Brennan Center for Justice – Portugal v. Franklin County (Amicus Brief)

Election Law Clinic, Harvard Law – Portugal v. Franklin County
Democracy Docket – Washington Franklin County Electoral System Challenge

Groups Taking Action:
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC),  Campaign Legal Center, Brennan Center for Justice, American Civil Rights Project,

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 #VotingRights

The post Challenge to Washington Voting Rights Act in the State’s High Court Raises Concern Among Democracy Advocates appeared first on American Democracy Minute.