The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 29, 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.

A Delaware Superior Court judge struck down two early voting laws Feb. 23rd affecting tens of thousands of voters who were approved for a permanent absentee ballot list, and those who choose to vote early in-person. 

Democracy Docket reports that the lawsuit was brought by a state GOP chair and the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation in 2022.  They argue that Delaware’s constitution allows only one day of voting, not the 10 days of early voting passed in 2019 and implemented in 2022.  Over 55,000 people voted early in the last midterm election – 7% of ballots cast.

In his opinion, Judge Mark Connor wrote, “Our Constitution provides only one such day, not any day or series of days the General Assembly sees fit.”

The GOP plaintiffs also contested a permanent absentee ballot request list passed in 2010, for which voters can qualify if disabled, a state employee, active military, or a caregiver.   The permanent absentee list was passed with a bipartisan vote, and now has more than 20,000 signed up.   

Judge Connor noted that this law, too, ran afoul of the state constitution, because it added a voter to a permanent list without verifying future eligibility.

While the state attorney general says she will appeal, Delawareans needing to vote by absentee should prepare to reapply for upcoming elections.

For details, visit AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Delaware Public Media – (2022) Early voting wraps up in Delaware with one county outpacing the rest
Delaware Superior Court Decision –  OPINION AND ORDER 

Democracy Docket – Delaware Court Strikes Down Permanent Absentee and Early Voting Laws
WHYY – Delaware attorney general vows to fight court ruling that halts early voting and permanent absentee voting
Delaware Election Commission – Absentee Ballot Application (Pre-Decision)

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause Delaware, Delaware Voting Rights Coalition

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #EarlyVoting #AbsenteeVoting #VotingRights  #LetUsVote

The post Delaware Court Strikes Down Permanent Absentee Voter List and Early Voting Laws as Unconstitutional, Affecting Tens of Thousands for 2024 appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 5, 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.

While some state legislatures are making it harder to vote, a 2023 recap from Voting Rights Lab shows a few states passed legislation to help people register to vote and to make voting more accessible to all citizens.

Michigan passed several laws to implement an expansion of voting rights passed by ballot measure in 2022.  It includes automatic voter registration at the DMV and other state agencies, a permanent vote by mail list, nine days of early voting, making secure drop boxes available, and pre-registration for 16 & 17 year olds.

Minnesota restored voting rights to returning felons upon release, helping an estimated 55,000 citizens to vote. It also expanded automatic voter registration to more state agencies, created a permanent mail-in voting list, and offered pre-registration to 16 & 17 year olds.

The New Mexico Voting Rights Act passed in March.  It automatically registers voters at the DMV and other state offices, restores the vote for the formerly incarcerated, creates a permanent absentee voter list, mandates same-day registration, and enacts the first Native American Voting Rights Act.

Connecticut voters passed a 14-day early voting period, and its legislature moved a constitutional amendment to a November 2024 vote which would allow no-excuse absentee voting.   

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro directed that automatic voter registration be implemented by the DMV.  And all New York voters have the opportunity to vote by mail, though this new law is being challenged in court.  

We have links to the legislation summarized at Voting Rights Lab at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Voting Rights Lab – The Top Ten Election Laws of 2023
Michigan Advance – At Detroit NAACP, Whitmer signs voting rights bills
Minnesota Public Radio – Voting rights restored to 50,000 under new Minnesota law
New Mexico Governor’s Office – Gov. Lujan Grisham signs New Mexico Voting Rights Act into law
Associated Press – Connecticut Senate passes early voting bill, new system allows up to 14 days of in-person voting
Spotlight PA/Votebeat – Pa. will now prompt people to register to vote when they get a driver’s license

Democracy Docket – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Signs Package of Voting Rights Laws

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, Declaration for American Democracy, NAACP, Native American Rights Fund,  League of United Latin American Citizens,  National Disability Rights Network

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FreedomtoVote #VotingRights #LetUsVote

The post Democracy News Wasn’t All Bad in 2023;  MI, MN, NM, CT, PA, & NY All Passed Substantial Pro-Voter Legislation  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 1, 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.

In November 2022, Michigan voters passed a constitutional amendment enshrining voting protections and expanding ballot access. Throughout 2023, the legislature codified those mandates, and passed additional reforms, making Michigan one of the year’s democracy bright spots.

Proposition 2 mandates nine days of early voting, postage for mail-in ballots, a permanent absentee voter list, protections for both voters and election workers from harassment, and a tracking system for absentee ballots.   It allows for the funding of secure drop boxes, and the counting of military and overseas ballots if postmarked by election day.  It clarifies that only the ballots cast determines election outcomes, only the election board certifies that outcome, and that audits are supervised by the Secretary of State, not third parties.

The pro-voter legislature, backed by a democracy-friendly governor, implemented most of those mandates this year. But Bolts Magazine reports that legislators went even further.   Automatic voter registration was extended to additional state agencies and tribal nation offices, including the first U.S law to automatically register formerly incarcerated citizens.  Another bill repealed a law  banning groups from paying for providing rides to the polls.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has yet to sign two bills allowing same-day registrants to vote without provisional ballot status, and to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to register early. 

We have a link to the Bolts Magazine article and Michigan’s model legislation at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Michigan Proposal 2, Voting Policies in Constitution Amendment (2022)
Michigan Live – Michiganders pass Proposal 2, amending the state constitution to expand voting rights
Office of the Governor of Michigan – Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Legislation Expanding Voting Rights
League of Women Voters MI – List of Bills Implementing Proposition 2 – Update July 17, 2023

Michigan Advance – Lawmakers close out year with election reforms like 16 and 17 year old voting pre-registration
Bolts Magazine – Michigan Democrats Sprint Through ‘Pro-Voter’ Agenda to Close Out 2023

Groups Taking Action:
Voters Not Politicians, Secure Democracy USA, Michigan State Conference of the NAACP, League of Women Voters MI

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FreedomtoVote #ProtectPollWorkers #LetUsVote

The post Michigan a Democracy Bright Spot as it Implements Proposition 2 Constitutional Amendment Protecting and Expanding Voting Rights appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 8, 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.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the “Democracy for the People Act” Friday, a huge bill expanding voter registration and mail-in voting options, creating a small-donor campaign funding voucher system, and enhancing penalties for intimidation or harassment of voters or election officials.

Minnesota joins New Mexico in passing omnibus bills to strengthen democracy protections in 2023.   Minnesota’s bill establishes an automatic voter registration system, registering voters at the state departments of Public Safety and Human Services, unless they opt out.   This includes the PRE-registration of 16 and 17 year olds, though they can’t vote until age 18.  The bill is expected to add 450,000 voters to the rolls each year in a state which has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country.

The Democracy for the People Act also creates a permanent absentee vote by mail list, particularly helpful for seniors and the disabled, and makes voting materials more available in other languages.    

Steps were also taken to rein in big money influence in elections by establishing a new “Democracy Dollars” campaign funding system, where qualifying candidates need to reach out to voters to receive the two $25 small-donor certificates given to each registered voter.  Its aim is to keep candidates responsive to voters, not special interest campaign donors.

We have the text to the bill, analysis articles, and lots more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Minnesota Legislature – Final Text of the “Democracy for the People Act”
Democracy Docket – Minnesota Governor Enacts the Democracy for the People Act
Duluth News Tribune – Minnesota enacts automatic voter registration, penalties for election misinformation
Minnesota Senate Media Services – Governor Walz Signs Voting Accessibility Bill into Law

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause MN, League of Women Voters MN, Represent.Us, People for the American Way, Free Speech for People,  We Choose Us MN

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews

The post Minnesota Governor Signs “Democracy for the People Act” Enhancing Voting Access and Protections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.