The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 7, 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.

Democracy reform-related citizen ballot initiatives failed November 5th, as high turnout of GOP voters and deceptive messaging overwhelmed a citizen-led redistricting commission, open primaries and ranked choice voting.

Ohio’s Issue 1 citizen-led redistricting commission could not overcome high turnout and a deceptive rewriting of the issue’s ballot description by Ohio’s Secretary of State and Ballot Board.  That effort portrayed the reform itself as gerrymandering in an effort to confuse voters, and it failed 46 to 54 percent.  The measure proposed a 15-member, cross-partisan independent commission without politicians or lobbyists in an effort to create fair maps, rather than the current flawed politician-led system.

As part of a two-vote constitutional amendment process, Nevada voters considered Question 3, establishing a “top 5” open primary and ranked choice voting system. The second vote failed 45.5 to 54.5 percent after passing it two years ago.  

Colorado’s open primary initiative, Proposition 131, received only 44 percent approval, after being opposed by both the Democratic and Republican parties.

As of early November 6th, votes supporting Alaska’s Ballot Measure 2 to REPEAL its “top 4” open primary and ranked choice voting system had edged ahead, with 100,000 votes remaining to be counted.  

We’ll update that result and other democracy measures in a future report.

We have links to local analysis and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio voters reject Issue 1, leaving politicians in control over map-making process

Nevada Current – Nevada voters reject open primaries, ranked choice voting system
Colorado Newsline – Colorado voters appear to reject sweeping elections overhaul backed by wealthy donors
Alaska Beacon – Votes to repeal Alaska’s open primaries, ranked choice voting are narrowly ahead

Groups Taking Action:
Yes on Issue 1 Ohio, Yes on 3 Nevada, Yes on 131 Colorado, Alaskans for Better Elections

Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #CitizensNotPoliticians #FairMaps #RankedChoiceVoting

The post High Turnout of Conservative Voters Also Led to Losses for Democracy Reform in Ohio, Nevada, Colorado and Potentially Alaska appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for January 4, 2023

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

BallotPedia – 2022 ballot measures
Michigan House –  Promote the Vote Initiative
Business Insider – Results: Nevadans approve Question 3 to add ranked choice general and top-five primaries to the state’s elections
Connecticut Insider – Connecticut residents approve early voting ballot question
Arizona Public Media – After overwhelming voter OK, political ‘dark money’ law hailed as model
BallotPedia – Arizona 2022 ballot measures
Brennan Center – Voter Access Ballot Initiatives in 2022

Groups Taking Action:

Bolder Advocacy – Ballot Measures Toolkit
Movement Advancement Project – DIRECT CITIZEN INITIATIVE STATES

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.

This week, we’re making predictions on what state democracy legislation we’ll see in 2023.  Last year, some of the most significant state democracy reforms came from citizen ballot initiatives – so we predict you’ll see anti-voter legislatures attempt to make restrictions to the citizen ballot initiative process.

On Nov. 8th, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Connecticut passed pro-democracy ballot measures.  Michigan voters approved no-excuse mail-in  and early in-person voting, and provided for absentee ballot drop boxes, among other reforms.  Arizona voters now require disclosure of Dark Money contributors in state elections.  New Mexico voters took the first step toward using single ballot open primaries and ranked choice voting. 

But on Arizona’s ballot were three ballot measures proposed by its legislature attempting to curb the power of the ballot measure process itself.    One proposed raising the threshold for passage to 60% for any measure expending taxes.  Another would have allowed the legislature to change any ballot measure approved by the voters but ruled unconstitutional by the state supreme court.  Voters were having none of it, and defeated both of these measures.

Because ballot measure Democracy reforms have successfully bypassed obstinate, partisan legislators, we predict more anti-voter legislatures will  propose restrictions on ballot initiatives in 2023.

We have articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  

I’m Brian Beihl.

The post 2023 Anti-Voter Predictions – Citizen Ballot Initiatives Likely Targets of Anti-Voter Legislatures appeared first on American Democracy Minute.