The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 13, 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 have updates on stories we’ve been following, including North Carolina’s  Supreme Court race & a power grab by its legislature, ranked choice voting in Alaska, and more charges in Wisconsin for Donald Trump’s fake elector scheme advisors.

We reported December 11th that a GOP state Supreme Court candidate who lost by 734 votes and failed in two recounts, asked the North Carolina Election Board to invalidate as many as 60,000 voters.  North Carolina Newsline reports that in a 3-2 vote Wednesday, the board rejected that request, though a court appeal is likely.

Also December 11th, the North Carolina legislature overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill designed to strip power from the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general.  In an attempt to retain GOP power before it loses its supermajority, the authority to appoint election board members was shifted to the state auditor, a Republican.  The attorney general was also stripped of any ability to bring suit against legislation proposed by the North Carolina legislature.

In Alaska, a recount of the attempted repeal of ranked choice voting and open primaries is complete.  The repeal failed by 743 votes – one-quarter of one percent.

In Wisconsin, 10 additional felony forgery charges were brought against Trump campaign advisors, attorney Jim Troupis, attorney Kenneth Chesebro, and election day director Mike Roman.

We have links to more on all these stories at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters
NC Newsline – NC Board of Elections rejects GOP Supreme Court candidate’s efforts to throw out thousands of votes
Carolina Public Press – Holdout NC House reps get in line with GOP, override veto
American Democracy Minute – Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting and ‘Top 4’ Open Primaries Survive Repeal Referendum – By a Whisker
Alaska Public Media – The recount is over. Alaska will keep ranked choice voting.

PBS Newshour/AP – Trump lawyers and aide face additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors

Groups Taking Action
Democracy North Carolina, Alaskans for Better Elections, Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W.)

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Wisconsin #Alaska #North Carolina

The post Updates for State Stories We’ve Been Following in North Carolina, Alaska, and Wisconsin appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 25, 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.

With a razor-thin statewide margin of 664 votes, ranked choice voting and open primaries weathered a repeal challenge in Alaska, one of the few democracy reforms to survive the 2024 Presidential election cycle.  

We reported in 2022 that over 80% of Alaska voters found ranked choice voting easy to use, and that the open primary system offered many more candidate choices.   It also implemented a “Top 4” Congressional race, where the top four vote-getters advance to the general election, again, in an effort to offer more choice to voters.  Republicans blamed the system for the election of Democratic Congresswoman Mary Peltola, who coincidentally lost her seat November 5th.

The right wing ballot measure to repeal it, marred by questionable funding and signature-gathering practices, was upheld by the Alaska Supreme Court.  The group formed to repeal it, Alaskans for Honest Elections, was fined $94,000 in June for violating the state’s dark money disclosure laws, after a nonprofit church organization contributed $90,000.  

Rural votes in Alaska take weeks to count, and it wasn’t until Nov. 20th that the race was called, 50.10% against the repeal, and 49.90% for it.  With the national GOP opposed to RCV and with such a close vote, expect future challenges.  Still don’t think your vote matters?    

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)

Alaska Beacon – Alaska chooses to keep ranked choice voting, Begich defeats Peltola, unofficial results show
Alaska Beacon – Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice repeal initiative, now bound for November vote
BallotPedia – Ballot Measure Which Established Alaska’s Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)
American Democracy Minute – Fines Upheld for Alaska Pastor Using His Church Organization to Funnel ‘Free Speech’ Money to Political Groups Trying Repeal Ranked Choice Voting
Alaska Division of Elections – Ranked Choice Voting, Explained

Groups Taking Action:

Alaskans for Better Elections, Represent.Us, Open Primaries

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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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 #Alaska #OpenPrimaries #RankedChoiceVoting

The post Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting and ‘Top 4’ Open Primaries Survive Repeal Referendum – By a Whisker appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

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 #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 Oct. 11, 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.

Apparently sensing an existential threat to their power, Idaho GOP leaders are pulling every lever to defeat an open primaries and ranked choice voting citizen initiative.  The measure would allow over 275,000 independent voters to have their voices heard in primaries, and offer more choices to voters.

Proposition 1 would repeal a 2023 law prohibiting ranked choice voting in Idaho, establish a “top 4” open primary system, and use ranked choice voting to ensure the winner among the four candidates in the general election receives a 50%+1 majority.  

Over 97,000 qualifying signatures were delivered in July.  Since then, the state attorney general filed a suit to invalidate the signatures claiming they QUOTE, “misrepresented” the proposition to voters.  That suit was later dismissed.

Then, Secretary of State Phil McCrane quoted a scare-tactic cost of $25 to $40 Million dollars to implement ranked choice, citing the replacement of the state’s ballot tabulators.  Idahoans for Open Primaries cites the State of Maine’s implementation for less than half a million dollars.

Governor Brad Little publicly opposed it September 27th. Then Oct. 1st, Republican House Speaker Mike Moyle told the Idaho Capital Sun that the legislature would likely amend or repeal the measure if voters approve it.

Six other states – Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota plus DC – vote on similar measures in November.   We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

State of Idaho VoteIdaho – Initiatives & Amendments for 2024
Boise Public Radio – Open Primaries Initiative supporters to deliver verified signatures to Secretary of State
Boise Public Radio – Idaho judge dismisses AG’s challenge to open primaries ballot initiative
Governor Brad Little – Voter participation, confidence in elections paramount
Idaho Capital Sun – Move to ranked-choice voting could cost at least $25M to $40M, Idaho’s top election official says
Idaho Capital Sun – Idaho House GOP opposes Prop 1 ballot initiative, may repeal or amend it if voters pass it
Idahoans for Open Primaries – Frequently Asked Questions About Proposition 1

Groups Taking Action:
Idahoans for Open Primaries,  Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Open Primaries, FairVote

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

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 #Idaho #RankedChoiceVoting, #OpenPrimaries #IndependentVoters

The post Sensing a Threat to Their Power, Idaho GOP Leaders Use Every Lever to Stop Open Primaries & Ranked Choice Citizen Ballot Initiative appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

Spoiler alert:  Both major political parties are trying to minimize the impact of voters choosing third party candidates in the 2024 election.  What could fix the “spoiler effect”, and allow third party candidates to still compete?   Ranked choice voting.

CBS News and the Wall Street Journal report that Green Party candidate Jill Stein accepted assistance from Republican affiliated lawyers to keep herself on the ballot in Wisconsin, and be restored to the ballot in Nevada in hopes of siphoning off votes from Kamala Harris.

Earlier this summer, Democrats sued to keep Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. off the ballot in five states.  Though he suspended his candidacy, Kennedy remains on the ballot in 33 states.  

Ranked choice voting, allows third party candidates like Stein, Kennedy, and Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver to compete, without the spoiler effect.  Voters could for example rank Stein first, Harris second and Oliver third.  In ranked choice, if a candidate has a 50% +1 majority, he or she wins outright.  If there is no 50%+1 majority, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated, voters’ second choices are used, and totals are recalculated.  The process continues until the winning candidate reaches a 50% + 1 majority.  

Only Alaska and Maine will use ranked choice for Presidential voting this year, but five states are considering RCV ballot measures in November.

We have more on how ranked choice works at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

CBS News – Republican allies boost longshot candidate Jill Stein as Democrats try to remove her from ballots in battleground states
FairVote – Jill Stein, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and spoiler season

Salon – There’s a solution to Democrats’ RFK Jr. problem: Ranked-choice voting
Politico – Democratic tactics against RFK Jr. are rattling his campaign
CBS News –  Democrats and their allies sue to keep RFK Jr. off the ballot in several states
CNN – How RFK Jr.’s presence on the Maine ballot could delay a projection in the 2024 race
Portland Press Herald/The Fulcrum – Opinion: We’re taking ranked-choice voting national for presidential elections
Ranked Vote – 2024 RCV Ballot Measures and Impact
Represent.Us – Video – How RCV works and the Spoiler Effect

Groups Taking Action:

FairVote, Represent.Us, Rank the Vote

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 Twitter 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 #RankedChoiceVoting #SpoilerEffect #RCV #InstantRunoff

The post Spoiler Alert: Ranked Choice Voting Could Solve the Green Party and RFK Jr. ‘Spoiler Effect’  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.