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

In a win for Wisconsin voters, a more moderate Wisconsin Supreme Court reinstated the use of ballot drop boxes, and a state appellate court upheld a lower court’s decision on common sense rules governing absentee ballot witness information.

July 5th, Wisconsin’s high court reversed a 2022 decision by a then more  conservative court, which said drop boxes were not allowed by the state constitution.   The arguments hinged on whether “delivering an absentee ballot to a municipal clerk” meant handing the ballot to a clerk, or using an official drop box.   The current court decided that the previous court’s opinion was “unsound in principle” and found that delivering a ballot to a drop box was, in fact, delivering it to a clerk. 

A state appeals court affirmed a lower court ruling July 11th that absentee ballots, which require a witness signature and address in Wisconsin, could be counted if there was missing information, provided the witness and address could still be confirmed.   Republican legislators had challenged absentee ballots for which voter information was correct, but witness information lacked a complete address, such as a spouse writing “same” in the address line.  The order will allow more absentee ballots to be counted.

As state primaries approach, it’s a good time to check your voter registration status with your local election officials.

We have the rulings, local reporting, and the groups taking action linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Wisconsin Supreme Court –  Opinion in Ballot Drop Box Case
Wisconsin Examiner – Ballot drop boxes now allowed in Wisconsin after state Supreme Court reverses 2022 decision
Wisconsin Examiner – Elections Commission discusses clerk guidance on drop boxes
Wisconsin Appeals Court (via Democracy Docket) – Opinion in Rise, Inc. v. WI Elections Commission Absentee Ballot Rules case
Wisconsin Examiner – Appeals court finds absentee ballots still count without full witness address
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to register to vote, check your registration and vote in your state

Groups Taking Action:
Rise, Inc., Disability Rights Wisconsin, Wisconsin Alliance of Retired Americans

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #DropBoxes #FreedomtoVote #WisconsinNews #WisconsinPolitics

The post Wins in Wisconsin for Mail-In Ballot Voters as Drop Boxes Reinstated, Favorable Absentee Witness Decision Upheld appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 21, 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.

How’s this for cruel irony:   Arizona anti-voter legislators are proposing voters pass their legislative constitutional ballot question this November to make it harder for voters to get a citizen ballot initiative on the ballot.  

Currently, an Arizona citizen ballot question requires statewide signatures from 10% of registered voters for a state statute, and 15% for a constitutional amendment.  But in 2023, the Arizona legislature passed the Arizona Distribution Requirement for Initiatives Amendment. This ballot measure changes the rules for citizen ballot questions, requiring, for a state statute, that signatures come from 10% of the number of voters who voted for in the previous governor’s race, AND requiring they come from EACH legislative district in the state.  For constitutional amendments, it’s 15% from each district.

Arizona pro-voter groups say such a requirement adds huge costs by requiring hundreds more signature gatherers to reach into Arizona’s rural legislative districts, with fewer voters and commerce centers.  

Another 2024 legislative ballot measure aims to raise the threshold to pass a constitutional amendment to 60%.  Ohio recently failed to use threshold and signature distribution requirements to head off a reproductive rights amendment.  

And even if advocates gather enough signatures, opponents are using a new financial intimidation tactic to discourage ballot questions.  More on that tomorrow.  

Read more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Arizona Legislature – Text of SCR 1015
BallotPedia – Arizona Signature Distribution Requirement for Initiatives Amendment (2024)
Arizona Mirror – Resolution would make passing constitutional amendments more difficult
Brennan Center for Justice – Politicians Take Aim at Ballot Initiatives
Bolts Magazine – Arizona Republicans Set Up a Ballot Measure to Squash Future Ballot Measures

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DirectDemocracy 

The post Arizona Anti-Voter Legislators Up Their Game to Quash Citizen Ballot Initiatives appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 26, 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.

Four rules governing partisan poll challengers in Michigan’s election official handbook will have to be removed or enacted by the legislature, according to a Michigan appeals court.  

Poll challengers are official political party representatives who observe the counting process in the secure area, unlike public poll observers, who must watch from a designated viewing area.   

According to reporting by Michigan Live, the new rules in question were written into Michigan’s official election rules manual for the May 2022 update.   These included requiring state registration of poll challengers in advance, when party credentials were previously used and challengers could be appointed on election day; limiting challengers to speaking only with a designated “liaison”; bans on cell phones in the absentee ballot counting area; and removal of challengers for repeated “impermissible” challenges,  reasons other than the voter’s eligibility or ballot deficiencies.

After a poll challenger was removed for allegedly harassing Detroit election officials under the new rules, the Republican party sued. The court found the state’s rules had exceeded the Secretary of State’s authority.   Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson appealed, but the higher court upheld most of the lower court’s ruling.

State officials must now reissue a corrected handbook, removing the new rules not specified in Michigan election law.   We have an explanation of the role of poll observers at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Bridge Michigan – (2022) Michigan court scuttles new election challenger rules. Benson to appeal
Michigan Live – Michigan’s poll challenger rules must be changed, court rules
Democracy Docket – Michigan Judge Strikes Down Election Challengers Regulations
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Poll Watchers
Michigan Secretary of State – (As of 10/25/2023) Election Challengers and Poll Watchers:  Summary of Rights and Duties

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #PollWatchers

The post State Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Striking Down Four Michigan Rules Governing Partisan Poll Challengers appeared first on American Democracy Minute.