The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 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.

Disinformation spread about the 2020 election by candidates & partisan groups mobilized extremists to harass or threaten election officials. Many of those officials resigned.  But a large national study also found other reasons for large-scale turnover, and some hope for the 2024 election.

The Bipartisan Policy Center surveyed over 18,000 chief elections officers in all 50 states and confirmed that turnover reached a 20-year high in 2022 of 38.7%. While the survey acknowledges that threats and harassment are factors, it also found that older election officials are retiring, due to an increasing workload, underfunding, and an increasingly complex election system.  Turnover is not just limited to specific states, either, but both red and blue states, and large and small communities.

Despite the turnover nationally, the researchers found that most officials were being replaced with election workers with recent experience.  For 2024, 65% of local election officials will have run a Presidential election previously, down only slightly from 2020.  

It also found that turnover was highest for election officials in large jurisdictions, reaching 46% between 2018 and 2022.  Sixty-seven percent of those officials also reported being abused, harassed or threatened.  The good news is that researchers found most replacement chief election officers have multiple years of experience in running federal elections.

You can find the Bipartisan Policy Center study linked from our website, AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Bipartisan Policy Center – Election Official Turnover Rates from 2000-2024
American Democracy Minute – Rules, and ‘Election Integrity’ Vigilantes Led to an Election Official Brain-Drain
Pew Research Center – Older people account for large shares of poll workers and voters in U.S. general elections
Brennan Center for Justice – Election Officials Under Attack
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Be a Poll Worker!
Power the Polls – HELP STAFF YOUR LOCAL POLLING PLACE

Groups Taking Action:
Issue One, Election Official Legal Defense Network, Power the Polls, Center for American Progress

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers #BeaPollWorker

The post National Study of Elections Officials Confirms Turnover from Harassment, But Also Finds An Aging Workforce and Increasing Workloads are Factors appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

A new study by Pew Research finds Americans broadly support such democracy reforms as making election day a holiday and two weeks of in person early voting, but also think voters must use government issued ID, and voting machines should have paper backup.

Pew surveyed over 5,100 American adults in January 2024 from a pool which reflects the demographics of the U.S. It found an increasing number of Americans, 72%, supported making election day a national holiday, and 76% supported two weeks of in-person early voting.  The public is split, however, on having a choice for mail-in voting, with 57% supporting and 41% opposing.  Among Republicans, support for mail-in voting dropped in four years from 49% to 28%, likely in response to former President Donald Trump’s baseless fraud claims. 

While voting rights groups have tried to protect voting for the elderly, disabled and students, 81% of Americans support voting only with government-issued ID.  Support for election day registration and automatic voter registration through the DMV, declined slightly since 2021, but is down 10% among Republicans.

Pew also found notable differences among younger adults and communities of color, who are more likely to support early voting, mail-in voting, and automatic and election day registration. 

We have a link to the full Pew survey at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Pew Research – Bipartisan Support for Early In-Person Voting, Voter ID, Election Day National Holiday
Brennan Center for Justice – Voter ID
MIT Election Data & Science Lab – Automatic Voter Registration
Ballotpedia – Voting Methods and Equipment by State

Groups Taking Action:
ACLU, League of Women Voters, National Disability Rights Network, Declaration for American Democracy

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!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #PewTrust #AVR #VoterRegistration #ElectionDayHoliday

The post Survey Finds Strong Support from Americans for Early Voting & Election Day Holiday Reforms, but Also Restrictive Government-Issued ID Requirements appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 3, 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.

A frightening survey released last week found substantial increases in the number of Americans who thought that the country needed leaders to break rules – authoritarianism – and that violence may be needed, to QUOTE “save our country.”

The majority of Americans still disagree with those positions, according to the survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution.  But 23% of Americans agreed with the statement, “Because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country. That’s up 8% from 2021.  The increase is among all partisan groups, too,  including 33% of Republicans, 22% of independents, and 13% of Democrats.

The survey also found a disturbing trend of Americans supporting a leader not following the rules if it meant a change in political direction of the country.  

Four in ten Americans agree with the statement, “Because things have gotten so far off track in this country, we need a leader who is willing to break some rules if that’s what it takes to set things right.”   This bend toward authoritarian rule is not just among the 48% of Republicans who agreed; 38% of independents and 29% of Democrats concurred. 

Where DO most Americans agree?:  77% of Americans feel their country is headed the wrong direction. 

We have a link to the full survey results at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings  –  Survey Summary: Threats to American Democracy Ahead of an Unprecedented Presidential Election
Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings – Slide Deck Presentation:   Threats to American Democracy Ahead of an Unprecedented Presidential Election
Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings – Webinar:  What do Americans think about the health of our democracy and the upcoming presidential election?

NPR – More Americans say they support political violence ahead of the 2024 election
Journal of Democracy – The Rise of Political Violence in the United States

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Survey #SaveDemocracy  #BrookingsInstitution #PoliticalViolence

The post Frightening Survey Results Show Increases in Americans Who Think Violence May Be Needed and Leaders Should Break Rules to “Save Our Country” appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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Today’s Links
Associated Press:   No major problems with ballot drop boxes in 2020, AP finds
Law Fare:   The Rise of Ballot Drop Boxes Due to the Coronavirus
Brennan Center:  Voting Laws Roundup: May 2022

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

Recently we reported that the Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked use of ballot drop boxes in the state, and several other states have proposed legislation that limit, complicate, or eliminate their use, claiming they were a source of widespread fraud.  The Associated Press just reviewed the use of drop boxes in the 2020 election, and didn’t find anything that affected the election.

The AP contacted top election officials in all but five states, asking whether their drop boxes were tied to fraudulent votes or stolen ballots, or whether the boxes and the ballots they contained were damaged.   Of the states which allowed drop boxes, none experienced issues which would have affected the outcome of the election.

Massachusetts and California each experienced a case of arson in drop boxes, but most of the ballots were salvaged and voters were able to cast new ballots.

The AP points out how Big Lie disinformation impacted the legitimacy of drop boxes.   North Carolina had no drop boxes in 2020, yet allegations were made that they played a role in the outcome of the election there. 

The rapid expansion of drop boxes was due in part to preventable processing changes at the US Postal Service, as voters sought confidence in their ability to deliver their ballot on time.   One voter interviewed by the AP stated, “Isn’t a mailbox a secure place to put a letter? Why would a drop box be any different?”

The AP’s article and additional data on drop boxes are available at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   Granny D said “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for July 21, 2022: States Limited or Eliminated Drop Boxes Claiming Fraud; the AP Found None appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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New Study Shows Stadium Voting is a Home Run
Today’s Links:
Civic Responsibility Project Study:   VOTING IN 2020: PROFESSIONAL SPORTS STADIUMS & ARENAS AS
POLLING PLACES
Washington Monthly:  Take Me Out to the … Voting Booth!https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/americandemocracyminute/episodes/2022-07-17T08_50_29-07_00

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

It’s baseball’s All Star week, and a new study suggests that you might want to get out to your local ballpark or basketball arena – to exercise your freedom to vote.

The Civic Responsibility Project commissioned a study by a panel of experts during the 2020 election and found that sports stadiums make excellent voting venues.  In fact, 48 MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, and NFL sports stadiums and arenas were used for voting in 2020.

But the value of sports facilities go beyond social distancing.   The study found that stadiums are often located in densely populated metropolitan areas, accessible by mass transit.    The facilities are capable of moving people in and out, are handicapped accessible, have adequate bathrooms and parking, and are in general, easy to get to.  Staff at the stadiums are used to the logistics for games, concerts and other large events.

After decades of not being out front on social justice issues, many pro sports franchises are now looking for opportunities to be better corporate citizens.   Providing valuable support for voting and civic engagement in their communities is an excellent way to do that.   

Voters like it, too.  The Civic Responsibility Project found that 2020 voters came from a wide range of political, racial and cultural backgrounds, and stadium voting didn’t benefit any particular group of voters.  The study notes that proximity is the biggest factor in voter use of the sports venue, but in some cities voters came from significant distances.   Seems like stadium voting is, well, a home run.     A link to the study is at our website, AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Granny D said “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”   

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for July 18, 2022: New Study Shows Stadium Voting is a Home Run appeared first on American Democracy Minute.