The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 12, 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.

After two recounts, an incumbent North Carolina Supreme Court justice was declared the winner by 734 votes, with 5.5 million ballots cast.  Her GOP challenger now claims 60,000 of those voters were ineligible.

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was declared the winner over Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin December 10th, after a machine recount in November didn’t change the margin’s percentage.  Tuesday’s partial hand recount sampling found no evidence to justify Griffin’s request for a full hand recount, according to North Carolina Newsline. 

Griffin has refused to concede the race, and in November appealed to the North Carolina Elections Board to invalidate as many as 60,000 voters.  Newsline reports that his challenge includes voters with felony convictions, despite North Carolina’s voting rights restoration after sentences and probation are completed.  He and the North Carolina GOP are also challenging voters with incomplete registration information, some of whom are even elected officials and have voted for years.  Mail ballots from military and overseas voters have been questioned as well.  

The state election board meets this week to consider the challenges. A spokesperson for the Riggs campaign said in a statement, “ This election has concluded, and the voters have issued a clear verdict in electing Justice Riggs.” 

We have links to even more on this story from local outlets at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Democracy Docket – As Recount Starts, North Carolina Supreme Court GOP Candidate Challenges 60K Ballots
NC Newsline – Supreme Court election protest ensnares voters of all stripes, including some elected officials
WCNC – Even after partial hand recount affirms incumbent Dem Justice Riggs won NC Supreme Court race, Republican challenger still not ready to concede
WRAL – Riggs’ lead grows after 2nd recount in NC Supreme Court race. Elections officials won’t order a third
NC Newsline – No third recount for GOP Judge Griffin as Democrats denounce his effort to throw out ballots

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NorthCarolina #SupremeCourt #VotingMatters 

The post After losing two recounts in State Supreme Court Race, North Carolina GOP Candidate Is Still Challenging the Eligibility of 60,000 Voters appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 14, 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 case likely destined for the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal appeals court struck down a Mississippi law allowing receipt and counting of mail-in ballots up to five days after election day. Pro-voter groups are fighting back.

A three-judge appeals panel in the notoriously conservative 5th Circuit federal court ruled Oct. 25th that federal law does not allow any state to extend the receipt of ballots after election day, including in-state ballots or the UOCAVA mail ballots used for overseas military and diplomatic personnel.  The panel allowed counting those ballots for the 2024 election, but sent the case back to a lower court.

Despite 20 states offering a grace period of varying lengths, U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham wrote, “Federal law does not permit the state of Mississippi to extend the period for voting by one day, five days, or 100 days.”  

Pro-voter groups asked November 8th for a reconsideration in front of ALL 5th Circuit judges, but the case is likely to ultimately be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.  For now, the ruling applies only to the 5th Circuit states of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.  But an adverse ruling by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority – which often throws precedent out the window – could impact millions of voters at home and abroad who depend on mail ballots.

We have links to the case documents and other reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

National Conference of State Legislators – Receipt and Postmark Deadlines for Absentee/Mail Ballots
NPR – Appeals court sides with GOP on Miss. law that provides grace period for mail ballots
Reuters – US appeals court says counting ballots received after Election Day is illegal
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (via Democracy Docket) –  PETITION OF INTERVENOR DEFENDANTS – APPELLEES VET VOICE FOUNDATION AND THE MISSISSIPPI ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS FOR REHEARING EN BANC

Groups Taking Action:

Vet Voice Foundation, Mississippi Alliance for Retired Americans

Register or 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

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 #Mississippi #5thCircuit #VotebyMail #SCOTUS

The post Fringe Federal Court Ruling Invalidating the Counting of Mail-In Ballots in Mississippi After Election Day is Challenged by Pro-Voter Groups appeared first on American Democracy Minute.