The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 19, 2025

Utah adopted universal mail-in voting in 2013, with no widespread misuse in its 12 years.  March 6th, the GOP-dominated Utah legislature approved an amended bill to end it in 2029, despite 76% of state voters supporting it. 

HB 300 was even more draconian just weeks ago, requiring voters to return  their ballot in person so ID could be shown.  Such a move would have ended the convenience voters like about mail-in voting, and created a burden for rural and Native American voters, who might live hours from a polling place.

The Utah News Dispatch reports the amended bill phases out universal mail-in voting in 2029, rather than immediately.  But in the interim, voters must obtain state-issued voting ID by 2026, and provide four digits from that ID, with signature matching as a backup.  The voting ID would be free only to those proving they can’t afford it.  

In 2029, voters can opt-in to a semi-permanent 8-year vote-by-mail list, and election officials would rely only on the voting ID number for identification.   Voters could opt in at the DMV, polling places, or the state’s voter portal.  The bill also extends the ballot return deadline to 8 pm on election day.

Replacing universal mail-in voting is expected to cost taxpayers $6 million dollars annually.  Gov. Spencer Cox is likely to sign it. 

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Utah News Dispatch – (2024) Deep red Utah wants to keep voting by mail
Utah News Dispatch – Utah Legislature approves bill to require voter ID, phase out automatic voting by mail by 2029
Salt Lake Tribune – Universal vote by mail is popular in Utah. GOP lawmakers continue to move away from it in a revised bill.
Associated Press – Deep-red Utah embraced voting by mail. Then came 2020.
Deseret News – (2024) New poll: Three-quarters of Utah voters confident in vote by mail system
Utah House of Representatives – Fiscal Note – HB 300 

Groups Taking Action:

Rural Utah Project, League of Women Votes UT

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Utah #VotebyMail  #HB300

The post Utah Legislature Passes 2029 End to Its Popular Universal Mail-In Voting System, Replacing it With an Opt-In List & More ID appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 8, 2023

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) 

Today’s Links now below the script

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

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the “Democracy for the People Act” Friday, a huge bill expanding voter registration and mail-in voting options, creating a small-donor campaign funding voucher system, and enhancing penalties for intimidation or harassment of voters or election officials.

Minnesota joins New Mexico in passing omnibus bills to strengthen democracy protections in 2023.   Minnesota’s bill establishes an automatic voter registration system, registering voters at the state departments of Public Safety and Human Services, unless they opt out.   This includes the PRE-registration of 16 and 17 year olds, though they can’t vote until age 18.  The bill is expected to add 450,000 voters to the rolls each year in a state which has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country.

The Democracy for the People Act also creates a permanent absentee vote by mail list, particularly helpful for seniors and the disabled, and makes voting materials more available in other languages.    

Steps were also taken to rein in big money influence in elections by establishing a new “Democracy Dollars” campaign funding system, where qualifying candidates need to reach out to voters to receive the two $25 small-donor certificates given to each registered voter.  Its aim is to keep candidates responsive to voters, not special interest campaign donors.

We have the text to the bill, analysis articles, and lots more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Minnesota Legislature – Final Text of the “Democracy for the People Act”
Democracy Docket – Minnesota Governor Enacts the Democracy for the People Act
Duluth News Tribune – Minnesota enacts automatic voter registration, penalties for election misinformation
Minnesota Senate Media Services – Governor Walz Signs Voting Accessibility Bill into Law

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause MN, League of Women Voters MN, Represent.Us, People for the American Way, Free Speech for People,  We Choose Us MN

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews

The post Minnesota Governor Signs “Democracy for the People Act” Enhancing Voting Access and Protections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.