American Democracy Minute A 90 second radio news report & podcast on U.S. democracy issues %

California Supreme Court Schedules Special Session to Hear Cases Against Riverside County Sheriff Who Seized 600,000 Ballots

August 3, 2026August 3, 2026

Back in April we reported on the seizure of over 600,000 Riverside County, California ballots by County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The state attorney general and a group of voters asked the state supreme court to intervene. Oral arguments in those cases will be heard in a special session August 24th.

Virginia’s Governor Has Restored Rights to Over 66,000 Formerly Incarcerated Citizens. November’s Question 3 Would Make it Automatic.

August 2, 2026August 2, 2026

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced July 31st that she has restored the voting and civil rights to over 66,000 formerly incarcerated citizens since she took office in January. Virginia is only one of three states where withholding those rights remains in the state constitution.

Community Poll Workers are Essential to a Safe, Secure and Accessible Election. August 11 is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day.

July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission reports over 772,000 poll workers served during the 2024 general election, but shortages were common. National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is Aug. 11th, and supporting our election system is an excellent way to celebrate America’s 250 years of democracy.

Making Sense of Latest Conflicting Appeals Court Rulings on Trump’s March Executive Order on Elections. Has Harm Been Done–Yet?

July 29, 2026July 29, 2026

A second appeals court handed down a ruling on President Trump’s March 31st executive order on elections, this time allowing the U.S. Postal Service’s preparations for checking eligibility of mail-in voters to proceed - the opposite of a different court’s July 25th ruling. What gives?

Largely Blocked by Lower Courts, Administration Asks SCOTUS to Allow Executive Order Directing USPS to Verify Citizenship of Mail-In Voters

July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

The lower courts have largely blocked President Trump’s March executive order on elections as violations of the Constitution’s Elections Clause. July 27th, his administration asked the more friendly U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on an appeals court decision blocking the U.S. Postal Service from verifying citizenship for mail-in voters.