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

Turnout Statistics are Starting to Come In. Hispanic, Black & Younger Voters Surged; White Voters Decline Slightly Compared to 2022

November 9, 2026November 9, 2026

Turnout numbers for the 2026 midterm are just starting to come in, and Black, Hispanic and younger voters surged, while White voters declined slightly, compared to 2022. Overall, it was the second highest midterm turnout since 1914.

The Leader Behind the Noncitizen Voter Crusade, DOJ Civil Rights Division Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon, Leaves Her Job Empty Handed

November 8, 2026November 8, 2026

U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, has resigned. Under her leadership, Dillon was 0 for 27 in cases to force states to turn over voter data to find widespread illegal voting, and under her watch, an estimated 300 attorneys left the division.

No Reports of Armed Federal Agents at the Polls or Seizure of Ballots, After Ambiguous Trump Administration Messaging Didn’t Rule it Out.

November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

After months of speculation, there were no reports during the 2026 midterms of armed federal agents at the polls, seizure of ballots or election machines, and no presidential emergency declaration. And from the turnout numbers, voters largely ignored the ambiguous messaging from the Trump administration and defiantly cast ballots.

The Blue Wave Splashed Over the GOP Gerrymandered Seawalls in Texas, Showing Motivated Voters Can Swamp a Rigged System

November 4, 2026November 4, 2026

When President Donald Trump demanded mid-decade redistricting to create more GOP seats in Texas in July 2025, he unleashed a gerrymandering arms race. Analysts expected most of those rigged districts to give Republicans comfortable margins. But the blue wave apparently breached those seawalls.

Since the Last Election, Cycle States Made Changes to Mail-In Ballot Processing Rules to Speed Things Up, But It Still Takes Extra Time.

November 2, 2026November 4, 2026

About 30% of Americans voted by mail in 2024, and mail-in voting is a proven way to increase citizen participation in elections. States adopting universal mail ballots have seen participation increase from 8% in Colorado to 20% in Oregon. While states made changes to speed up processing, the fact remains that mail-in ballots take extra time to count.