The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 2, 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.
We’re back in Wisconsin where three democracy lawsuits may have an impact on the state’s election administration, access to absentee ballots, and gerrymandered voting districts.
A Dane County court ruled Oct. 27th that a vote by the Wisconsin State Senate to remove the director of the Wisconsin Elections Commission had QUOTE “no effect.” A previous ruling by the state supreme court allows state officials to remain in place if there is no successor. Meagan Wolfe has been scapegoated of 2020 election deniers for implementing pandemic absentee voting accommodations for nursing home patients. Wolfe remains in her position.
Another suit involving the Wisconsin Elections Commission will be heard Nov. 10th, challenging use of the state’s online voter portal to request absentee ballots. The conspiracy theory group pushing the suit argues that state law requires absentee applications to be submitted DIRECTLY to local election officials. The state’s portal receives the application first, then notifies local election officials who download and review it.
Then November 21st, the first of two cases claiming the state’s heavily gerrymandered voting districts violate the state constitution will be heard in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The April election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz shifted power on the court, which could lead to the drawing of fairer maps and possibly impact the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives.
We have more on all the cases at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Wisconsin Examiner – Embracing election denial, Wisconsin Senate Republicans vote to fire chief election official
Wisconsin Examiner – Temporary injunction blocks lawmakers from trying to replace elections administrator
Associated Press/PBS Wisconsin – Dane County judge blocks legislators from removing Wolfe during lawsuit
Democracy Docket – Wisconsin Online Absentee Ballot Application Challenge
Democracy Docket – Wisconsin Legislative Redistricting Challenge
Princeton Gerrymandering Project/Represent.Us/Electoral Innovation Lab: Wisconsin 2022 Congressional Maps – Grade = F
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause Wisconsin, League of Women Voters WI, Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #Wisconsin #WisconsinPolitics #EndGerrymandering #FreedomtoVote