The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 18, 2025
While corrosive democracy news from Washington continued this week, state news ranged from good in Delaware and Mississippi, mixed in North Carolina & Pennsylvania, to downright ugly in New Hampshire.
Voting Rights Lab reports the Delaware Senate advanced SB 2 and SB 3, constitutional amendments allowing 10 days of early voting and no-excuse absentee voting. Legislative versions of both bills passed last year, but the Delaware Supreme Court found that the state constitution didn’t enable them. The General Assembly must pass them again next year for them to be adopted.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Mississippi to redraw state senate districts for DeSoto County, which it found still violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by diluting a majority Black section of the county, according to Mississippi Today.
State officials in North Carolina found fewer issues among the 5,000 military and overseas voters than state supreme court candidate Jefferson Griffin claimed, but the highly questionable post-election review of voter eligibility continues.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday appealed a federal court ruling directing county election officials to count otherwise eligible mail-in ballots without a date.
The New Hampshire Senate advanced SB 213, which would require voters applying by mail for an absentee ballot to enclose a copy of their birth certificate, U.S. passport or naturalization papers, almost certainly disenfranchising otherwise eligible voters.
We’ve linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Delaware Assembly – SB 2 Constitutional Amendment instituting 10 days of early voting
Delaware Assembly – SB 3 Constitutional Amendment allowing no-excuse absentee votingMississippi Today – Court again orders Mississippi to redraw DeSoto County legislative districts with special elections looming
U.S. District Court (via Democracy Docket) – MOTION TO INTERVENE BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
WCNC – Undecided NC Supreme Court race hinges on only 1,675 ballots. Here’s who must act to have their vote count.
NH General Court – SB 213, a bill which requires the presentation of proof of identity, citizenship, age, and domicile when applying for an absentee ballot.
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause DE, NAACP MS, ACLU PA, Democracy NC, Open Democracy Action
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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