American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

Arizona Anti-Voter Legislators Up Their Game to Quash Citizen Ballot Initiatives

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024

How’s this for cruel irony: Arizona anti-voter legislators are proposing voters pass their legislative constitutional ballot question this November to make it harder for voters to get a citizen ballot initiative on the ballot.

Why People Don’t Vote: Surveys Show Many Nonvoters Don’t Think Their Vote Matters

May 19, 2024May 20, 2024

Brian was off this weekend, taking Cub Scouts camping. He'll be back Tuesday with a new report. Today's rebroadcast from 2022 reviews some surveys taken for the last Presidential election on why eligible citizens don't vote. And it's a lot - over 40% of Americans.

U.S. Supreme Court Stays 5th Circuit, Allowing Louisiana’s Fairer Congressional Maps – Apparently Invoking the Purcell Principle

May 16, 2024May 16, 2024

We recently explained the Supreme Court’s Purcell principle and its impact. May 15th, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a shocking Fifth Circuit decision to throw out fairer Congressional districts for Louisiana. The Purcell principle apparently played a role.

The Purcell Principle: A SCOTUS Decision Intended to Avoid Voter Confusion May Now Be a Stealth Voter Suppression Tactic

May 15, 2024May 15, 2024

You may have heard references to the “Purcell principle” in news reports. What started as a U.S. Supreme Court opinion to minimize confusion and disruption close to an election, may now be a partisan voter suppression tactic.

Nevada Supreme Court Throws Out Citizen Ballot Initiatives on Redistricting, and May Have Damaged Future Direct Democracy Efforts in the Process

May 14, 2024May 14, 2024

Fair Maps Nevada had its ballot questions written and vetted by the secretary of state to put a citizen-run independent redistricting commission on November’s ballot. But May 10th, the Nevada Supreme Court threw them out, and may have damaged Nevada’s direct democracy in the process.