American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 16th and Millions of Americans Aren’t Registered or May Not Know Their Voter Registration Status

September 9, 2025September 9, 2025

National Voter Registration Day is coming up on September 16th, with nationwide events to encourage eligible voters to register and check their registration. With no national election as incentive this year, organizers point to local and special elections, and readiness to vote in the 2026 midterms, as reasons to consider registering or reviewing registration status.

Judge Orders Utah to Immediately Draw New Congressional Map, After the Legislature Circumvented the Voters – and the State Constitution

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025

Utah voters are back on a path to fair maps, as a state circuit court judge ruled Congressional districts must be redrawn by September 25th. The state’s supreme court ruled last summer that the legislature’s attempt at circumventing a citizen-led independent redistricting commission by passing contrary state statutes was unconstitutional.

Pro-Voter Groups Respond to State of Louisiana’s Equal Protection Clause Defense in October’s Consequential U.S. Supreme Court Case

September 7, 2025September 7, 2025

We reported that the State of Louisiana shifted its argument in Louisiana vs. Callais, and now claims the protections of Voting Rights Act of 1965 Section 2, are unconstitutional and no longer needed. In their brief, pro-voter groups point out Louisiana’s maps have already been found to discriminate, so shifting arguments won’t help them.

Louisiana’s Racial Gerrymandering Defense to SCOTUS Switches from ‘It was for Partisan Reasons’ to ‘The VRA is Unconstitutional’

September 4, 2025September 4, 2025

The State of Louisiana’s new brief for a U.S. Supreme Court racial gerrymandering case now claims Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is unconstitutional because it uses race-conscious redistricting. Their shifting argument may suggest the state thinks more justices are ready to strike down the VRA.

Missouri’s Special Session was Called to Gerrymander Another GOP Seat, But There May Be More Voter Suppression Ahead

September 3, 2025September 3, 2025

We reported recently on the Missouri governor’s call for a special legislative session to gerrymander another GOP Congressional seat. What didn’t make the headlines was the governor’s additional request to make the citizen ballot initiative process harder, and limit the power of the voters to check a hyperpartisan legislature.