American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast

Look for 2025 Conservative Challenges to a ‘Private Right of Action’ for Voting Rights Cases, Attempting to Dismantle the Voting Rights Act

December 26, 2024December 26, 2024

A 2023 decision in an Arkansas redistricting case found individual voters did not have a “private right of action” to challenge the maps. The State of Louisiana tried the same tactic in its chaotic gerrymandering case, but was refused on June 24th. Be looking for another challenge in 2025.

Survey Finds Strong Support from Americans for Early Voting & Election Day Holiday Reforms, But Also Restrictive ID Requirements

December 25, 2024December 25, 2024

Brian is gone for the holiday. This is a rebroadcast of Feb. 13, 2024: A study by Pew Research finds Americans broadly support such democracy reforms as making election day a holiday and two weeks of in person early voting, but also think voters must use government issued ID, and voting machines should have paper backup.

What’s Ahead for 2025: Mississippi Case Challenging the Counting of Mail-In Ballots After Election Day Likely Headed to U.S. Supreme Court

December 24, 2024December 24, 2024

In coming reports, we’re anticipating 2025 democracy court cases and legislation. In October, a federal appeals court struck down a Mississippi law allowing receipt and counting of mail-in ballots up to five days after election day. We’re expecting it in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Citizen Ballot Initiatives Help Voters Bypass Extreme Legislatures. But Expect More Attempts to Block Those Initiatives in 2025

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024

As voters turn to ballot initiatives to bypass extreme legislatures, legislatures are manipulating initiative rules to protect their partisan power. Expect more such attacks on direct democracy in 2025.

USPS Issues Upbeat Report on Ballot Delivery Performance for the 2024 General Election, But Lower Use of Mail-In Ballots was Likely the Biggest Factor

December 22, 2024December 22, 2024

We reported in September on concerns from election officials on whether the U.S. Postal Service could meet its mail ballot delivery obligations. The USPS issued its report in early December. How did it do?