The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 4, 2024

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.

As state deadlines for voter registrations draw near, new registrations across the United States are down compared to 2024, according to political data and advertising firm TargetSmart. But there are increases in certain demographics compared with 2020.

TargetSmart used a combination of state data gathering and modeling, and found that 2024 new voter registrations 8 weeks from the election were 15.7 Million, down 42% from 27.3 Million in 2020.   The 2024 partisan lean model shows that 48.8% of those registering leaned Democratic, 34.3% Republican, and 16.9% unaffiliated.  In 2020, 46.7% leaned Democratic, 37.3% Republican, and 16% unaffiliated. 

Among those new 15.7 Million registered voters, there are increases in Black, Hispanic and Asian American Pacific Islanders, and a decrease in new White voters.  TargetSmart also found a slightly higher percentage of younger voters, though Tufts University’s CIRCLE youth voting research group  found increases in only 8 states.   

There was also a slightly lower percentage of women, although the organization found a surge of registrations among Black and Hispanic women after Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee. 

We’ve linked to TargetSmart’s report at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, where you’ll also find nonpartisan resources where voters can register or check their registration.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
TargetSmart – Smart Voter Registration Dashboard

TargetSmart – Hispanic Voter Registration Surges After Harris Becomes Nominee

Tufts Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) – Youth Voter Registration Increasing; Still Lags Behind 2020

Groups Taking Action:

VOTE.org, Rock the Vote, Native Vote, Vote411, Mi Familia Vota, When We All Vote

Check Your Voter Registration:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RegistertoVote #VoterRegistration 

The post As State Voter Registration Deadlines Draw Near, Data Suggests 2024 New Registrations Still Lagging Behind 2020 appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 5, 2024

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.

Black & Latinx voters sued Galveston County, TX in 2022 over racially gerrymandered voting maps intended to dilute the power of minority voters.  The lower court judge in the case called the maps “mean-spirited” and “egregious,” but an appeals court just blocked minority coalitions from bringing such challenges.

In striking down the maps in 2023, the federal district court ruled that, QUOTE  “[T]he enacted plan illegally dilutes the voting power of Galveston County’s Black and Latino voters by dismantling Precinct 3, the county’s historic and sole majority-minority commissioners precinct.” 

In May, the full Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case.  Overturning its own precedent, the majority ruled 12-6 August 1st not over whether the voting districts discriminated, but that the Voting Rights Act Section 2 didn’t specify that coalitions qualified to bring a case. Instead, they said, only a single minority “class” can qualify. Several other courts, including in the notoriously conservative Fifth Circuit, previously ruled in favor of claims from minority coalitions. 

For the moment, the ruling affects only Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  But, expect challenges in other conservative courts, and likely the U.S. Supreme Court, using the same argument, as anti-voter forces continue to undercut the Voting Rights Act.

We’ve linked the decision and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Campaign Legal Center – Explainer Petteway v. Galveston County, TexasAmerican Democracy Minute – Galveston County, TX Racial Gerrymandering Case Could Weaken Voting Rights Act Protections for Mixed Minority Communities
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit –  Decision in Petteway v. Galveston County, TX

Texas Tribune – Voting Rights Act doesn’t protect coalitions of racial or ethnic groups challenging political maps, appeals court rules
Democracy Docket – 5th Circuit: Minority Coalitions Cannot Sue Under VRA in Galveston Case

Groups Taking Action:
LULAC Galveston,  Campaign Legal Center, Texas Civil Rights Project, Southern Coalition for Social Justice 

Check Your Voter Registration

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
• Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotingRights #TexasNews #EndGerrymandering

The post Federal Appeals Court Says a Galveston,Texas Coalition of Black and Latinx Voters Doesn’t Qualify as a Majority Minority Voting District appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 17, 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.

While we’ve been reading indictments, there have been three developments in the last week which may impact gerrymandered Congressional maps in Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin.  

August 14th, the State of Alabama was back in federal court, defending its new Congressional district maps in apparent defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s order to create two majority minority districts. The map includes one district which is a BARELY a Black majority at 50.65%, and another at only 40%.  The Associated Press reports that the three federal circuit court justices seemed skeptical of the state’s claims. The court could appoint a special master to draw the maps as directed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In Florida, a pre-trial agreement may result in the return of a majority-Black district in north Florida eliminated by Governor Ron DeSantis.  DeSantis vetoed a legislature-drawn map and inserted his own, claiming there was no longer a need for majority-minority districts in Florida.  His districts diluted Black voting power, according to Democracy and civil rights groups.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, on the job since only August 1st, is already being threatened with being impeached. Protasiewicz voiced concern over Wisconsin’s badly gerrymandered voting districts during her campaign.  Assembly Speaker Robin Voss threatens to impeach her unless she recuses herself from redistricting cases.  Two cases challenging the constitutionality of the state’s voting maps were filed earlier this month.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
NPR – Alabama lost a voting rights case at the Supreme Court. It’s still trying to win
Associated Press – Federal judges question Alabama’s new congressional map, lack of 2nd majority-Black district
Democracy Docket – New Agreement Renews Potential for Black-Performing Florida Congressional District
WCJB – North Florida congressional district challenge to be expedited to Supreme Court
Insider – A North Florida congressional district that was held by a Black Democrat before it was dismantled by Ron DeSantis could be restored in 2024 under a new agreement
Wisconsin State Journal – Liberal Janet Protasiewicz vows fairness as Wisconsin Supreme Court term begins
Wisconsin Examiner – Lawsuit against legislative maps filed at Wisconsin Supreme Court
Wisconsin Examiner – Vos says Republicans may consider impeaching Protasiewicz over redistricting comments

Groups Taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Campaign Legal Center, Black Voters Matter, Equal Ground, Florida Rising,  League of Women Voters of Florida, Fair Maps Wisconsin Coalition, Common Cause WI, League of Women Voters WI

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FairMaps #WisconsinPolitics #AllenvMilligan #FloridaPolitics

The post Developments in the Fight for Fair Voting District Maps in Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 14, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

**Correction in today’s audio report**  The DC Elections Board approved the ballot measure to move forward in JULY, not June, as stated.  Sorry for the error! 

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Democrats in the District of Columbia have sued the DC Elections Board to prevent a citizen ballot initiative proposing ranked choice voting and semi-open primaries, claiming it would violate the city charter, and confuse Black and Hispanic voters.  

News outlet DCist reports that the Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 was endorsed in July by the elections board to appear on the November 2024 ballot, provided the backers can collect signatures from 5% of all DC voters.

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank a number of candidates in order of preference, allowing for options beyond just major party candidates.  If no candidate has a clear 50% majority, the last place candidate is eliminated and the votes recalculated, in a process which continues until a winner is declared.  In New York City – also a city with a high minority population – 78% of voters said they understood the RCV system “Very” or “Extremely” well, according to 2022 research by Unite America.

The Make All Votes Count Act also provides for partly open primaries, allowing DC’s almost 86,000 unaffiliated voters to vote in either a Democratic, Republican, or Statehood Green party primary.  Major party leaders perceive open primaries as an existential threat to power, despite its popularity with voters.

Arguments are scheduled for November 2023.  We have links to the ballot measure, analysis and RCV explainers at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Make All Votes Count DC – Text of “Make All Votes Count Act of 2024”
DCist – D.C. – Elections Board Gives Initial Green Light To Ballot Initiative On Ranked Choice Voting And Open Primaries

DCist – D.C. Democratic Party Sues To Keep Ranked Choice Voting And Open Primaries Off The Ballot
New York City Campaign Finance Board – (2022)  Report Highlights Ranked Choice Voting in 2021 Elections
Unite America – (2022) Two new reports on Ranked Choice Voting in NYC provide hope amidst a dismal primary season
The Hill – (Opinion) Could election reform in DC help conservatives embrace it nationwide?

FairVote – Explainer on How RCV Works

Bipartisan Policy Center – 2022 Primary Turnout: Trends and Lessons for Boosting Participation (Open Primaries are a recommendation)

Groups Taking Action:
Make All Votes Count DC, More Voice DC, Rank the Vote, Open Primaries, Fair Vote Action

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE! 
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RCV #OpenPrimaries

The post DC Democrats Attempt to Block Citizen Initiative Proposing Ranked Choice Voting and Semi-Open Primaries in City Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 18, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) 

Today’s Links now below the script

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Thursday, a New York state appeals court ordered a redrawing of the state’s Congressional districts.  The next day, the U.S. Supreme Court set a date for a South Carolina case which could greenlight MORE gerrymandering. 

In 2022, New York’s independent redistricting commission couldn’t reach an agreement on new maps, and a Democratic legislature gerrymandered maps favoring Democrats.  Republicans appealed and the Democratic maps were thrown out in March 2023, replaced by maps drawn by a county judge which ended up favoring Republicans in the midterm election.  

Democracy Docket reports that a five judge panel found the independent redistricting commission had submitted only one of the two proposals mandated before the lower court judge preempted its work.   While the appeals court ruled the independent commission should submit new maps, the decision is expected to be challenged again in New York’s highest court before the 2024 election.

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced a date of October 11th, 2023 for Alexander v. the South Carolina NAACP.  This closely-watched case has elements of both racial gerrymandering, which the court ruled against in the Milligan decision, and partisan gerrymandering, to which the U.S. Supreme Court has turned a blind eye since 2019.   It could provide legal cover for future manipulation of voting district maps.

We have more on each of the cases at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
NPR – (2022) New York’s top court rejects congressional maps drawn by Democrats
Democracy Docket – New York Court Orders Redraw of Congressional Map. How Did We Get Here?
Politico – Mid-level court hands Democrats victory in New York redistricting case

State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division – Decision in HOFFMANN v. NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

Groups Taking Action:
Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause NY, Campaign Legal Center

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Get ADM Radio Report email!  Sign up here!

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #FairMaps #NYPolitics

The post New York Court Sends Congressional Redistricting Map Back to Independent Commission; SCOTUS Sets Date to Consider South Carolina Congressional Map appeared first on American Democracy Minute.