The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 24, 2025

Proof of citizenship, limits on voting by mail and narrowed voter ID options dominated the 37 restrictive state election laws passed in 2025, according to democracy legislation tracker Voting Rights Lab.  Five states accounted for nearly half of the laws passed.  

Texas added a signed sworn statement for the disabled and elderly to vote curbside, and now requires voters who move within the county less than 30 days from the election to return to their previous precinct to vote. 

New Hampshire required copies of ID or a notarized signature with an absentee application, and required anyone registering by mail to include proof of citizenship, domicile and age.  Those registering by mail are often elderly or disabled, and may not have access to documents or means of copying them.

Kansas eliminated its grace period for mail-in ballots, and ballots must arrive by 7 pm election day. 

Indiana’s HB 1680 required proof of citizenship documents to be provided at registration, restricted assistance with filling out voter registration documents, and loosened rules on challenges to voter eligibility at the polls, among several other anti-voter provisions. 

North Dakota now requires that all mail ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day, but no longer accepts mail ballots at the polls, only by mail, drop boxes, or election offices.

We’ve linked the Voting Rights Lab tracker at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Voting Rights Lab –  State bills which restricted voting in 2025
Voting Rights Lab –  Find legislation in your state
Brennan Center for Justice – State Voting Laws Roundup: October 2025

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause,  AIPI Vote, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, League of Women Voters US

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VoterSuppression #VoterID #VotebyMail #ProofofCitizenship

The post Restrictive Voting Laws Passed in 20 States in 2025. Proof of Citizenship, Limits on Mail-In Voting and Narrower Voter ID Rules Dominated. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 7, 2025

Maine voters soundly defeated Question 1 November 4th, which would have made the state’s voter ID rules the most restrictive in the country, and tightened rules for voting by mail. It was pitched as an “election integrity” measure, despite almost non-existent voter fraud in Maine.

Had it passed, Question 1 would have narrowed Maine’s voter ID options, eliminating student IDs, tribal IDs and other currently acceptable documents, despite no evidence of abuse.  It would have also restricted how the state, which has the oldest median age in the country, voted by mail.  

About half of Maine’s voters used a mail-in ballot in 2024, and over 16,000 subscribe to an ongoing absentee voter list.  Question 1 would have eliminated the absentee list, and prohibited requesting an absentee application by phone.  It would also have prohibited third parties from delivering absentee ballot applications, including family members, and limited drop box locations to one per town. 

October polling showed 48% support, 49% opposing  and 3% undecided.  In the end, it wasn’t close, with only 36.3% voting yes, and 63.7% no.  

Governor Janet Mills said in a statement, “Maine has long had one of the highest rates of voter turnout in the nation, in good part due to safe absentee voting — and Maine people tonight have said they want to keep it that way.”

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (Sept) Restrictions for Mail-In Voting and Voter ID on the Ballot in Maine Nov. 4th Even Though Voter Fraud in Maine is Almost Nonexistent
Maine Secretary of State – Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election
Maine Morning Star – Question 1 Changes to Maine election laws
League of Women Voters ME – Voter Suppression Referendum
Maine Morning Star – Mainers reject voter ID proposal, maintaining state voting laws
WGME – High voter turnout attributed to hot local races and key referendum questions

Groups Taking Action:

No on 1, Save Maine Absentee Voting, League of Women Voters ME, AFL-CIO, Disability Rights ME

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State 

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Maine #Question1 #VoterSuppression

The post Maine Voters Defeat Initiative to Further Limit Voter ID Options and Restrict Voting by Mail appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 1, 2025

September 30th, New Hampshire implemented new hurdles for registering to vote by mail and requesting an absentee ballot.  The regulations hit students, elders and the disabled the hardest, and a pending suit claims many could be disenfranchised.

New Hampshire already has some of the strictest absentee voting rules in the country, accepting only a few excuses to vote absentee.  The state had over 99,000 absentee voters in 2024. 

With the added requirements of SB 287 and 218, citizens registering to vote by mail must now submit copies of proof of citizenship documents, age, and residency.  The voter registration application must also be signed by a witness before submission, according to new guidelines from the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office.  The Brennan Center recently found that one in nine Americans don’t have ready access to such documents.  Notably, only ONE noncitizen has ever been convicted for voting illegally in New Hampshire.

Then, after the voter registration is accepted, New Hampshire requires an absentee ballot application be submitted for each election, which now must include a copy of the voter’s state or federally-issued photo identification – even if you’ve provided those documents previously – or a notarized signature.  

A lawsuit filed August 19th argues such restrictions make it difficult for students, elders, the disabled and those without access or means to copy the documents, to vote.  

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

NH Secretary of State – Absentee Voter Registration
NH Secretary of State – Absentee Ballots 
NH General Court – SB 287 Text – Final Version
NH General Court – SB 218 Text – Final Version
New Hampshire Bulletin – Ayotte signs bills to tighten absentee voting, ensure accessible voting
NH Superior Court (Via Democracy Docket) – Robertson v. Scanlan

Groups Taking Action:

Open Democracy Action, League of Women Voters NH, NH Campaign for Voting Rights

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VoterSuppression #AbsenteeBallot #VotebyMail #NHPolitics #NewHampshire #VoterRegistration

The post New Hampshire Tightens Absentee Voting to Stop Purported Voter Fraud, But Makes it Harder for Elders, the Disabled and Students to Vote, Too appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 26, 2025

Maine voters decide November 4th whether adding more ID and mail-in voting restrictions for most voters justifies preventing almost nonexistent voter fraud.   Question 1 tightens voter ID requirements, and adds hurdles for mail-in voters, including the elderly and disabled, despite only two voter fraud convictions since 1982.  

About half of Maine’s over 842,000 2024 voters used a mail-in ballot, and over 16,000 subscribe to an ongoing absentee voter list, according to the state’s September 2025 figures.  If approved, Question 1 would eliminate the absentee list, and prohibit requesting an absentee application by phone.  It also prohibits third parties from delivering absentee ballot applications, including family members.  Maine’s population is the oldest in the U.S., with 21.8% of residents over 65.  

Question 1 also limits the number of drop boxes available in each town to only one, and requires a bipartisan team of town officials just to check the box.  Opponents of the amendment fear the cost and hassle will result in towns curtailing drop boxes entirely.  

Question 1 also narrows to Maine’s voter ID options, eliminating student IDs, tribal IDs and other currently acceptable documents, despite no evidence of abuse.  

At almost 75%, Maine consistently has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country,and the Heritage Foundation’s own figures show just two convictions for voter fraud  –  in over 40 years.   

We have the text of Question 1 at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Maine Morning Star – (2024) Maine voter turnout this year surpassed previous record high
State of Maine – Question 1 as it appears on the ballot
Question 1 – (via Ballotpedia) Full Text as it revises statute
The Beacon – Maine voter suppression referendum to appear as Question 1 on ballot
Maine Morning Star – Here are the big questions that will appear on Maine’s November ballot 
Ballotpedia – Maine Question 1, Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Drop Box Rules Initiative (2025)
Brennan Center for Justice – Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth 

Groups Taking Action:

No on 1, Save Maine Absentee Voting, League of Women Voters ME, AFL-CIO, Disability Rights ME

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, 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

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Maine #VoterSuppression #VoteatHome #VoterID

The post Restrictions for Mail-In Voting and Voter ID on the Ballot in Maine Nov. 4th Even Though Voter Fraud in Maine is Almost Nonexistent appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 9, 2025

New Mexico rolled out its automatic voter registration system July 1st, allowing citizens to conveniently register to vote or change residency information while at the DMV.  Across the country, New Hampshire’s legislature may burden its elderly and disabled absentee voters by requiring copies of ID when voting by mail, and citizenship papers when registering by mail.

New Mexico passed a sweeping voting rights bill, HB 4, in 2023.  Among its provisions was automatically registering citizens to vote at the Motor Vehicle Division, previously only an option.  AVR has been successful in other states in registering younger voters, and may expand registrations of the state’s Native voters as well.  Local election officials will send newly registered voters their voting districts and precincts, and how to opt out if they choose.

New Hampshire, despite having next to no fraud, abuse or noncitizen voting, has gone the other direction.  Legislators sent bills to Governor Kelly Ayotte mandating proof of citizenship be sent with absentee registrations, and that absentee voters include copies of an approved ID or have their signature notarized.  Such onerous rules adversely affect seniors and disabled voters who may be able to make copies, and younger voters and college students, who may not have ready access to those documents.  

Voter fraud and noncitizen voting are extremely rare, and such rules serve to keep more eligible voters from voting than ineligible ones.

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

New Mexico Motor Vehicles Department – Automatic Voter Registrations
KOAT – Automatic voter registration now in effect in New Mexico
Institute for Responsive Government – Four States Open the Door to Automatic Voter Registration for Native Americans
Alliance for Youth Action – FACT SHEET: Automatic Voter Registration Transforms Oregon Youth Registration & Turnout Rates
New Hampshire Bulletin – Lawmakers push for yearly voter roll reviews, stricter absentee ballot verification
Campaign Legal Center – The Barriers to Voting Faced by Americans with Disabilities
American Democracy Minute – Voter Suppression Bills Aimed at College Students Pushed (Again) by the NH Legislature
PBS – Noncitizen voting is extremely rare, yet Republicans are making it a major election concern 

Groups Taking Action:

Disability Rights Center NH, Open Democracy,  NM Native Vote, ACLU New Mexico

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, 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

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews  #NewMexico #AVR #NewHampshire  #VoterSuppression #FreedomtoVote

The post Tale of Two States:  New Mexico Rolls Out Automatic Voter Registration while New Hampshire Mandates ID & Citizenship Docs for Absentee Voters appeared first on American Democracy Minute.