The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 10, 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.

In the 2024 election, estimates show that more than 83 million Americans voted early in person, or by mail.  President Donald Trump said December 5th he wants to look at returning to “same day” voting. It’s not likely to happen.

Speaking at a Fox Nation award ceremony where Trump was honored as the network’s “Patriot of the Year,” he said, QUOTE, “We’re going to do things that have been really needed for a long time. And we are going to look at elections. We want to have paper ballots, one-day voting, voter ID, and proof of citizenship,” UNQUOTE.

Early voting options have expanded to 46 states since 2000.  Election data company TargetSmart estimates almost 83.7 million Americans voted early in-person, universal mail ballot or absentee ballot.   Among that 83.7 million were 35.16 Million Republican early voters.   The Texas Tribune reports that in the state’s most reliably red counties, 50.4% of votes were cast early.   

In Trump’s home state of Florida, where voting by mail among seniors is popular, over 3 million voters voted by mail, and over 5.6 million votes were cast early in-person, according to Secretary of State figures.    

The U.S. Supreme Court, which has deferred to the power of states to regulate elections, is unlikely to embrace any federal mandate to curb state-implemented early voting.    

We have links more on early voting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Roll Call – Remarks: Donald Trump Receives the Fox Nation Patriot of the Year Award in New York – December 5, 2024
Newsweek – Fact Check: Donald Trump’s Fox Nation ‘Patriot of the Year’ Speech
TargetSmart – National 2024 Early & Absentee Vote Report
Texas Tribune – 9 million Texans voted early in 2024. Here’s how that compares to previous years.
Pew Research – Voters’ and nonvoters’ experiences with the 2024 election

Florida Department of Elections – Early Voting and Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Reports

Groups Taking Action:

Vote at Home, League of Women Voters, Common Cause, NAACP Legal Defense Fund,  LULAC

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #EarlyVoting #VoteEarly #VoteatHome

The post More than 83 Million Americans Voted Early in 2024. Trump Says He Wants  Rollbacks of Early In-Person and Mail Voting appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 13, 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.

We’re continuing our series exploring whether new rules will protect our Presidential election process from being hijacked by bad actors. The Electoral Count Reform Act added safeguards in Congress and clarified the role of the Vice President, but it also clarified procedures and deadlines for states. 

The Electoral Count Reform Act confirmed that a Presidential election in all states and DC must occur by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and that no postponements would be allowed. Catastrophic events such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks are the only exceptions.  

The Act also made clear that a state legislature has no power to set aside the results of an election, and that a state may not change its method of choosing electors AFTER election day.  

It also clarifies that a governor or a lawfully designated state official are the only authorized “executive” allowed to transmit the “certificate of ascertainment” and list of electors, avoiding another fake elector scheme.  The transmission goes directly to Congress six days before the electors convene, which must occur by the “the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December.”  This election, that’s December 17th, 2024.

Most states adjusted statutes to align with the new federal law.  But some legislatures have enabled election boards to still throw a wrench into the process.  More on that tomorrow.  

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Campaign Legal Center – What the Electoral Count Reform Act Means for States
Brennan Center for Justice – How Electoral Votes Are Counted for the Presidential Election
National Conference of State Legislatures – Elections Q&As for Lawmakers: What Does the Electoral Count Reform Act Mean for States?
National Conference of State Legislatures – Enactments Relating to the Electoral Count Reform Act
Democracy Docket – This November’s State Legislative Elections Are Key To Protecting the Presidential Election

Groups Taking Action:

Issue One, Public Citizen, Protect Democracy, Election Reformers Network

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 #ProtectElections #ElectionSubversion  #ElectoralCountReformAct

The post The Electoral Count Reform Act Improves State Rules for Certifying and Protecting Presidential Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 23, 2023

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

NPR – An Arizona official has a plan to speed up election results. Not everyone is on board
KJZZ – Maricopa County recorder proposes 12 election reform laws
Maricopa County Recorder’s Office –  Arizona Election Law Reform proposals
KJZZ – Faster results or longer early voting? Maricopa County recorder wants Arizona to have a conversation
12News Phoenix – Ballot box watchers in Arizona face lawsuits by voting-rights advocates 

Groups Taking Action:

All Voting is Local – Arizona,  League of Women Voters AZ, Arizona Clean Elections Commission, Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans, Native American Rights Fund

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

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

We’re back in Maricopa County, Arizona, where officials are still sorting out the ballot printing fiasco from November, and the county recorder is proposing state rule changes to end late arriving mail-in ballots.    

Arizona has a widely used vote-by-mail option, in addition to in-person voting on election day.  Postal delays of 2020 ballots, as well as recent extremist intimidation at drop box locations, resulted in a record 290,000 voters dropping off mail-in ballots at the polls on election day.  

That late influx of ballots requires time to open, verify, and tabulate.  States with a high-percentage of mail-in ballots like Arizona typically don’t have election results for a week or more, but a chorus of mostly Conservative candidates and lawmakers want results on election night.  

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer proposes several changes to facilitate election night results.  Instead of 5 pm election night, he would move the deadline for hand-delivered mail-in ballots to the Friday before election day, and allow counting them early.  Arizona also has “emergency” in-person voting prior to election day, and Richer recommends expanding those days, and allowing those votes to be tabulated onsite.  

Richer hopes his recommendations will result in proposed legislation.  Democracy advocates argue that voters should be allowed to do what is convenient to them, not the county. 

We have a link to the proposal and groups taking action, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post <strong>Maricopa County, AZ Official Proposes Eliminating Election Day Drop-Off of Mail-In Ballots & Other Changes</strong> appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for November 7, 2022

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
The 21 States Which Have Same Day Registration:  California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Washington, DC, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and  Wyoming.
U.S. Election Assistance Commission –  Links to Registration Information in Every State
National Conference of State Legislatures  –  Same Day Voter Registration States

Brennan Center –  Study Showing No Increase in Fraud With Election Day Registration
Univ. of Massachusetts/Demos – NEW STUDY FINDS THAT STATES WITH SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION HAVE HIGHER BLACK AND LATINX TURNOUT
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause MA,  American Academy of Sciences, Student Public Interest Research Groups

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

Election Day is upon us, and voter registration in most states is closed.  But if you’re lucky enough to live in one of the 21 states which allow Same-Day registration, you still may be able to vote on election day.

Used to help make voter registration more accessible since the 1990s, Same Day registration has been attacked recently as unsecure, despite the facts.  New Hampshire, which has used Same Day  registration for decades, recently tightened its restrictions with no justification, making same-day registrants use a provisional, rather than a normal, ballot.

Same day registration is used most often by new residents, younger citizens, and eligible voters who are historically underrepresented, such as the Black and LatinX community.  

To register on Election Day, you need these documents in most states:  A state-issued ID;  proof of your citizenship, like a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers;  and proof of your residence, such as rental receipts, property tax bills or utility bills showing your name & address.  Check your state or local election office website before you go.

In some states, you may need to also sign an affidavit, have your picture taken, and may only be able to use a provisional ballot until your address is verified.  But, it may also be your best option to have your voice heard! So use it!

We have links to state Same Day registration information and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org 

Granny D said Democracy isn’t something we HAVE it’s something we DO!

The post <strong>Registration on Election Day Still an Option in 21 States</strong> appeared first on American Democracy Minute.