The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 23, 2025

In the run-up to the 2024 election, we reported on the organized GOP efforts to challenge the certification of elections, laying the groundwork for sowing doubt and disrupting the outcome.  A new report published by the Brennan Center for Justice studied the threats to certification, and how to prevent them.

For over 100 years, certification of elections by local and state election boards has been a routine process.  Trusted, experienced election officials and highly accurate technology instilled confidence in the system.  That changed in 2020. 

Trump and his allies used baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud as a means of overturning the election, but now the tactic is being used to cast doubt in local and state races. More than 30 local officials have refused to certify their elections in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia since 2020, according to the Brennan Center’s report.  Can this noxious behavior be prevented?  The new Electoral Count Reform Act helped in 2024, setting hard deadlines for states and disincentivizing certification challenges in Congress.

The report’s author further recommends strengthening language that explicitly clarifies officials’ mandatory duty to certify.  Courts should expedite cases to compel certification.  State legislatures should explicitly allow state election officials to intervene if a county refuses, and rogue counties should bear any resulting costs.  

We’ve linked this excellent report and our past reporting on election certification at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – Election Certification: How to Strengthen State Frameworks – Summary
Brennan Center for Justice – Election Certification:   How to Strengthen State Frameworks – Full Report
American Democracy Minute – The Electoral Count Reform Act Adds Federal and State Protections, But It Won’t Stop Local Loyalists from Throwing a Wrench in the Certification Works
American Democracy Minute – Unlike the 2020 Election, 2024’s Election Was Certified without Violence, Sham Audits or Criminal Conspiracies.  How Come?

Associated Press – Election certification disputes in a handful of states spark concerns over 2024 presidential contest
Protect Democracy – Election certification, explained

Groups Taking Action:

CREW, Protect Democracy, Campaign Legal Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – 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 #ProtectElections #ElectionCertification 

The post New Report Outlines Ways States and Municipalities Can Protect Elections from Certification Challenges by Rogue Local Officials appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 8, 2025

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.

The 2024 election was certified January 6th by Congress with no objections, accusations of fraud, or violent mobs.  Why was it, well, blissfully boring? 

Vice President Kamala Harris handed each state’s electoral college letters of certification to “tellers,” who then read them out loud. When complete, the total was announced, and Trump declared the winner.  The whole process took less than 30 minutes. 

What changed?  The Electoral Count Reform Act was implemented, making it harder for Congress to derail certification. Election rules were tightened in many states, but in battleground Michigan, where voter access was dramatically expanded over GOP objections and litigation, Trump won. After losing in 2020, he claimed widespread voter fraud in Detroit.

Hand counting activists have also been curiously silent. Were the voting machines different this time?  Electronic ballot tabulators, the target of conspiracy theories and multi-million dollar lawsuits, are still on the job and recognized as far more accurate and less costly than hand counting.   

What about the legions of undocumented immigrants Trump claimed last October would vote illegally? There was no widespread evidence of noncitizen voting in this or any other U.S. election.   

Other Trump not inciting his followers with disinformation and than no criminal conspiracy to overthrow the results, not much did change. Our 2024 election was secured by many of the same heroic election officials doing the blissfully boring work of democracy.  We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – It May Be Bumpy, But Most Democracy Experts Think the Electoral Count Reform Act Will Help Protect the Election
NPR – Under the shadow of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, Congress certifies the 2024 election
The Guardian – Kamala Harris says ‘America’s democracy stood’, after certifying Trump’s election victory – as it happened
Associated Press – Highlights from the certification of Trump’s 2024 presidential election
Univ. of Washington Center for an Informed Public – What to expect when we’re electing: A guide to voting machine rumors
CBS News – Trump falsely claims noncitizen voter fraud is widespread. Here are 5 facts.

Brennan Center for Justice – The Damage from Conspiracy Theories About Noncitizen Voting

Groups Taking Action:

Protect Democracy,  Campaign Legal Center, League of Women Voters US, Public Citizen

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

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElectionCertification #ProtectDemocracy #2024Election

The post Unlike the 2020 Election, 2024’s Election Was Certified without Violence, Sham Audits or Criminal Conspiracies.  How Come? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 29, 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.

Our last three reports focused on the likely plans for bad actors to subvert the election.  Thankfully, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022, which most experts believe will prevail. How does it work?

The ECRA sets up federal court guidelines for expedited election challenges, including emergency U.S. Supreme Court action.  That’s important, because the ECRA also sets hard deadlines for states to submit their certification and slate of electors, limiting litigation intended to delay the process. 

It also prohibits a state legislature from changing the set of electors are chosen AFTER the election, a tactic bad actors proposed in 2020.  It clarifies that only a governor or designated “executive” are 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.

Once the process reaches Congress, the ECRA raises the threshold to object to a state’s certification from one senator and one representative, to one-fifth of each body, making it harder to second-guess a state’s certification and obstruct the proceedings.  And it clarifies the role of the Vice President as procedural, not the final word on state certifications or electors.

We have more on the Electoral Count Reform Act at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Protect Democracy – Understanding the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022

Brennan Center for Justice – How Electoral Votes Are Counted for the Presidential Election
Campaign Legal Center – Updating the Electoral Count Act to Protect the Will of the People in Presidential Election
The Fulcrum – Understanding the Electoral Count Reform Act
National Constitution Center – Democracy Checkup: Preparing for the 2024 Election

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 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 #ElectoralCountReformAct #ECRA

The post It May Be Bumpy, But Most Democracy Experts Think the Electoral Count Reform Act Will Help Protect the Election appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 15, 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.

Our series on keeping our Presidential election from being overturned by bad actors explained how the new Electoral Count Reform Act clarifies federal and state rules.  But we’ve also learned how the blocking of election certification by rogue county election boards is still a possibility.  A new report recommends ways of stopping those disruptions. 

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, issued a report Aug. 13th outlining the threat of partisan actors using their positions on county election boards to block certification. This election, U.S. Constitutional and statutory deadlines require certification by December 11th.  By that date, all recounts and litigation must be complete.

CREW’s report states, “State laws make clear that certification is non-discretionary. It is not an opportunity for county officials to politically grandstand, lodge protest votes against election practices they dislike or investigate suspected voter fraud.”

The organization recommends that state officials communicate NOW to county election officials, making their duties clear, and detailing the penalties for non-compliance.  Michigan’s Secretary of State recently issued such an advisory.

States should also be prepared to request emergency orders by the state supreme court, having state personnel step in, and removing obstructionist county officials if necessary.  

What if state officials won’t certify the election?  More on that scenario tomorrow.   The CREW report is linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Protect Democracy – Election certification, explained
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – Summary – Election certification under threat
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – Full Report – Election certification under threat

Election Reformers Network – Helping States Comply with the Electoral Count Reform Act
Brennan Center for Justice – Election Denial Can’t Overcome Election Certification Protections

Groups Taking Action:

CREW, Protect Elections

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 #ProtectPollWorkers #CountyElectionCertification 

The post New Report Recommends State Officials Be Proactive to Keep Rogue County Election Boards from Not Certifying Elections  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.