The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 6, 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.

The scope of the New York election official impersonation story has widened.  And in Texas, the state legislature just dismantled its largest county’s election office.

First to New York, where 13 counties now report that activists showed up at homes demanding to see ID and accusing voters of being registered in more than one county.  A co-chair of the New York Board of Elections said: “These individuals are impersonating government officials in an effort to intimidate voters based on inaccurate and misleading information.” 

The Board asked New York state residents to report suspicious encounters QUOTE,  “. . . the State Board recommends collecting as much information as possible, not providing the individual with any personal information, and contacting local law enforcement to report the incident.” UNQUOTE  No arrests have been made, or the coordinating group confirmed.

Friday, the State of Texas eliminated the position of election director for Harris County, home to the liberal-leaning city of Houston, after organizational problems in the 2022 midterms.  Election responsibility now falls on the county’s clerk and tax collector, just six weeks prior to early voting for County Elections starts in October.    The legislature gave the state specific  authority to take this Harris County action earlier this summer, paired with another law allowing the state to take control of county elections when complaints are filed by county or party officials, or candidates. 

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

Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
New York Elections Board – State Board of Elections warns New York voters against impersonation of County
WXXI – Election officials warn of people impersonating staff, confronting voters at home
Houston Public Media – Judge temporarily blocks law abolishing Harris County elections administrator’s office; Texas AG files appeal
Texas Tribune – Texas Supreme Court lets state law eliminating Harris County elections chief stand, for now
CNN – Houston-area elections office dismantled as contentious Texas law takes effect
Texas Legislature – SB 1750 
Texas Legislature – SB 1933 

Groups Taking Action:
Texas Civil Rights Project, Houston in Action,  League of Women Voters Houston

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The post Reports of False Election Officials Intimidating Voters Widens to 13 NY Counties; Texas Eliminates the Election Office in its Biggest County appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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Today’s Links
Associated Press:   No major problems with ballot drop boxes in 2020, AP finds
Law Fare:   The Rise of Ballot Drop Boxes Due to the Coronavirus
Brennan Center:  Voting Laws Roundup: May 2022

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

Recently we reported that the Wisconsin Supreme Court revoked use of ballot drop boxes in the state, and several other states have proposed legislation that limit, complicate, or eliminate their use, claiming they were a source of widespread fraud.  The Associated Press just reviewed the use of drop boxes in the 2020 election, and didn’t find anything that affected the election.

The AP contacted top election officials in all but five states, asking whether their drop boxes were tied to fraudulent votes or stolen ballots, or whether the boxes and the ballots they contained were damaged.   Of the states which allowed drop boxes, none experienced issues which would have affected the outcome of the election.

Massachusetts and California each experienced a case of arson in drop boxes, but most of the ballots were salvaged and voters were able to cast new ballots.

The AP points out how Big Lie disinformation impacted the legitimacy of drop boxes.   North Carolina had no drop boxes in 2020, yet allegations were made that they played a role in the outcome of the election there. 

The rapid expansion of drop boxes was due in part to preventable processing changes at the US Postal Service, as voters sought confidence in their ability to deliver their ballot on time.   One voter interviewed by the AP stated, “Isn’t a mailbox a secure place to put a letter? Why would a drop box be any different?”

The AP’s article and additional data on drop boxes are available at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   Granny D said “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for July 21, 2022: States Limited or Eliminated Drop Boxes Claiming Fraud; the AP Found None appeared first on American Democracy Minute.