The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 25, 2025

The striking down of an 1877 Jim Crow-era law making it a crime for citizens convicted of a felony to vote when their rights had not yet been restored was affirmed by a federal appeals court Sept. 12th.  Judges asked why the North Carolina legislature had not already repealed the law. 

Current North Carolina statute automatically restores rights to citizens returning from a felony sentence, IF they’ve completed any aspect of their jail time, any period of probation, post-release supervision, parole, and in some cases, payment of court debt, according to the North Carolina Board of Elections. 

The 1877 law, however, is still on the books. If a returning citizen doesn’t understand those rules, and mistakenly votes, that citizen could end up back in jail.  A lower court struck down the law as unconstitutional in 2024, but inexplicably, the state appealed the case. 

The discriminatory use of that law was at issue in the trial. Evidence showed that between 2015 and 2022, approximately 63% of the people who were investigated for voting offences were Black, yet North Carolina’s population is only 21 percent African American.

While other voting statutes have been updated, and the state claims it no longer prosecutes people under the law, judges questioned why such a law with discriminatory intent was never repealed.  Indeed.  

We’ve linked to more on the case at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Courthouse News Service – (2024) North Carolina advocates praise progress as judge finds prosecuting felon voters unconstitutional
U.S. District Court for Middle District of NC (Via Courthouse News Service) – Ruling in A. Philip Randolph Institute v. NC Board of Elections
North Carolina Newsline – (May) Federal appeals court panel grills attorneys for North Carolina over felon voting statute
Courthouse News Service – Fourth Circuit finds North Carolina’s felon voter law unconstitutional
Southern Coalition for Social Justice – Federal Appeals Court Affirms: NC Cannot Prosecute Voters Under Racist Law
4th Circuit Court of Appeals (via SCSJ) – Opinion in A. Philip Randolph Institute v. NC Board of Elections  

Groups Taking Action:

 NC A. PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE, Action North Carolina, Restoration of Rights Project

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 #RightsRestoration #NorthCarolina #ReturningFelons #FreedomtoVote #VoterSuppression

The post Appeals Court Affirms North Carolina’s Jim Crow-Era Returning Felon Voting Law is Unconstitutional, and Questions Why It Wasn’t Repealed appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 11, 2025

Did the dog catch the car?  We have election denier legal trouble involving voting dogs, former election officials claiming they’re political prisoners, and 2020 fake electors who claim they didn’t know what they were doing was wrong. 

A Costa Mesa, CA woman trying to demonstrate mail-in voter fraud was arraigned September 9th for fraudulently registering her dog Maya to vote, then casting a mail ballot in two elections in 2022.  Laura Lee Yourex self-reported her scheme in 2024, and posted a picture of Maya with an “I Voted” sticker.  She faces up to six years in prison.

Bridge Michigan reports that a circuit court judge dismissed felony charges against Michigan’s GOP fake electors Sept. 2nd.   The judge ruled the state failed to prove the electors knew that signing and sending the alternative presidential slate of electors to the U.S. Senate was illegal.  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessell has not ruled out an appeal.

Colorado Newsline reports that Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, convicted by a jury of four felonies relating to tampering with her county’s election machines, filed a federal habeas corpus claim in federal court asking to be released on bond pending appeal. Her attorney calls Peters a “political prisoner.”  The state argues the federal government doesn’t have jurisdiction and the case should be dismissed.

We have links to the local reporting at  AmericanDemocracyminute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Orange County District Attorney’s Office – Costa Mesa Woman Charged with Five Felonies for Illegally Registering Her Dog to Vote, Casting Mail-in Ballots Sent to Dog in Two Elections
American Democracy Minute – In Michigan, State AG Charges 16 Fake Electors, Voting Machine Tampering Case Moves Forward
Bridge Michigan – Michigan false electors case dismissed, Nessel not ruling out appeal
American Democracy Minute – CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free.
Colorado Newsline –  Colorado AG asks court to dismiss Tina Peters’ habeas corpus petition 
The Daily Sentinel – Prosecution reiterates claim Tina Peters is ineligible for release

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 #Colorado #TinaPeters #Michigan #FakeElectors #California #ElectionDeniers 

The post Voting Dogs, Habeas Corpus and Fake Electors:  Updates on Election Deniers and Their Legal Jeopardy appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

In August 2024, a jury convicted Mesa County, Colorado election official Tina Peters for tampering with her county’s voting machines in 2020, and allowing election deniers access to them.  Disregarding the breach of “election integrity”, President Donald Trump is now trying to set her free. 

Peters was found guilty on four felony charges and additional misdemeanors by 12 Mesa County jurors for giving unauthorized access to the county’s Dominion Voting Systems tabulators to two conspiracy theory activists.  Those activists were associated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and election data was copied and later turned up online.  

While President Trump has long talked about preserving election integrity, in March, he ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Peters prosecution, which it said in a court filing it was investigating, “abuses of the criminal justice process.”  Then May 5th, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Colorado must end this unjust incarceration of an innocent American.  I am hereby directing the Department of Justice to help secure the release of this “hostage” being held in a Colorado prison by Democrats, for political reasons.”  

Because Peters was convicted in a state court, Trump has no power to pardon her, but could appeal in federal court or withhold federal funding to the state.   Election integrity, indeed. 

We’ve linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Colorado Newsline – (2021) ‘Serious breach’ of voting security at center of investigation of Mesa County clerk’s office
American Democracy Minute – Colorado Election Official Who Allowed 2020 Conspiracy Theory Activists Access to County Voting Machine Data Found Guilty
Colorado Newsline – Tina Peters, former Mesa County clerk, guilty on 7 counts 
Colorado Newsline – Trump Justice Department conducting ‘review’ of Colorado’s Tina Peters prosecution

President Donald Trump – Truth Social post to ‘FREE TINA PETERS’
Denver ABC 7 – Jena Griswold says Trump is ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice’ in Tina Peters case

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue One

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 #ProtectElections #BigLie #FreeTinaPeters #TinaPeters #DonaldTrump

The post CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 17, 2025

On the heels of dropped charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams under suspicious circumstances, President Donald Trump has pardoned a former Kentucky state senator serving time for federal campaign finance fraud. Trump is also reportedly preparing to restructure and downsize DOJ’s public integrity units.

Former Kentucky state senator and 2016 Congressional candidate Brian Kelsey was sentenced to 21 months in 2023 for coordinating $80,000 in advertising with a national political organization, benefitting his campaign.  Additionally, he concealed the movement $91,000 from his state campaign fund and a nonprofit legal advocacy group, defrauding the Federal Election Commission.  Kelsey lost his appeals in the 6th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused the case.   Trump pardoned Kelsey, who pleaded guilty in 2022, after a mere two weeks in prison.  

The New York Times is reporting that the president is also preparing to restructure and downsize the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Integrity section, which QUOTE “oversees the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials, election crimes, and other related offenses.”  The Times reports that executive orders are expected in the coming weeks.

Trump has repeatedly claimed he is the victim of a “weaponized” Justice Department, after he was charged with mishandling classified documents and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.  

We posted our resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Department of Justice – Former Tennessee State Senator and Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Campaign Finance Scheme
Tennessee Bar Association – U.S. Supreme Court Denies Kelsey’s Appeal of Campaign Fraud Conviction
New York Times – (Paywall) – Trump Pardons Ex-Tennessee State Senator Imprisoned for Campaign Fraud
New York Times – (Paywall) – Justice Dept. Moving to Downsize Units Investigating Fraud and Corruption
CNN – Donald Trump’s criminal cases, in one place
Roll Call – Speech: Donald Trump Addresses the Staff at the Department of Justice – March 14, 2025
U.S. Department of Justice – Public Integrity Section

Groups Taking Action:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington,  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 #PoliticalCorruption #USDOJ #DonaldTrump #PublicIntegrity

The post What Corruption? Trump Pardons Former KY State Senator for Campaign Finance Fraud, and May Be Preparing to Dismantle DOJ Public Integrity Section appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

The Republican-dominated Iowa House passed regulations March 5th which would require voters to return mail ballots the day BEFORE election day. House File 2610 also stops use of ballot drop boxes, bans ranked choice voting, and allows felons to run for federal office.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that if the bill becomes law, county election commissioners must send absentee ballots no later than 22 days before election day. But it also requires that all mail-in absentee ballots be returned by 5 pm the day BEFORE election day to be counted.   

For voters who forget, or don’t allow enough time for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver, ballot drop boxes would no longer be available under HF 2610.  Almost 14,000 Iowans used a drop box in the 2022 midterm.  

Falling in line with other red state legislatures, the bill bans use of ranked choice voting in any Iowa election, despite increasing popularity with voters.  

And in a provision aimed at protecting former President Donald Trump, the bill also would allow felons to run for FEDERAL office.  The Iowa constitution currently bans felons from voting or running for office, though Gov. Kim Reynolds restored those rights by executive order in 2020 for felons having COMPLETED their sentences.  The bill now heads to the Iowa Senate.

We have the voter suppression bill’s text, and groups taking action at   AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Iowa House – Text of House File 2610
Iowa Capital Dispatch – House votes to require mailed ballots to arrive before Election Day
Des Moines Register – Iowa House passes new voting restrictions. How they would affect you:
Iowa Secretary of State – Felon Voting Rights

NPR – Governor Acts To Restore Voting Rights To Iowans With Felony Convictions

Groups Taking Action:
Disability Rights Iowa,  LULAC Iowa, Better Ballot Iowa,  League of Women Voters Iowa

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 #VoterSuppression #Iowa #IowaPolitics #VotingRights

The post Iowa House Bill Requires Mail Ballots to Be Returned Before Election Day, Bans RCV, and Allows Convicted Felons to Qualify to Run in Federal Elections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.