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

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 #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 Dec. 16, 2025

After weeks of bomb threats and “swatting” calls, tenacious Republican Indiana senators bucked pressure from the governor and the White House and joined Democrats to defeat a gerrymandered congressional map. The map would have given the GOP a 9-0 congressional delegation, but the vote wasn’t close.

The final vote was 31-19, with 21 of 40 Republican senators voting to defeat the map.  They have, and continued to be, threatened with being primaried, violence, and hoax “swatting” calls.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun, who called for the gerrymandered maps, condemned the threats, after receiving one himself.  But no effort has been made by the White House to stop the fringe elements making the threats.  Law enforcement is investigating.

Braun joined President Donald Trump, however, in suggesting the defecting GOP senators should lose their seats.   Just before the vote, the Heritage Foundation’s advocacy arm posted, “President Trump has made it clear to Indiana leaders: if the Indiana Senate fails to pass the map, all federal funding will be stripped from the state. Roads will not be paved. Guard bases will close. Major projects will stop. These are the stakes and every NO vote will be to blame.”  

Speaking to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Republican Senator Sue Glick said, “You have to know Hoosiers; we can’t be bullied.” 

We’ve linked to the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – After the SCOTUS Texas Congressional Gerrymandering Decision, Battles Continue in Missouri, Indiana and Florida
Indiana Capital Chronicle – As threats escalate against Indiana lawmakers, Braun says his family also targeted
Indiana Capital Chronicle – Senate Republicans reject Trump’s plea for gerrymandered maps
PBS NewsHour – WATCH: Trump criticizes Indiana Senate Republicans’ rejection of redistricting effort
Heritage Foundation / Heritage Action on X – “Roads will not be paved. Guard bases will close. Major projects will stop.”

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause IN, All IN for Democracy, League of Women Voters IN

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 #Indiana #TrumpGerrymandering #INSenate #Gerrymandering 

The post Bullied Indiana Senators Not Only Defeat the State’s Trump-Demanded Congressional Gerrymandering Plan, The Vote Wasn’t Even Close appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 10, 2025

After the U.S. Supreme Court majority’s tacit approval of Texas congressional gerrymandering, efforts are ramping up in Indiana and Florida. In Missouri, though, a federal judge has stopped GOP efforts to derail a citizen ballot initiative to overturn that state’s Trump-requested gerrymandering.

In Missouri, pro-voter group People Not Politicians submitted over 300,000 signatures December 9th to qualify a citizen ballot initiative. It attempts to overturn President Donald Trump’s congressional district gerrymandering effort.  Just over 110,000 signatures are required, but need to be from 5% of voters in six of eight congressional districts.  

The day before, a federal district judge ruled that signatures collected after the legislature passed the gerrymandered map, but before Missouri’s governor signed it into law, could be counted, affecting about 92,000 signatures.    

December 5th, Indiana’s House approved a Trump-requested gerrymandered congressional map which split blue districts in Indianapolis and Gary to be red-leaning, likely resulting in all GOP delegation. The Indiana Senate Elections Committee advanced that map to the full Senate, though it’s still unclear whether the senate has the votes to pass it. 

Florida’s constitution forbids partisan gerrymandering, but nonetheless, Florida’s House redistricting committee held its first meeting on December 4th. 

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (Nov. 17) Congressional Gerrymandering Arms Race Updates:  Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, California and Florida
Missouri Independent – Federal judge rejects Missouri AG’s push to block referendum on gerrymandered map
NBC News – Group seeking to put Missouri’s GOP-drawn congressional map before voters submits signatures
Indiana Capital Chronicle – Indiana House approves redistricting bill, sending issue to state Senate
WLRN – Florida starts redistricting talks in a growing battle for House control in 2026 elections
Florida Phoenix – DeSantis says Florida ‘will be forced’ to redistrict because of pending U.S. Supreme Court decision
Florida Phoenix – Florida Democratic House Leader calls plan to redraw congressional map ‘illegal’

Groups Taking Action:

People Not Politicians MO,   AllINforDemocracy, Equal Ground

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 atAmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Gerrymandering #Missouri #Florida #Indiana #FairMaps #TrumpGerrymandering  #2026Midterms

The post After the SCOTUS Texas Congressional Gerrymandering Decision, Battles Continue in Missouri, Indiana and Florida appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 3, 2025

Equitable representation for Indiana’s largest urban centers was eliminated from congressional district maps proposed by the Indiana House on Monday.  It’s unclear whether the state senate, which initially resisted the gerrymander, has enough support to pass it.

The Indiana senate had refused to hold a special session to gerrymander additional GOP seats as requested by President Donald Trump.  The Senate changed course November 25th after members were threatened by Trump with being “primaried”, harassed with ‘swatting’ calls, and received violent threats.  A special session is now scheduled for December 8th.

December 1st, the state GOP House leadership unveiled its proposed map eliminating both Democratic-leaning districts in Indianapolis and Gary, diluting liberal strongholds  by moving them to conservative districts.  In the plan, Marion County and greater Indianapolis were split into four different congressional districts. If passed, all nine U.S. House representatives would likely be Republican.

Politico reported that the Indiana senate still does not have enough votes to pass the map. Then, the President’s derogatory slur against the disabled directed at Governor Tim Walz cost the President another Indiana Senate vote.  Republican State Senator Mike Bohacek said, QUOTE, “I will be voting NO on redistricting;  perhaps he can use the next 10 months to convince voters that his policies and behavior deserve a congressional majority.”

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (Nov. 27) Developments in North Carolina and Indiana Congressional Map Gerrymandering, as Trump Quest for More GOP Seats Continues
Indiana State Police – Indiana Swatting Incidents Against General Assembly Members

Politico – Mike Johnson set to huddle with Indiana Republicans amid redistricting fight
Indiana Capital Chronicle – Map unveiled as Indiana House gets down to redistricting business
WFYI Indianapolis – Indiana state senator cites Trump’s ‘insulting’ language in opposing mid-decade redistricting

IN State Senator Jean Leising on X – “I will not cave on opposition to redistricting”
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals –  NADSP Condemns President’s Use of the “R-Word”

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause Indiana, League of Women Voters IN, AllINforDemocracy

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 #Indiana #TrumpGerrymandering #MidDecadeRedistricting #Gerrymandering

The post Proposed Congressional Map from Indiana House Erases Both Democratic-Leaning Seats; Support May Not Be Solid in the State Senate appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

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

North Carolina’s mid-decade gerrymandering appears to have prevailed against pro-voter court challenges, and party allegiance has apparently prevailed in the Indiana Senate, which may gerrymander its congressional map after all.

First to North Carolina, where a three-judge panel denied a stay of the North Carolina legislature’s new congressional map, which diluted the racial makeup of the heavily Black 1st Congressional District. 

The judges found that while pro-voter and civil rights groups, QUOTE, “have shown a disparate impact on black voters, they have not demonstrated that this effect likely reflects discriminatory intent.” UNQUOTE.   It’s likely to be appealed, but last year’s U.S. Supreme Court case from South Carolina raised the bar for proving such racial discrimination. 

In Indiana, we previously reported that an effort to split liberal-leaning districts for Gary and Indianapolis had stalled in the Indiana senate, which refused to schedule a special session.  The move unleashed a tirade from President Trump, who called for those blocking the gerrymandering to be primaried. Bomb and death threats to the GOP legislators followed.

November 25th, Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston announced the assembly would be in session December 1st.  The senate will follow December 8th, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.  U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Indiana GOP leaders Saturday. 

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

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (Oct. 16) North Carolina Plans to Gerrymander a GOP Seat to Help Retain Control of the U.S. House in 2026
American Democracy Minute – (Nov. 17) Congressional Gerrymandering Arms Race Updates:  Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, California and Florida
North Carolina Newsline – Federal court allows Republican-led North Carolina redistricting plan to proceed
Truth Social – President Donald Trump Threatens Indiana Republicans with Being ‘Primaried’
Indiana Capital Chronicle – Indiana House returning next week to address redistricting; Senate to join Dec. 8
Politico – Mike Johnson set to huddle with Indiana Republicans amid redistricting fight

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause North Carolina,  North Carolina For the People, Democracy North Carolina, Common Cause Indiana, League of Women Voters IN

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 #Indiana #NorthCarolina #FairMaps #RacialGerrymandering #TrumpGerrymandering  

The post Developments in North Carolina and Indiana Congressional Map Gerrymandering, as Trump Quest for More GOP Seats Continues appeared first on American Democracy Minute.