New York Archives | American Democracy Minute

In April 2 Presidential Primaries, Wisconsin Voters Approve Restraints on Running Elections; Large Numbers of Voters Unhappy With Nominees

April 3, 2024April 3, 2024

April 2nd, Wisconsin voters passed two ballot questions impacting how local elections are run, and in Wisconsin and other states’ primaries, large numbers of voters made it known they’re not happy with the apparent nominees.

NY’s Redistricting Commission Proposes Another Congressional Map with a Slight Democratic Edge, But This Time with a 9-1 Bipartisan Endorsement

February 19, 2024February 19, 2024

When we last reported on New York’s Congressional redistricting drama, the state supreme court threw out a special master’s competitive map because the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission, or IRC, hadn’t completed its constitutional duties. Analysis of new maps released last week by the commission may give a slight advantage to Democrats.

Democracy News Wasn’t All Bad in 2023; MI, MN, NM, CT, PA, & NY All Passed Substantial Pro-Voter Legislation

January 4, 2024January 4, 2024

While some state legislatures are making it harder to vote, a 2023 recap from Voting Rights Lab shows a few states passed legislation to help people register to vote and to make voting more accessible to all citizens.

Plot Twist in New York’s Ongoing Redistricting Drama, as Appeals Court Throws Out Competitive Maps Drawn by a Lower Court’s Special Master

December 13, 2023December 13, 2023

There was another plot twist in New York’s redistricting drama, as New York’s highest court threw out a special master’s Congressional maps, and directed the state’s redistricting commission to try again.

Why was California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission Successful, While New York’s Commission Resulted in Gerrymandering & Court Cases?

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023

While New York’s bipartisan redistricting commission struggled, the successful California Citizen Redistricting Commission maps were passed unanimously in 2021 with no litigation. New York’s commission deadlocked, and was overruled by a Democratic-dominated legislature which drew its own gerrymandered maps. Those were later thrown out by the court, and the Congressional map is STILL being contested.