The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 6, 2025

Redistricting Week:  60 Years After The Voting Rights Act, Racial Gerrymandering Persists, Driven by State Legislatures Trying to Retain Power

You may think racial gerrymandering happened long ago and just in southern states with legacies of suppressing of African Americans.  Think again. Anti-voter legislatures around the country still employ racial gerrymandering to retain political power.

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:

Legal Defense Fund - Why Race Matters in Redistricting
National Archives - Voting Rights Act (1965)
American Democracy Minute -  (2024) Federal Court Releases Redistricting New WA Maps After Striking Down Districts Diluting Latino Voting Power
American Democracy Minute - (2023) U.S. Supreme Court Finds South Carolina Gerrymandering Case ‘Bleaching’ Congressional District Not Racially Motivated
American Democracy Minute - (2022) Native American Tribe Unrigs Voting in its County with Court Redistricting Decision
Redistricting Online - Racial Gerrymandering 

Groups Taking Action:

Campaign Legal Center, Legal Defense Fund, NARF, LULAC

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RacialGerrymandering #BlackVoters #LatinoVoters #NativeVoters

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 5, 2025

The Cheating Side of Redistricting - How Gerrymandering’s Packing, Cracking, and Diluting Rigs Our Electoral System
We’re exploring redistricting this week, including its cheating side.  By manipulating which voters are in a voting district, the party in power can rig the system to guarantee a win for that party.  Ronald Reagan called it  “. . . the antidemocratic and un-American practice of gerrymandering . . “

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Campaign Legal Center - What Is Gerrymandering?
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library - 1987 Speech to the Republican Governors Association 
Represent.Us - How Politicians are Limiting Voter Power by Gerrymandering
Brennan Center for Justice - Gerrymandering, Explained
Brennan Center for justice - How Gerrymandering Tilts the 2024 Race for the House  

Groups Taking Action:

Represent.Us, FairVote, League of Women Voters U.S. , Center for American Progress

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Gerrymandering #Redistricting #PartisanCheating

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 4, 2025

Redistricting Week:  Why Do We Redistrict Our Voting District Maps Every 10 Years, and How is it Done?
We’re spending this week going back to the basics of redistricting, including what makes a fair voting map, and what qualifies as gerrymandering.  What is redistricting, why is it necessary?

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. Congress - ArtI.S2.C3.1 Enumeration Clause and Apportioning Seats in the House of Representatives
League of Women Voters US - Redistricting
League of Women Voters US - Video - What is Redistricting?
Brennan Center for Justice - The Fight for Fair Maps
American Redistricting Project - Redistricting Process by State
All About Redistricting - Redistricting 101 - Where are the Lines Drawn?

Groups Taking Action:

Represent.Us,  League of Women Voters US, Common Cause US, Redistricting Data Hub

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Gerrymandering #Redistricting #FairMaps #RacialGerrymandering

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

Americans Like Voting Early, and Other Lessons from the 2024 Election U.S. Election Assistance Commission Follow Up Report
Americans really like voting by mail and in-person early voting.  That according to 2024 statistics from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.   According to EAC, 158, 211,780 citizens voted, out of 211,144,275 active registered voters, a 74.8% turnout, 3 points lower than 2020.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission - Election Administration and Voting Survey 2024 Comprehensive Report
MIT Election Data & Science Lab - (2022 - Updated Feb. 2024) Voting by mail and absentee voting
National Vote at Home Institute - State by State Mail-In Voting Options

Center for Election Innovation & Research - Data Dive: The Growth of Early In-Person and Mail Voting

Groups Taking Action:
National Vote From Home Institute, Common Cause, AARP

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #VoteatHome #EarlyInPerson #USEAC

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 31, 2025

Can Individuals or Advocacy Groups Sue in Voting Rights Cases?  The Magic 8th Circuit Ball Says ‘No’.
The federal 8th Circuit Court appears intent to block redistricting and voting rights cases by individuals and advocacy groups.  July 29th, the 8th Circuit issued another finding that individuals and groups can’t sue using the Voting Rights Act.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute - (2023) Radical Federal Court of Appeals Ruling Deals Another Blow to Voters, Democracy Groups and the Voting Rights Act
American Democracy Minute - Eighth Circuit ‘Private Right of Action’ Ruling Temporarily Halted by Justice Kavanaugh in Case by North Dakota Tribal Nations
Brennan Center for Justice - The Newest Attack on the Voting Rights Act
Arkansas Advocate - US appeals court overturns ruling that said Arkansas law violated voting rights
8th Circuit Court of Appeals (via Democracy Docket)  - Arkansas United; L. Mireya Reith v. Arkansas

Groups Taking Action:

Arkansas United, Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP, Arkansas Public Policy Panel

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Arkansas #PrivateRightofAction #VotingRights #VRA

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 30, 2025

Must County Boards Certify an Election?  Yes, Says Unanimous Georgia Appeals Court.
Last year, we reported that the Georgia State Board of Elections passed new rules aimed at disrupting or overturning the 2024 Presidential election.  One of those rules, allowing members of county election boards to do their own investigation before certifying an election, was just unanimously struck down.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute - (2024) Ninety Days Before the Election Georgia Launches ‘Voter Registration Cancellation Portal’ and Changes Rules on Certifying Elections
American Democracy Minute - (2024) Republicans Appeal to Georgia Supreme Court to Restore Fringe Georgia Election Board Rulings Struck Down by Lower Courts
State Court Report - (2024) Georgia Supreme Court Declines to Reinstate Controversial Election Rules
Georgia Court of Appeals -  Opinion in A25A0685. ADAMS v. FULTON COUNTY et al.
Georgia Pulic Radio - Georgia appeals court agrees: Local election officials must certify results

Groups Taking Action:
Protect Elections, ACLU GA,  Common Cause GA

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ElectionCertification #Georgia #ElectionSabotage #2024Election

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 29, 2025

Minnesota Rejects DOJ Request for Voting Records; Miami Election Postponement Denied by Judge
We reported recently that the Trump administration’s DOJ requested complete voter records from 12 states. Minnesota just refused to cooperate. In Florida, there’s a decision in a court case over the City of Miami’s proposed postponement of the city election.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute - The U.S. Department of Justice is Requesting All Voter Records for 12 States, Likely a Violation of Privacy and Free Speech Rights
Minnesota Reformer - Secretary of State Steve Simon to feds: Nah
Minnesota Secretary of State - Response to Trump DOJ request for voter records
New Hampshire Public Radio – NH Secretary of State rebuffs Trump administration request for state’s voter roll
CBS News Miami - City of Miami postpones November 2025 election to 2026, extends officials' terms
Miami Herald - Despite controversy, Miami moved election date. One candidate has already sued
Miami Herald - Judge rules that Miami election date change was unconstitutional

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU, League of Women Voters, LULAC, League of Women Voters Miami-Dade

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Minnesota #TrumpDOJ #Miami #ElectionPostponement

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 28, 2025

Report Suggests NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Reelection Campaign May Have Violated Contribution Rules - Again
New York City mayor Eric Adams, who had campaign corruption charges against him dropped by the Trump DOJ in March, may have more alleged campaign finance violations surfacing. 

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Department of Justice (Biden Admin) - (2024) New York City Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Campaign Finance Offenses
American Democracy Minute - (2024)  NYC’s Embattled Mayor Denied $4.5 Million in Matching Funds from City’s Public Campaign Finance Funding System
American Democrcy Minute - Trump Fires Office of Government Ethics Chief Monday; Hours Later, DOJ Drops Campaign Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
The City - New Eric Adams ‘Donors’ Say They Never Gave to His Reelection Campaign

Groups Taking Action:

Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause NY, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MayorEricAdams #CampaignFinance #StrawDonors 

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

A Maine Ballot Initiative Limiting State Contributions to SuperPACs was also Ruled Unconstitutional.  This One, However, Might Reach SCOTUS.
We reported last fall that Maine voters approved Ballot Question 1, limiting contributions to SuperPACs spending money in state elections.  It passed with massive voter support, but like the state’s foreign influence ban, was ruled as likely unconstitutional.  That’s what organizers hoped would happen.

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:

Brennan Center for Justice – Since Citizens United, a Decade of Super PACs
Equal Citizens – (2023) EqualCitizens.US Announces Maine Effort to Limit SuperPAC Contributions
Ballotpedia – Maine Question 1, Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative (2024)
Maine Citizens to End SuperPACs – “An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures”
Associated Press – A voter-approved Maine limit on PAC contributions sets the stage for a legal challenge
U.S. 1st Circuit District Court (via Courthouse News) - Opinion in DINNER TABLE ACTION et al. v. WILLIAM J. SCHNEIDER
Maine Morning Star - Another voter-backed Maine law regulating campaign finance halted, but the case is far from over

Groups Taking Action:

American Promise, Citizens to End SuperPACs, Equal Citizens

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Maine #Question1 #EndCitizensUnited #EndSuperPACs

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 24, 2025

Federal First Circuit Deems Maine Ballot Initiative Limiting Foreign Spending in State Elections Likely Unconstitutional
The voices of 86% of Maine voters were silenced July 14th as a federal appeals court found a 2023 ballot initiative limiting political spending by foreign-owned corporations likely violates the Constitution’s right to free speech.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Maine Public Radio – Question 2 passes, banning foreign electioneering in Maine
State of Maine – §1064. Foreign government campaign spending prohibited
American Democracy Minute - After a Canadian Utility Spent $22 Million Dollars to Influence a Ballot Measure, Maine Voters Ban Foreign Money in State Elections
Maine Morning Star - First Circuit rules Maine ban on foreign government election spending likely unconstitutional
First Circuit Court of Appeals (via Election Law Blog) -  Opinion in CENTRAL MAINE POWER v. MAINE COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES
Maine Morning Star - Another voter-backed Maine law regulating campaign finance halted, but the case is far from over

Groups Taking Action:

Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, League of Women Voters Maine, American Promise, End Citizens United, Represent.Us

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Maine #EndBigMoney #ForeignInfluence #Question2