The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 27, 2023

Just in Time for Halloween, Michigan Case Tries to Reanimate the Independent State Legislature Theory and Kill Democracy Reforms
Just in time for Halloween, Michigan GOP legislators are attempting to reanimate the rejected Independent State Legislature theory to invalidate a voting rights citizen ballot initiative passed in 2022.  Haven’t we seen this horror movie before?

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Democracy Docket - Using Rejected ISL Theory, Michigan Republicans Challenge Voter-Approved Constitutional Amendments 
U.S. District Court via Democracy Docket -  LINDSEY v. WHITMER
BallotPedia - Michigan Proposal 2, Voting Policies in Constitution Amendment (2022)
Brennan Center for Justice - The ‘Independent State Legislature Theory,’ Explained
Center for American Progress - How Michigan Became a Blueprint for Strengthening Democracy

Groups Taking Action:
Promote the Vote, ACLU Michigan, League of Women Voters MI, American Promise MI

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MichiganPolitics #VoterSuppression #MoorevHarper
#IndependentStateLegislature #Proposition2

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 26, 2023

State Appeals Court Uphold Ruling Striking Down Four Michigan Rules Governing Partisan Poll Challengers
Four rules governing partisan poll challengers in Michigan’s election official handbook will have to be removed or enacted by the legislature, according to a Michigan appeals court.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Bridge Michigan - (2022) Michigan court scuttles new election challenger rules. Benson to appeal
Michigan Live - Michigan’s poll challenger rules must be changed, court rules
Democracy Docket - Michigan Judge Strikes Down Election Challengers Regulations
U.S. Election Assistance Commission - Poll Watchers
Michigan Secretary of State - (As of 10/25/2023) Election Challengers and Poll Watchers:  Summary of Rights and Duties

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #PollWatchers

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 25, 2023

U.S. Government Warns Officials in Over 100 Countries About Ongoing Russian Meddling in Democratic Elections
The U.S. government sent a diplomatic cable October 20th to over 100 countries  warning of Russia’s efforts to disrupt elections, including amplifying disinformation like the Stop the Steal movement here in the U.S.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
New York Times -  (2021) Russian Interference in 2020 Included Influencing Trump Associates, Report Says
Voice of America - US Sounds Alarm on Russian Election Efforts
The Guardian - Russia working to undermine trust in elections globally, US intelligence says

Associated Press - US warns of a Russian effort to sow doubt over the election outcomes in democracies around the globe
Cybersecurity Infrastructure & Security Agency - Foreign Influence Operations and Disinformation
US Election Assistance Commission - Election Security
US Dept. of State - Exporting Pro-Kremlin Disinformation: The Case of Nova Resistência in Brazil
National Democratic Institute - DISINFORMATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ELECTORAL INTEGRITY
Brennan Center for Justice - 3 Lessons on Misinformation in the Midterms Spread on Social Media

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause, Protect Democracy, NAACP

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ElectionInterference #RussianInterference #Disinformation

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 24, 2023

The North Carolina Legislature’s Congressional Maps Go From Gerrymandered to Fair to Even More Gerrymandered in Two Years
Oct.19th, the North Carolina Senate Redistricting Committee presented its latest Congressional redistricting maps.  After three years of wrangling, including two state supreme court cases and a U.S. Supreme Court case, it’s now MORE gerrymandered than its original 2021 map.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
FiveThirtyEight - Analysis of North Carolina's 2021 and 2022 Congressional Redistricting Maps
Brennan Center for Justice - Moore v. Harper, Explained
North Carolina Legislature - LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
BallotPedia - North Carolina Supreme Court vacates state’s congressional, legislative maps
NC Newsline - Plans for new NC congressional districts would elect more Republicans to Congress
WFAE Public Radio - After aggressive gerrymandering, a look at what’s next and who is 'toast' in North Carolina
Associated Press - North Carolina Republicans pitch Congress maps that could help them pick up 3 or 4 seats next year

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause NC, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Black Alliance, Action NC, League of Women Voters NC 

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews  #Gerrymandering #RacialGerrymandering #FairMaps #NorthCarolinaPolitics 

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 23, 2023

U.S. Supreme Court Takes No Action in Louisiana Case; Circuit Court Case on Racially Gerrymandered Congressional Districts Moves Forward in 2024
A Louisiana racial gerrymandering case we’ve been following will be allowed to go forward, but just not as quickly, due to a U.S. Supreme Court no-action decision on Oct. 19th.  It could still mean fairer maps before the 2024 election.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Democracy Docket - Louisiana Congressional Redistricting Challenge (Robinson)
Democracy Docket - Louisiana Voters Ask U.S. Supreme Court To Pause 5th Circuit Order Delaying Fair Maps
Louisiana Illuminator - Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana redistricting case creates uncertainty
SCOTUS Blog - Justices decline to intervene in Louisiana’s Republican-drawn voting map dispute
U.S. Supreme Court - PRESS ROBINSON, ET AL. v. KYLE ARDOIN, LOUISIANA SECRETARY OF STATE, ET AL.

Groups Taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Louisiana,  Power Coalition for Equity and Justice

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RacialGerrymandering #LouisianaPolitics #FairMaps

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 20, 2023

Tight Labor Market, Demographics, Health Concerns and Poll Worker Harassment Contribute to Shortages of Poll Workers Around the U.S.
As states, counties and municipalities prepare for elections in November and next year’s Presidential race, reports have surfaced of short-term poll workers shortages in Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and several other states. 

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Kentucky Lantern - Across Kentucky, election workers needed ahead of general election
WISH-TV - Some counties short hundreds of poll workers before Election Day
Texas Tribune/Votebeat - Smaller Texas counties could face a poll worker shortage due to new state requirements
USA Today - Need extra money? Poll workers are in demand and getting a pay raise before the 2024 election.
CBS2 Iowa - Iowa still needs 10,000+ poll workers for upcoming election
Brennan Center for Justice - Local Election Officials Survey — April 2023
Pennsylvania Dept. of State - Shapiro Administration Encourages Voters, 17-Year-Old High School Students To Sign Up Today To Be Poll Workers In November Election
Vet the Vote - A national campaign to recruit veterans and military family members to become the next generation of poll workers
Power the Polls - HELP STAFF YOUR LOCAL POLLING PLACE
U.S. Election Assistance Commission - Become a Poll Worker

Groups Taking Action:
Power the Polls, Vet the Vote, Vote411, League of Women Voters US

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 19, 2023

Report Finds False Election Fraud Claims, Intimidation, Burdensome Rules, and ‘Election Integrity’ Vigilantes Lead to an Election Official Brain-Drain
A new report chronicles a brain-drain of experienced professional election officials, who, after dealing for months on end with false election fraud claims, intimidation, and burdensome new “Election Integrity” rules, have had enough.

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Issue One - The High Cost of High Turnover
The 19th - ‘There are a lot of people who don’t want to know the truth’: Why an Arizona election official is leaving her job
The Citizens - Heading into the 2024 election cycle, officials are bracing for heightened accusations of fraud—and the threats that often accompany them

Politico - Key Arizona election official to step down amid harassment and conspiracy theories
Brennan Center for Justice - The Great Resignation . . . Of Election Officials
US Department of Justice - (2021)  Task Force to Combat Threats Against Election Workers

Groups Taking Action:
Issue One, Election Official Legal Defense Network, Power the Polls, Center for American Progress

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 17, 2023

Top 5 Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting Initiatives Proposed for Arizona’s 2024 Ballot
In the 2024 election, Arizona voters may have the opportunity to adopt single ballot open primaries and ranked choice voting, if organizers of two competing proposals succeed in gathering enough signatures.  

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Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Daily Independent - Two initiatives seek to change Arizona primary, general election choices
KJZZ - Creating open primary system in Arizona is goal of 2 proposed initiatives

Arizona Mirror - Campaign launches to open AZ primary elections
Axios Phoenix - Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries

Groups Taking Action:
Better Ballot Arizona/Voter Choice Arizona, Open Primaries Arizona,  Make Elections Fair, FairVote, Open Primaries
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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ArizonaPolitics #BetterBallotAZ #OpenPrimaries #RankedChoiceVoting

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 17, 2023

North Carolina Legislature Overrides Governor’s Vetoes of Voter Suppression and State Election Board Bills
We have updates on two North Carolina election bills designed to consolidate partisan power.  HB 747 and 749 were vetoed by the governor, but overridden by the legislature on Oct. 10th.  
Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute - With a Partisan State Supreme Court and Veto-Proof Majority, North Carolina Legislature Poised to Take Control of the State Election Board
North Carolina Legislature – Ratified Text for SB 749
Associated Press – N.C. legislature gives final OK to election board changes; governor’s veto expected
Democracy Docket – Ignoring 62% of Voters, North Carolina Republicans Overhaul Elections Board With Senate Bill 749
Democracy Docket - Unpacking North Carolina Republicans’ Voter Suppression Bill S.B. 747
The Carolina Journal - NC legislature adds to growing list of overridden Cooper vetoes: elections, energy, and regulatory reform
WRAL - Voting rights groups sue over new NC elections law, seeking to block changes for 2024

NC Newsline - Overriding Gov. Cooper’s vetoes, the NC legislature makes it harder to vote, easier to pollute.

Groups Taking Action:
Voto Latino, Down Home North Carolina, North Carolina Black Alliance, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Voter, ACLU North Carolina

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #NorthCarolinaPolitics #VoterSuppression #FreedomtoVote #

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 13, 2023
 
Three Michigan Cities Vote in November on Adopting Ranked Choice Voting 
On the heels of a statewide referendum on an expansion of voting rights in 2022, this November, voters in three Michigan cities consider adopting ranked choice for municipal elections.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Michigan Live - (2022) Group works to bring ranked choice voting to Kalamazoo ballot
Michigan Radio - Michigan cities are considering switch to ranked-choice voting
News Channel 3 - Kalamazoo approves Resolution for Ranked Choice Voting for mayor, city commissioner elections
FairVote - RESEARCH AND DATA ON RCV IN PRACTICE
FairVote - NEW YORK CITY’S RANKED CHOICE VOTING ROLLOUT: BETTER ELECTIONS YIELD BETTER RESULTS
BallotPedia - Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

Michigan Advance - As ranked choice voting gains momentum, parties in power push back
Michigan Dept. of State - Register to vote
Michigan Dept. of State - How to Vote in Michigan

Represent.Us - Ranked Choice Voting, Explained

Groups Taking Action:

Rank the Vote Michigan, FairVote, Represent.US

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #RankedChoiceVoting #RCV #MichiganPolitics
#RanktheVoteMI