The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 18, 2024 Georgia Omnibus Voter Suppression Law Banning Line Warming, Curtailing Drop Boxes & Restricting Mail-In Voting Goes on Trial After the Georgia legislature passed its omnibus voter suppression bill SB 202 in 2021, a firestorm of criticism erupted, including the moving of that year’s Major League Baseball All-Star game out of the state.  April 15th, a trial began in federal court to throw out a small part of the law, one of eight active lawsuits. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Fair Fight -  FIFTY ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 17, 2024 U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Washington State Case Challenging the Washington Voting Rights Act Washington state voters can breathe easier, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to the Washington Voting Rights Act, passed in response to the stripping Voting Rights Act protections by the same court in Shelby v. Holder. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Brennan Center for Justice - State Supreme Court Upholds Washingto ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 16, 2024 Doesn’t U.S. Law Already Prohibit Non-Citizens from Voting in Federal Elections?  Yes, it Does. In an announcement April 11th heralded as a major “election integrity” policy proposal, former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson announced their intention to require proof of citizenship to vote.  Spoiler alert:  It’s already required. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: States Newsroom/Nebraska Examiner - GOP, Tru ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 15, 2024 Ever Wonder The Reason It Took So Long for the IRS to Offer an Online Tax Preparation App?   Big Money Lobbying.The IRS has a pilot program in 12 states this year to file your personal taxes online for free without the use of 3rd party software.   Wonder why it took so long?   Big money lobbying. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Open Secrets - Tax prep companies that spent over $90 million lobbying against free tax-filing sys ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 12, 2024 Michigan Case Which Used the ‘Independent State Legislature Theory’ to Challenge Voting Rights Ballot Questions is Dismissed We reported last October that 11 Michigan GOP legislators used the “Independent State Legislature” theory to challenge two Michigan ballot questions expanding voting rights.  A federal judge dismissed their case April 10th. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: Brennan Center for Justice - Moore v. Harper BallotPedia ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 11, 2024 National Study of Elections Officials Confirms Turnover from Harassment, But Also Finds An Aging Workforce and Increasing Workloads are FactorsDisinformation spread about the 2020 election by candidates & partisan groups mobilized extremists to harass or threaten election officials. Many of those officials resigned.  But a large national study also found other reasons for large-scale turnover, and some hope for the 2024 election. (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the s ..read more

One more day of repeats and we're back doing new reports!   Thanks for your patience while we navigated the challenges of the past week.  - Brian Beihl The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 9, 2024 Nonpartisan Report Recommends Ways Local Officials Can Expand Voter Participation and Recruit Election Workers Using Public/Private Partnerships The nonpartisan Fair Elections Center released a report to state and local election officials in February suggesting ways voter participation can be expanded.  Recommendations include expanding voter registratio ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 8, 2024 Another day of no power and no interenet in my area of New Hampshire – we’ve been out since April 3rd — so we’re posting a report from mid-February. There were crews working down the street, so hopefully soon! – Brian Beihl True the Vote’s Claim of Evidence of 2020 Ballot Stuffing in Georgia Were . . . Not True The election denier group True the Vote is one of the loudest and most aggressive in casting doubt on the 2020 election.  In Georgia, its claims of fraudulent absentee ballots being deposited in drop boxes ..read more

Today, Brian is one of over a 100,000 electric customers in NH without power, due to high winds and over a foot of heavy, wet snow.   Fortunately, we still have internet -- for now -- and are writing under generator power.   Here's an important rebroadcast from February.  Have a good weekend;  I'll be shoveling! The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 5, 2024 Survey Finds Strong Support from Americans for Early Voting & Election Day Holiday Reforms, but Restrictive Government-Issued ID RequirementsA new study by Pew Research finds Americans ..read more

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 4, 2024 In April 2 Presidential Primaries, Wisconsin Voters Approve Restraints on Running Elections, and Large Numbers of Voters Unhappy With Nominees 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. To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website. Today’s Links Articles & Resources: American Democracy Minute - April 2nd Wiscon ..read more