Las leyes electorales han estado en el centro de atención desde 2020, pero a pesar de la controversia, un nuevo informe concluye que muchos estados han facilitado la administración de las elecciones.

El Bipartisan Policy Center analizó la legislación estatal entre 2022 y 2024 basándose en doce políticas que se dividen en tres grandes categorías: registro de votantes, emisión de votos y recuento de votos.

Uno de los autores del informe, Will Adler, dice que Idaho ha logrado nueve de doce políticas que su organización identificó como "equilibrio entre la accesibilidad de los votantes y la seguridad electoral".

"Idaho no tiene un par de políticas que creemos que todos los estados deberían tener," dice Adler. "No tiene registro automático de votantes, no está en la asociación ERIC, y no existe un proceso en la ley estatal que permita a los votantes corregir cualquier problema con los votos en ausencia."

ERIC es una organización sin fines de lucro que comparte información sobre el registro de votantes entre los estados que son miembros para garantizar que los padrones electorales estén actualizados.

Pero, en el lado positivo, Idaho ha adoptado políticas como el registro de votantes en línea, el voto en ausencia sin excusas y el procesamiento previo de los votos para que los funcionarios puedan comenzar el recuento antes del día de las elecciones.

Adler dice que su organización encontró un aumento del 68% en todo el país, en el número de estados que adoptaron las políticas que identificó entre 2022 y 2024.

"En realidad, hemos visto resultados bastante alentadores, asegura Adler. "En la mayoría de las doce políticas que identificamos, hemos visto que los estados han aumentado su adopción."

Adler afirma que el gobierno federal debería incentivar la adopción de estas políticas.


"Durante mucho tiempo, las elecciones han estado lamentablemente subfinanciadas a nivel federal," agrega Adler. "Esto obliga a los funcionarios electorales a hacer más con menos. También obliga a los legisladores estatales a buscar formas de financiar sus elecciones estatales y locales."

El apoyo para este informe fue proporcionado por The Carnegie Corporation of New York.



get more stories like this via email

An Indiana debate over history and power is growing. Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith recently defended the Three-Fifths Compromise in a social media video. The compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxes.

Beckwith called it a "great move" for America at the time, and praised the group WallBuilders, describing them as the "gold standard" for teaching U.S. history.

The Indiana Citizen investigated both claims. Publisher Bill Moreau called on Hoosiers to pay attention.

"We have been working on a project since the first of the year that we called: 'One Heartbeat Away: Do Christian nationalists have an agenda for Indiana?' Lt. Gov. Beckwith is literally one heartbeat away from being governor," he said.

If Beckwith became governor, he could shape education policy. That includes choosing textbooks. The Indiana Citizen's report found WallBuilders promotes views rejected by most historians. Some Hoosiers agree with Beckwith and say his views reflect America's religious roots.

Moreau encouraged Hoosiers to stay informed and take a closer look at the history Beckwith promotes.

"Understand what Lt. Gov. Beckwith said about the Three-Fifths Compromise," he added. "How he attributes that analysis to this group called WallBuilders - which he considers to be 'the gold standard for learning the real history of America.'"


get more stories like this via email

Seattle's City Council voted last week to put the city's Democracy Voucher Program on the ballot to be renewed in August and supporters of the program are looking to take it statewide.

Launched in 2017, the program gives each resident four $25 vouchers to donate to participating candidates. Data show the program has boosted voter turnout, increased small donors fivefold, and encouraged more women and people of color to run.

Spencer Olson, spokesperson for the nonprofit People Powered Elections Seattle, said voucher programs counter nationwide voting rights rollbacks and model a more inclusive democracy.

"It's proof that we can reduce the influence of big money, can expand participation, and can give regular people a stronger voice in who represents them," Olson outlined.

People Powered Elections has been working on a bill for next session to bring democracy vouchers to Washington's state legislative races. Participating candidates must get a minimum number of signatures and small donations to qualify and must adhere to contribution and spending limits.

Critics of the program said it creates new avenues for corruption because candidates will be motivated to lie about where the contributions come from. Olson countered so far in Seattle there has been no evidence of widespread misuse or fraud, adding there are robust legal safeguards in place.

"Anyone who commits theft, forgery, trafficking or unlawful transfers of democracy vouchers face steep penalties and fines and up to time in jail," Olson pointed out.

Olson noted Seattle's success has inspired interest from other cities and counties. He added a statewide voucher program for legislative elections could create infrastructure to expand it locally, helping smaller communities hold more competitive races.

"I used to live over in Kittitas County for many years, and it was very common to have an uncontested election or not even have anyone run for local office," Olson recounted.

A bill to bring a voucher program to Washington's state elections will be introduced next year.


get more stories like this via email

Indiana activists with the 50501 movement will hold new protests this summer against the Trump administration.

The effort, which stands for "50 protests, 50 states, one movement," plans to expand beyond the Statehouse into smaller Indiana communities.

Alisa Advani, Indiana chapter member of the 50501 movement, said local organizers will lead the new events. Advani explained the movement wants to fight government overreach and protect constitutional rights.

"It's a national group," Advani pointed out. "It was designed specifically so that there would be coordinated protests in every state on the same day, and it's grown exponentially. Now, we've had protest groups pop up by the 10s, 20s, 30s across every state."

Critics said the protests exaggerate federal actions. Some argued they turn legal and policy debates into political fights. National political analysts said the 50501 movement reflects political division and growing public concern about the role of government.

Advani noted more 50501 groups are forming across the country. The Indiana chapter plans to announce summer protest dates soon.

"A lot of people in the United States are upset," Advani emphasized. "They see a loss of constitutional rights and due process. And they've decided to come out in protest to send a very clear message to Congress and the President of the United States that we will not stand by idly and let this happen."

The group said it wants to create a space for people who may have been afraid to speak out in the past. Advani added they accept new members from all political backgrounds, including those who once supported current federal policies.


get more stories like this via email