Los estados están obligados a realizar un mantenimiento periódico de las listas de votantes para garantizar que sean precisas. Pero un nuevo estudio de la Universidad Estatal de Michigan sugiere que el proceso en Michigan puede afectar de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades menos representadas y con menores ingresos.

La depuración de las listas de votantes suele implicar la eliminación de votantes inactivos, o de aquellos que han fallecido o se han trasladado.

El análisis de MSU de más de 175 mil votantes eliminados de las listas entre 2014 y 2018 encontró tasas de purga más altas en las ciudades, y entre los votantes negros y los demócratas registrados.

El profesor adjunto Thomas Wojciechowski dice que, durante ese período, Michigan tenía una mayoría republicana en la Legislatura.

"Descubrimos que tener una mayor proporción de residentes negros en ciertas comunidades estaba asociado con tasas de depuración excesiva," asegura Wojciechowski. "Por lo tanto, había una relación estadística que indicaba que "hay una disparidad racial en la purga de votantes"."

Los investigadores están de acuerdo en que la práctica de la purga es necesaria, pero podría conducir a la privación del derecho al voto, especialmente en el caso de los votantes inactivos. El estudio fue impulsado por el grupo Michigan Faith in Action.

Las zonas incluidas en la purga tenían un 17% de población negra, ingresos promedio de poco menos de $50,000 dólares y aproximadamente la mitad de la población se declaraba demócrata.

Wojciechowski afirma que, a pesar de tener en cuenta las razones legítimas de las tasas de depuración más elevadas en estas zonas, siguen existiendo disparidades raciales.

"No podemos reclamar la intención ni nada por el estilo, pero sin duda hay incentivos por marginar desproporcionadamente el poder de voto en estas comunidades," dice Wojciechowski.

Aunque la purga en cuestión tuvo lugar entre 2014 y 2018, el equipo dice que sus hallazgos siguen siendo relevantes hoy en día.

El coautor del estudio, el profesor asociado de la M-S-U Richard Sadler, dice que no muchos otros estados han analizado la depuración de votantes de esta manera. Espera que eso cambie.

"En la medida en que podamos obtener estos datos en otros estados, y otros equipos de investigación puedan empezar a reproducirlos, podremos demostrar la importancia de las políticas de registro y retención de votantes que mantienen a las personas en las listas," agrega Sadler.

Si planeas votar en persona en estas elecciones, Sadler dice que te asegures de que tu registro electoral está al día antes de presentarte en las urnas.

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



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Minnesota and the nation are feeling the emotional weight of political violence after this weekend's assassination of a top Democratic state lawmaker and the attack of a fellow legislator.

Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, who had served as Minnesota House Speaker, was killed inside her home along with her husband. In the nearby suburb of Champlin, Sen. John Hoffman, D-Champlin, and his wife were also shot and wounded. Police call the shootings "politically motivated."

The incidents follow a trend of political violence beginning with this spring's arson attack at the Pennsylvania Governor's mansion.

David Schultz, professor of political science at Hamline University, said the current mood somewhat mirrors the violence toward prominent leaders seen in the 1960s.

"Once violence starts to occur, people get used to violence or it becomes part of the game," Schultz explained. "That seems to be where we're degenerating right now."

The events follow last year's assassination attempt on President Donald Trump on the campaign trail, along with increased threats against poll workers. Schultz noted in a healthy democracy, ballots, elections and other engagement tools resolve differences, not violence. He worries the attacks will discourage elected officials from talking with constituents and curtail open meetings.

Schultz pointed out society has grown used to a more isolated way of life, pointing to shopping habits and some people choosing to live in areas cut off from those with different views. Making matters worse, he added, political messages spread through social media fuel misinformation and radicalization.

"Falsity travels more rapidly, more deeply than truth," Schultz observed. "The relative anonymity or distance of the social media also emboldens people to radicalize. Put all that altogether, that gets us part of the recipe of where we are in our society right now."

Schultz added he is not optimistic heightened tensions and political violence will end anytime soon. He said there are some encouraging signs younger voters will not embrace identity politics and demonize their political opponents, but he believes the patterns have shifted, delaying a return to a moderate political tone.


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It is estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Hoosiers marched around the Indiana Statehouse during the "No Kings" protest in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday.

The demonstration took place on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, two milestones marked by a military parade in Washington, D.C. Protesters in Indiana criticized what they called authoritarian behavior and attacks on democracy.

Micah Pulliam said the concerns drove her to the march.

"America hasn't had a king," Pulliam pointed out. "We rejected kings years and years and years ago, and Trump is acting like a king, like he can make all the decisions and what he wants. That's not how America works."

Indiana State Police detained one person after a scuffle with a counter-protester. No other arrests were reported. Supporters of the President said Trump is defending constitutional values and using lawful powers to advance his agenda.

The 50501 movement organized the "No Kings" demonstrations. The group began calling for nationwide demonstrations against Trump in February, organizing hundreds of protests throughout the previous four months.

Mary Sutton came from Carmel and called on elected officials to act.

"The people in the House and Senate need to grow a backbone and the courts need to stand solid," Sutton urged. "If a judge makes a judgment, then the people need to follow it or go to jail."

The protest ended peacefully by midafternoon. The Indianapolis event was one of more than 2,000 "No Kings" rallies throughout the country.


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A government watchdog group is joining others in raising concerns about last-minute additions to the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives and now before the Senate. The Campaign Legal Center says one provision would weaken the power of U.S. judges to enforce contempt when the government defies court orders. It comes after federal courts have thwarted some of President Donald Trump's recent policies.

Trevor Potter, Campaign Legal Center president, said the "Founding Fathers" were trying to prevent a president from behaving like a "king" when they established three separate but equal branches of government.

"What's happened here is that members of the Republican party in Congress think their job is, or their duty is, to support the presidency whatever they do and not act as a check on the presidency," he explained.

Trump has repeatedly attacked judges who oppose his policies and his administration has refused to abide by their orders - even those issued by the U.S. Supreme Court. Potter believes the White House is trying to expand and consolidate executive powers over Congress and the courts - which he says poses major risks to American democracy and the rule of law.

A second provision inserted in the bill at the last minute has raised the ire of both Democrats and Republicans. It includes a 10-year moratorium on state and local governments to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns and elections.

Catherine Hinckley Kelley, senior director, Policy & Strategic Partnerships with the Campaign Legal Center, said 20 states, including New Mexico, already have adopted such laws.

"States have acted, but now with this provision in the reconciliation bill, states would be unable to enforce those laws and limit the use of AI in elections," she explained.

Congress has not passed its own A-I regulation bill. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, a fierce supporter of President Trump, said Tuesday she would not have voted for the bill if she had known about the A-I provision, contending it would violate state rights.


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