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Open Democracy Minute: Keeping Granite State government by and for the people is produced by Brian Beihl and its heard on WNHN FM-LP 94.7 in Concord, N.H., and other stations.

March 22, 2021 - You may have seen an LTE or voted at town meeting on the NH Resolution for Fair Nonpartisan Redistricting.  What's it about?

March 15, 2021 - Student testimony and lots of press attention got several anti voter bills retained in committee

March 8, 2021 - If you are a college student, pay attention!   There are NH legislators who do not want you to vote

March 1, 2021 - NH becomes a voter suppression state as anti-voter bills for absentee voting, same-day registration, and students dominate

February 22, 2021 - With independent redistricting commission bills now killed, will the Special Committee on Redistricting be fair?

February 15, 2021 - NH House Election Law kills campaign finance reform and redistricting bills

February 8, 2021 - Senate Election Law kills ind. redistricting bill, but advocates take the NH Resolution for Fair Nonpartisan Redistricting directly to the people

February 1, 2021 - You've heard of Shark Week?  Campaign Finance Week in NH House Election Law is a bit like that

January 25, 2021 - Anti-Voter Bills propose eliminating same-day registration, requiring copies of ID when returning absentee applications & ballots

January 18, 2021 - Voters under attack by the NH Legislature by proposing anti-student voting rules, provisional ballots and electoral college vote changes.

January 11, 2021 -  Bogus information being used to justify new legislation around the country-- and in NH

January 4, 2021 - Drama with the Electoral College count - but it's about the 2022 and 24 elections, and weakens Democracy.

Dec. 28, 2020 - NH Citizens fighting gerrymandering with statewide resolutions in cities & towns

Dec. 21, 2020 - Redistricting of voting districts is about to begin; will the legislature allow gerrymandering to begin, too?

Dec. 14, 2020 - NH's electors cast their Electoral College votes this week in one of the last two steps to conclude the 2020 election

Dec. 7, 2020 -  The NH Secretary of State's office has much work to do, despite a mostly trouble-free election

Nov. 30, 2020 -  What legislation is needed to fix the problems that happened before the election? 

Nov. 23, 2020 -  Lawsuits questioning the election are being dismissed in PA & GA; recounts in NH

Nov. 16, 2020 - Claims of widespread voter fraud are, well, fraudulent

Nov. 9, 2020 -  Presidential election smooth, with mostly "good" problems caused by high turnout

Nov. 2, 2020 -  Ballots need time to be counted.  Be patient, and be confident.

Oct. 26, 2020 - We've tried to educate you on safe voting.  It's now up to YOU.

Oct. 19, 2020 - Federal Court rules against USPS changes, but you still need to mail your absentee ballot in ASAP

Oct. 12, 2020 - Top three mistakes to avoid when filling out and returning your absentee ballot.

Oct. 5, 2020 - Unfounded talk of mail ballots being fraudulent throws your friends and neighbors under the bus.

Sept. 28, 2020 - Questioning whether you should vote by absentee in NH?  Your vote will count just like you did it in person.

Sept 21, 2020 - National Voter Registration Day and stats on the Sept. 8 NH State Primary

Sept 14, 2020 - Sept 8 primary has few lines, big problems  -- but shows lack of poll worker training;  veto overide votes Sept. 16

Sept 7, 2020 -  Clerk's offices open from 3-5 on Labor Day; Labor's contribution to American Democracy

Aug 31, 2020 - Last push before the Sept 8 NH state primary, "instant absentee," and changes at the polls

Aug 24, 2020 - Strategies for returning your absentee ballot safely by mail or in-person

Aug 17, 2020 - Overcoming the manipulation of the Postal Service for voter suppression efforts

Aug 10, 2020 - FAQs on filling out and returning Absentee Ballots  -- because many did not get instructions

Aug 3, 2020 - Absentee Ballots arriving for Sept. 8th primary -- with no COVID-19 Instructions for voting absentee

July 27, 2020 - New Absentee Ballot Application, but more confusion created by SOS & AG's office

July 20, 2020 -  Governor Sununu signs HB 1266, helping voters requesting an absentee ballot; Democracy Town Hall Series Events for Feltes, Volinsky

July 13, 2020 - Seven weeks out from the state primary, still no plan from the SOS; Sununu vetoes one COVID-19 bill, signs another

July 6, 2020 - Changes to Absentee Ballot Application await Gov's signature; Activists take to Portsmouth to educate voters on absentee

June 29, 2020 - Senate approves COVID-10 Amendment, but strips postage;  Independent Redistricting Commission moves forward

June 22, 2020 - Senate Committee hears COVID-19 absentee ballot amendment Thursday, June 25

June 15, 2020 - Is NH paying attention to election fiascos in Georgia, Nevada, Maryland and other states?

June 8, 2020 -  The Select Committee on 2020 Emergency Election Support wraps up its recommendations

June 1, 2020 -  COVID-19 voting bills coming as NH legislature plans sessions for June 9 and June 11

May 25, 2020 - You can stay safe & vote by absentee ballot this fall.  Here's how.

May 18, 2020 - Gov. Sununu allows changing of party affiliation by mail to meet the June 2 deadline

May 11, 2020 - Clerks, Moderators & Supervisors of the Checklist paint a grim picture of readiness for fall 2020 voting

May 4, 2020 - Emergency Election Support committee forms to recommend Covid 19 voting protocols and expenditures

April 27, 2020 - News Flash:  NH has been voting by mail for years - it's called an absentee ballot

April 20, 2020 - The NH SOS unofficially applies the "physical disability" rule to registering to vote, but issues no details, leaving voters guessing

April 13, 2020 - Attorney General and Secretary of State bend the "physical disability" rule to allow voting by absentee ballot for remainder of 2020

April 4, 2020 -  Coronavirus caused postponing of NH towns' town meeting votes; Still awaiting guidance from NH SOS

March 30, 2020 - Coronavirus stimulates new discussion on No Excuse Absentee Ballot, plus Democracy in Action Conference April 4.

March 23, 2020 -  NH Legislature on pause, Democracy in Action Conference April 4 for activists in regional teams or chapters

March 16, 2020 - Redistricting bill & other Democracy bills passed; but 121 legislators voted AGAINST fair voting districts.

March 9, 2020 - New independent redistricting bill HB 1665 amended to satisfy Republicans.  Will it pass?

March 2, 2020 - Anniversary of Granny D Haddock's speech from the U.S. Capitol steps

February 24, 2020 - Turnout in local elections, particularly in NH's cities, is not good.  

February 17, 2020 - Strong turnout in the 2020 NH Primary, but should we be doing an end-zone dance?

February 10, 2020 - Presidential candidates talk Democracy reform in Feb 7 debate - finally!

February 3, 2020 -  The League of Women Voters NH has "What You Need to Know about Voting in New Hampshire"

January 27, 2020 - MLB's sign-stealing scandal is cheating.  So are NH's Gerrymandered Voting Districts

January 20, 2020  Granny D Week events and Funeral for Democracy commemorates 10th Anniversary of Citizens United

January 13, 2020  Deval Patrick speaks at his Democracy Town Hall

Jan. 6, 2020  Upcoming votes on SB 304 & SB 8, and a Democracy Town Hall with Deval Patrick.

Dec. 30, 2019  Sen. Bernie Sanders points to ending Big Money politics as a key to fixing Democracy

Dec. 23, 2019  Democracy Town Halls Series events with Sen. Michael Bennet & Tom Steyer

Dec. 16, 2019 - Two Democracy Town Hall Series events with Sen. Michael Bennet and businessman & climate activist Tom Steyer

Dec. 9, 2019 -  2nd half NH campaign finance reports shows Dark Money LLCs exploiting the LLC loophole in governor's race.

Dec. 2, 2019  Pay-to-Play politics, part 2, NH rules on contractor donations are even more lax than the feds

Nov. 25, 2019  Pay-to-Play politics, part 1, how it works at the federal level

Nov. 18, 2019  Another showdown on an independent redistricting commission shaping up for 2020

Nov. 11, 2019  Lawrence Lessig's new book, new Regional Democracy Teams

 

Earlier Topics:

The Voter-Owned Elections ActDoris "Granny D" Haddock Day

Gerrymandering in N.H.

How LLCs hide Dark Money

Limiting the influence of big-money donors in N.H.

How does ranked-choice voting work?

N.H. House provides two victories

Important votes for democracy this week

Legislature is for reform--if it's free

Redistricting, LLC loophole closure still alive in N.H. Senate

Three wins this week in the N.H. Senate

After crossover, it's back to work on democracy bills

At tax time, let's think about accountability--to voters

Play ball! Key votes this week in House committees

"We need to start thinking about democracy beyond elections"

Compromise may boost support of redistricting bill

Will GOP minority buy into redistricting compromise?

Redistricting bill goes to governor's desk; will he sign?

Legislature may weigh in on Citizens United

Several bills still in play as legislative session nears close

U.S. Supreme Court Kicks the Can to States on Gerrymandering

The Role of Bird Dogs in Democracy Reform and the NH Primary

Packing and Cracking Voting Districts

Governor Sununu Vetos Three Democracy Bills

20th Anniversary of Granny D's Walk

Veto of HB 706

HB 504 and the Call for a 28th Amendment

Governor Walker's Advice to Keep Gerrymandering to Gov. Sununu

20th for the 28th event and Upcoming Veto Override Votes

Attempt to Override Sununu Vetoes of Democracy Bills

Lack of Republican Votes Sinks Veto Override of HB 706 & Other Democracy Bills

Former FEC Chair Ann Ravel to Visit New Hampshire

Former FEC Chair discusses disfunction at the agency, what states can do to fix Democracy

Congressman John Delaney explains gerrymandering at Democracy Town Hall

Former Governor William Weld discusses solutions to Big Money campaign contributions

Marianne Williamson calls out "the corporate aristocracy" for hijacking our government