Democracy Dies in Dysfunction – The Nation
Californians wait to cast their ballots. (Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images)
Like many Americans, Joe Biden is skeptical about President Trumps respect for democracy. Mark my words: I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it cant be held, Biden said at an online fundraiser in late April. Hes right to worry but wrong about how Trumps inclination toward voter suppression will manifest itself this fall. It would take an act of Congressincluding the Democratic-controlled Houseto upend the federal law that requires general elections be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.Ad Policy MORE FROM John Nichols
But that does not mean Trump wont try to mess with the elections, in which, polls suggest, he and Republican Senate candidates are now vulnerable. This president thrives on chaos and fear, and the Covid-19 pandemic has created plenty of both. The virus that led 16 states to postpone primaries this spring could resurface in time to disrupt the November elections. In many states, that disruption could depress turnouta prospect that seems to appeal to Trump, who recently complained that if voting was made easy, Youd never have a Republican elected in this country again. How far might Trump and his minions go? After Republicans blocked efforts to organize safe and fair Wisconsin elections on April7, state Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler warned of a GOP that remorselessly weaponizes courts, election laws, and the coronavirus itself to disenfranchise the voters who stand in its way.
Democrats can act now to avert chaotic, low-turnout fall elections. Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial candidate who now leads the voting rights group Fair Fight, says, No.1, we have to have vote-by-mail. Building on existing vote-by-mail and absentee ballot rules, she says, We simply have to scale it so that every state can execute it at the level necessary for a country in crisis, and that is doable. Abrams proposes a toolbox approach, in which states make voting by mail available to all, along with safer early and in-person voting. But the time to scale it up is running out, and hard-pressed state and local governments dont have the necessary resources. The National Vote at Home Institute calculates that 42 states would need infrastructural changes to make voting by mail a readily available option. Can we expand the vote-by-mail system? Absolutely, Amber McReynolds, the groups CEO told BuzzFeed News in April. But if this drags on for weeks and decisions are slow, its not possible.
To get the $4 billion the Brennan Center says states need to pay for equipment, postal fees, and necessary changes to guarantee safe and sanitary in-person voting, urgent federal action is required. Trumps resistance to funding the Postal Service and vote-by-mail initiatives can be overcome if congressional Democrats play hardball in stimulus negotiations. Democracy advocates must tell House Democrats that funding for safe and fair elections cannot be compromised away.Voting and Covid
Advocacy also has to ramp up in the states. On May 8, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that every registered voter in that state be mailed a ballot before the November elections. All other Democratic governors and sensible Republicans should be encouraged to do the same.
In states where Trump-aligned Republicans erect barriers to statewide action, theres a local option. Prodded by the Working Families Party and voting-rights advocates, the Milwaukee Common Council voted unanimously in late April to create a SafeVote program that will send absentee ballot applications and postage-paid return envelopes to roughly 300,000 registered voters in the city. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that nothing is truly certain at the moment, council member Marina Dimitrijevic told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but with SafeVote we can make certain that all registered voters in Milwaukee can easily apply for an absentee ballot for the historic and pivotal election this fall. That certainty must be demanded for all voters in all states this November.
Continue reading here:
Democracy Dies in Dysfunction - The Nation
- Harvards Fight Is a Defense of Democracy and Civic Virtue - Liberal Currents - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Members of Congress visiting ICE facilities are showing up for democracy - The Hill - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Irwin Cotler sounds alarm on erosion of Israels greatest protection its democracy - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Georgia: how democracy is being eroded fast as government shifts towards Russia - The Conversation - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- CONNECTIONS: We shouldn't be surprised that we still have to fight for democracy even after 249 years - The Berkshire Edge - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Depression Due to Politics: the Quiet Danger to Democracy - University of California, Merced - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democracy v. Plutocracy: Breaking Up is Hard to Do - KPFA - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Indefatigable leaders of Indivisible Sagadahoc fighting to save democracy - The Portland Press Herald - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- More on the Abrego Garcia Case: Some Good News for Democracy, Despite the Government's Best Efforts - Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- AI, Fair Use, and the Arsenal of Democracy - RealClearDefense - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Opinion - Members of Congress visiting ICE facilities are showing up for democracy - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Democracy isnt dying in darkness. Its being killed off in plain sight. - Inquirer.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Letters: Valuing democracy and a nation of laws - Westerly Sun - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- MK Gilad Kariv on the fight for democracy and Reform Judaism in wartime Israel - Haaretz - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Austin Sarat: In a democracy, protest is good for the soul, even if it does not change anyones mind - TribLIVE.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Coups in west Africa have five things in common: knowing what they are is key to defending democracy - The Conversation - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Aos Fatos turns ten in the trenches for democracy - Aos Fatos - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Lost Jefferson letter on arms and democracy resurfaces for Fourth of July sale - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- This July 4, Lets Resolve to Win an Actual Democracy - Jacobin - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?: James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglasss Historic Speech - Democracy Now! - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democracy on the brink? Nearly 3 in 4 Americans say yes - Salon.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- This Week in Democracy Week 24: Trump Goes From Islamophobic Attacks on Mamdani to Antisemitic Tropes About Bankers - Zeteo - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Faith, Democracy, and the Catholic Duty To Stay Involved - The Fulcrum - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Katie Drummond: Democracy in the US is under threat. And that threat is facilitated by technology and the makers of that technology - EL PAS English - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Hundreds attend pro-democracy rally on the Fourth of July in Sioux Falls - Argus Leader - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Activists sound alarm over US cuts to programs providing internet access and promoting democracy in Iran - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Explained: Where SCOTUS' Nationwide Injunctions Ruling Leaves the Cases Against Trump - Democracy Docket - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Secret to Saving Democracy in the US Is a New Kind of Civics Education - Common Dreams - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Vermont Representative Becca Balint convenes a panel to discuss democracy and the Constitution ahead of July 4 - WAMC - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Talking Europe - Access to documents is crucial for transparency and a strong democracy: EU Ombudswoman - France 24 - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Defend Democracy Against Bombardments on the Elections Front A Three-Part Series - The Fulcrum - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democracy in Dialogue project at BPL provides education and creative expression | The Hawk Eye - Burlington, Iowa - Daily Gate City - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Democracy Gave Us This. There Has To Be a Better Way. - The Nation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Hong Kongs light fades as another pro-democracy party folds - The Conversation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- How America forgot the best way to defend its democracy - vox.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democracy in action: Self-determination in William & Marys residence halls - W&M News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- What Democracy Promised Us and What We Got Instead - The Fulcrum - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- This July 4, the nations top trial lawyers warn of threats to democracy | Opinion - Bergen Record - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Is the growth of executive power a threat to constitutional democracy? - Brookings - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion: Lets look beyond the fireworks and recommit to democracy - Bangor Daily News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Capitalism and democracy are weakening reviving the idea of calling can help to repair them - The Conversation - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- DOJ Sides With Wyoming in Proof of Citizenship Voting Lawsuit - Democracy Docket - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Progress in key areas would benefit Trinidad and Tobago democracy, says Commonwealths final report on 2025 parliamentary elections -... - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Making Democracy Work: Having the right to choose with the Death with Dignity Act - TBR News Media - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Palestine Action isnt a danger to British democracy but this repressive government is | George Monbiot - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Not a Done Deal: After Senate Passes Big, Ugly Bill, Progressives Fight to Stop It in the House - Democracy Now! - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Koreas democracy and alliance with the U.S. are in good hands, not in peril - Washington Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- EU Should Act Against El Salvadors Dismantling of Democracy - Human Rights Watch - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Democracy's Discontent: Why Are We So Polarized, and What Can We Do About It? - Ideastream - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Another Tale of Two Uncle Sams: Mamdanis Unexpected Win and Hope for a Democratic Democracy - Counterpunch - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Tech Elites Takeover of Crypto is a Growing Threat to European Democracy - Tech Policy Press - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- We at Mountain Dew Would Like to Apologize for Our Role in the Destruction of American Democracy - McSweeneys Internet Tendency - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Descent into Kleptocracy: The Corruption of America and Trumps systematic looting of Democracy - Milwaukee Independent - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- On this July 4th, celebrate our democracy and tend toward the light | Column - Tampa Bay Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Election Matters 2025: Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States - WisconsinEye - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Make America Healthy Again report shows how AI can undermine the US Official Record, and democracy - LSE Blogs - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- New Lancaster Museum to Explore Reconstruction Era and the Fight for Democracy - WITF - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Institutions Protecting US Democracy Have Turned Into Traps - Bloomberg.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Dissatisfaction with democracy remains widespread in many nations - Pew Research Center - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: Most feel democracy is threatened and political violence is a major problem - NPR - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: What Americans think about the state of democracy and how Trump is doing - VPM - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The last Hong Kong pro-democracy party that held street protests disbands - CNN - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- They Demanded Democracy. Years Later, They Are Still Paying the Price. - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- New poll finds about three-quarters of Americans say democracy under threat : Trump's Terms - NPR - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Ford Foundation selects Yale dean and democracy scholar Heather Gerken to succeed Darren Walker - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Why democracy hinges on respect for the court and the rule of law - Deseret News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Bill Moyers journalism strengthened democracy by connecting Americans to ideas and each other, in a long and extraordinary career - The Conversation - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: What Americans think about the state of democracy and how Trump is doing - KUOW - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Damaging and Deadly Heat Domes Nearly Tripled, from Europe to the U.S.: Climatologist Michael Mann - Democracy Now! - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poorly led, strategically inept and shorn of democracy. Now I truly fear for this Labour government | John McDonnell - The Guardian - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- More Americans think the U.S. is in a constitutional crisis than think the U.S. is a democracy - YouGov - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Five years on, Hong Kongs national security law extinguishes last standing pro-democracy party - The Guardian - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Comprehensive Road Repairs Begin on Democracy Boulevard, Expected to Last 10-12 Weeks - The MoCo Show - - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- We the People includes all Americans but July 4 is a reminder that democracy remains a work in progress - WSOC TV - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Right to Democracy and the America the Beautiful for All Coalition Stand with American Samoa in Opposing Unilateral Proposals for Deep Seabed Mining -... - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- In-Depth Exploration of Participatory Democracy and Local Governance Practices in Spain - United Nations Development Programme - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Information overload: Can we keep our minds and our democracy? - Lowy Institute - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Democracy Forward Boosts Appellate Bench With Latest Hires - Law360 - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Tens of Thousands Flee Gaza City as Israel Issues New Forced Evacuation Orders - Democracy Now! - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Poll: What Americans think about the state of democracy and how Trump is doing - New Hampshire Public Radio - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]