Open Democracy Minute Podcast Por Brian Beihl arte de portada

Open Democracy Minute

Open Democracy Minute

De: Brian Beihl
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The Open Democracy Minute is a weekly 90-second broadcast on democracy issues and legislation in New Hampshire, so voters can be better informed, and how to be civically engaged. Episodes back to 2019 can be found at https://www.opendemocracynh.org/od_minute As Granny D said, Democracy isn't something we HAVE, it's something we DO!Copyright 2025 Brian Beihl Ciencia Política Política y Gobierno
Episodios
  • Episode 32767: American Democracy Minute for March 14, 2022

    Episode 32767: American Democracy Minute for March 14, 2022
    Mar 14 2022
    You're listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping our government by and for the people. After months of promising an open and fair process, the NH Senate Election Law Committee voted last Monday to recommend two rigged voting districts for U.S. Congress and NH Executive Council to the full Senate. The NH Senate will vote on the gerrymandered maps on Thursday, March 17. Amendments to these maps have been rumored for months, but Republican party hardliners pressured the Election Law Committee to make no changes, despite almost universal condemnation in hearings in the NH House and Senate committees. The Congressional map gerrymanders to make both districts uncompetitive, guaranteeing the outcome of the election. The Executive Council map is a repeat of the 2010 “Dragon District,” which packs liberal-leaning towns into District 2, leaving adjoining districts more conservative. While Governor Chris Sununu has made statements asking for a redrawing of the maps, there is no evidence that the Governor's office has made counter proposals. It looks increasingly as if his comments were orchestrated for political cover rather than protection on the voters.  Whether floor amendments will be proposed Thursday is an open question. If the maps are approved, they head to Governor Sununu's desk.  Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO.”  For the American Democracy Minute, I'm  Brian Beihl. 
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    2 m
  • Episode 32767: Open Democracy Minute for February 28, 2022: A Light Week in the NH Legislature, but a Heavy Topic - Provisional Ballots

    Episode 32767: Open Democracy Minute for February 28, 2022: A Light Week in the NH Legislature, but a Heavy Topic - Provisional Ballots
    Feb 27 2022
    You're listening to the Open Democracy Minute, keeping Granite State government by and for the people.   It will be a light schedule in the NH Legislature this week, but we have a heavy topic to discuss:  “Provisional Ballots”. Senate Bill 418 had a hearing a few weeks ago and is coming up for a committee vote on March 7.   One of many “Stop the Steal” Big Lie bills this term, SB 418 aims to do away with New Hampshire’s system allowing a voter who doesn’t have all the necessary domicile documents or acceptable ID to sign a “Qualified Voter Affidavit,” vote, and have that vote count.   Doing so means you are subject to investigation by the Attorney General’s office, and potential fines or imprisonment if you lie.   SB 418 throws that system out, requiring any voter without those documents to fill out a “provision ballot” which does NOT count, unless you return within 14 days, incidentally after most elections have been called.  It also makes the ballot a different color and numbers it, ending the anonymity of the ballot.  AND, all voters who register same day, which in 2020 was just over 99,000 Granite Staters, would be subject to the same rule, as the town or city clerk verifies the registration information after the fact.   What’s this all about?   Who would keep 20% of voters from voting?   This voter suppression tactic targets young voters, particularly college students, to keep them from exercising their freedom to vote. NH Senators’ phone numbers can be found at the NH General Court website at gencourt.state.nh.us/ As Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO.”  For the Open Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.
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    2 m
  • Episode 32767: Open Democracy Minute for February 21, 2022: Gerrymandered NH House, Senate maps move forward; rigged Congressional, Exec. Council delayed until March

    Episode 32767: Open Democracy Minute for February 21, 2022: Gerrymandered NH House, Senate maps move forward; rigged Congressional, Exec. Council delayed until March
    Feb 21 2022
    You're listening to the Open Democracy Minute, keeping Granite State government by and for the people.   We billed last week’s report as a “reckoning” for NH Redistricting, which turned out to be only partially true.  February 14, as expected, the majority in NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs committee did approve a modestly amended NH House redistricting map which denied 54 towns their own House districts, and a rigged NH Senate map proposal which locks in 15 to 16 majority seats – a veto-proof majority in a very purple state.  Then on February 16, the full NH Senate adopted both the maps, with the House maps returning to the House for a “concur” vote at the next full House session, and the NH Senate maps headed to a NH House Election Law committee which unlikely to find its moral compass. We HAD expected action on the Executive Council and Congressional maps, but the latest would indicate we won’t see any further action in the NH Senate until March.   Governor Chris Sununu has made statements that he would like both heavily gerrymandered maps changed.   Others in his party are urging the Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs committee to make no changes and keep the rigged districts. Voters, despite hundreds testifying against the maps, have so far been ignored. As Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO.”  For the Open Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.
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    2 m
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