Last month, End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund released their state democracy scorecard, grading the health of democracy in all fifty states.
A national report from El Tiempo Latino outlined that the scorecard showed there are threats to our democracy across the nation, at both the state and federal level. It explained how this November’s midterms will be crucial to protecting our democracy and the voice and vote of every American.
See below for an English translation of the El Tiempo Latino article. You can read the original Spanish version here.
Newspapers in: Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and Colorado also took a look at their states rated in the scorecard.
The organization End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund published a comparative study at the state level that provided a general evaluation of the health of democracy in the 50 states.
They analyzed three areas of good government to make the ranking: an evaluation of voting laws and access to the polls in every state, the campaign finance and anti-corruption laws, and the protections against practices of subverting democracy.
El Tiempo Latino: Is Democracy Equal Across the U.S.? Study Reveals Which States Are the Top Performers
Staff
10/06/22
The fundamental principle of democracy in the United States is at risk. This is what a study by End Citizens United affirmed, a group whose aim is to protect the right to vote. With the midterms just around the corner, the organization lamented the threats of attacks and sabotage in the November 8 elections.
In addition, it revealed in its study the democratic health of each state in the country, with grades that, according to its team, show two realities: one in which the right to vote is respected from start to finish, while on the other side there is a constant danger to voters.
Recurring Problems
End Citizens United highlights how states across the country have enacted a total of 72 bills restricting voter access or electoral administration since last year.
From Congress, the organization reported that lawmakers are using partisan measures to dilute the power of a certain group of voters, particularly affecting demographics such as African Americans.
Meanwhile, election administrators and poll workers are being threatened with violence, harassment, and firings for simply doing their jobs. It is even estimated that the midterms will see fewer and fewer poll workers compared to past elections.
Grades
Taking into account aspects such as automatic voter registration, identity verification of registrants, recent legislation in favor or against access to vote, and the process of auditing votes, among other issues, the group drew up a list in which it revealed which entities are the most reliable and defend their voters, as well as those that do not.
With A as the top grade and F as a reference for the worst, this is the End Citizens United tally:
1. Colorado – A
2. Washington – A
3. Maine – A
4. California – A
5. Hawaii – A
6. Connecticut – A
7. New Jersey – A
8. Nevada – A
9. Massachusetts – A
10. Maryland – A
11. Vermont – B
12. Rhode Island – B
13. Oregon – B
14. Alaska – B
15. Minnesota – B
16. Michigan – B
17. Delaware – B
18. Virginia – B
19. Illinois – B
20. New York – B
21. New Mexico – C
22. Montana – C
23. West Virginia – C
24. Pennsylvania – C
25. Ohio – C
26. North Carolina – C
27. North Dakota – C
28. Wisconsin – C
29. Nebraska – C
30. Utah – C
31. Iowa – D
32. Arizona – D
33. Idaho – D
34. Florida – D
35. South Carolina – D
36. Missouri – D
37. Kentucky – D
38. Wyoming – D
39. Louisiana – D
40. New Hampshire – D
41. Arkansas – F
42. Tennessee – F
43. Kansas – F
44. South Dakota – F
45. Texas – F
46. Indiana – F
47. Georgia – F
48. Oklahoma – F
49. Mississippi – F
50. Alabama – F
Inequalities as seen by experts
Tiffany Muller, president of ECU/LAV Action Fund, explained after the report was released that “this new report shows that our democracy is not equal. In reality, voters’ power at the ballot box depends on the state in which they live.”
“While lawmakers in several states are working to establish barriers to voting access, others have expanded options. Some states are taking steps to protect their elections against attempts to undermine or overturn the results, while others are not doing enough to protect the rights and wishes of their voters,” the expert added.
“Our hope is that this report will serve to provide information to voters about the potential consequences of the upcoming midterm elections and motivate them to ask their candidates and elected officials to strengthen democracy for all,” she continued.
What is at stake
The report comes out just one month before the midterm elections, a process that – among other offices – determines the balance of power in Congress for the next two years.
The party with the largest number of officers in either chamber will be able to decide what passes or does not pass, while the other side will have to work to reach bipartisan agreements on behalf of their bills.
In addition to the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for election. Governors will also be elected in 36 of the 50 states.
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