Eight O’Clock host Brian Standing talks with Jeanne Massey, Executive Director of FairVote Minnesota. For over a decade, FairVote Minnesota has championed ranked-choice voting as a way to improve elections and governance statewide. Ranked-choice voting is already in place in a dozen cities in the United States, helping to elect innovative new mayors like Betsy […]
Ranked-Choice Voting Passes in Maine
Maine has been a leader in clean elections since the late 1990s. Now, Mainers are leading again by passing a cutting-edge reform in the voting process itself: Ranked choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting. Passed by referendum in November, Maine’s ranked choice voting will apply to races for Congress, Governor, and State Legislature but […]
Voting Update with the League of Women Voters
On today’s A Public Affair, Patty Peltekos discusses Wisconsin voting issues with Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, and Erin Grunze, education director of the organization. Wisconsin’s partisan primary election is next Tuesday, August 9th. Dane County voters will select the candidates for U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state representative, and at the county level, […]
Changes to Wisconsin voting laws will affect November election
The fall primary election for the city of Madison is just around the corner. What’s the current status of voting laws and regulations in Wisconsin? On July 28th, Molly Stentz spoke with City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl and Mike Haas, Administrator of the new Wisconsin Elections Commission. Come November, Wisconsin voters without an ID will have […]
The Secular Voter
What’s the fastest growing religious demographic in the United States? Not sure? OK, let’s try another. As of 2014, evangelist Protestants were the largest major religious group in the U.S. What group was second? Well, the answer to both questions is “no religion at all.” According to a November 2015 Pew Research survey, when asked what religion they followed, 23% of the respondents answered “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular.” That’s up from 16% just seven years ago, and represents 55 million Americans nationwide. That’s more than those who identify as traditional Protestant denominations or as Catholics.
While most politicians still seem blind to this growing demographic, Madison’s Freedom from Religion Foundation has taken note. Through its new “I’m Secular and I Vote” campaign, the foundation hopes to forge those unbelievers and freethinkers into a powerful lobby. Annie Laurie Gaylor founded the Freedom from Religion Foundation in 1978, and is the foundation’s current co-president.
Annie spoke with host Brian Standing about the Foundation’s work.
Community Shares Change-Maker Award Winners!
Community Shares of Wisconsin presents its Award Winners on the Access Hour! This year’s Community Change-Maker Award Winners are: – M Adams from Freedom Inc. M is a community organizer, a movement builder, and a mentor for emerging young leaders – Melanie Ramey from League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Voting rights are Melanie’s passion: […]