It has been a year since demonstrators stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to change the official outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and new data suggests threats of political violence are on the rise.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League said people in Wyoming and across the U.S. need to be paying attention and to stay engaged through voting, volunteering, attending school board and city council meetings in order to protect democracy, which he calls a contact sport.

"You can't watch it from the cheap seats; you've got to be on the field," Greenblatt asserted. "Not reading Facebook or liking a post on Instagram, and thinking you've somehow engaged in civic society. We need people to get off their phones and get into the world."

Researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies found incidents of domestic terrorism have increased dramatically since 2015, fueled mainly by white-supremacist, anti-Muslim and anti-government extremists.

A new Ipsos-NPR poll found nearly one in five Americans said political violence may be necessary, either to protect democracy or what they see as American culture and values.

Greenblatt's new book, "It Can Happen Here: Why America is Tipping From Hate to the Unthinkable - and How We Can Stop It," warned some democracies have dissolved in a storm of violence, but it can also happen through more subtle and insidious ways.

While the system seems to have survived last year's contested presidential election, Greenblatt sees worrisome indicators.

"The effort to pass laws that would obstruct the ability of people to vote and participate in our democratic process, that would gerrymander Congressional districts, to further increase polarization and tribalism," Greenblatt outlined.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe democracy is at risk of failing.

Greenblatt, the grandson of a Nazi Holocaust survivor, said policymakers can help by passing legislation protecting the right to vote. And he noted CEOs, faith leaders and everyday Americans also have a role to play.

"Number one, we all need to call out hate when it happens," Greenblatt urged. "We need to interrupt intolerance before it takes root, even when it originates on your team, or from your political group or from within your tribe."

Washingtonians will soon find it even easier to register to vote.

Passed this session, Senate Bill 5112 automatically makes people applying for enhanced driver's licenses eligible to vote.

Alex Alston, consultant for the Washington Voting Justice Coalition, said a number of communities in the state will benefit from the legislation.

"We know that Black and brown communities and folks with socio-economic barriers are often those who are left out of the system," Alston pointed out. "Moving towards a more automatic voter registration system is something that the state's been working towards."

While Washington has made it easy to vote in many respects, including with all-mail elections, lawmakers say nearly 1 million eligible Washingtonians are not registered. After registering them, the state will send a notice in the mail giving people the chance to opt out.

The measure only applies automatic voter registration to people who prove their U.S. citizenship. Alston noted it ensures people not eligible to vote are not inadvertently signed up.

"We don't want inadvertent mistakes that would have negative immigration consequences for someone or their families," Alston emphasized.

Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Nevada and Oregon have adopted similar automatic registration measures. The law goes into effect July 23.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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Local activists will rally in Boston Common tomorrow to urge Congress to lift the debt ceiling without cuts to social programs in return.

President Joe Biden has rejected a House bill which would have raised the debt limit but cut spending on programs Democrats deem vital to working families.

Debbie Paul, chairperson of the Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition, said lawmakers have a duty to raise the debt ceiling without restrictions.

"Negotiating on budget is done at budget time, not when it comes to raising the debt ceiling," Paul argued. "Because that applies to spending that has already been approved and monies that have been spent."

Paul added local activists will rally to support Massachusetts' Democrats, including Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., to resist what they call "extremist MAGA demands," which could send the U.S. into a historic default. Republicans say it is irresponsible to burden future generations with increasing amounts of debt.

House Republicans are seeking more work requirements for people who receive federal nutrition assistance and Medicaid benefits who do not have children, which they claim would help with the nation's worker shortage.

Paul countered those types of cuts would jeopardize some of the most vulnerable citizens in the Commonwealth.

"They want to do away with some more food subsidies for children," Paul pointed out. "They want to do away with energy assistance programs for the elderly."

Paul added the Indivisible Massachusetts Coalition would support President Biden using his constitutional authority to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling, which now stands at more than $31 trillion. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Congress needs to reach a deal by June 1 before the U.S. can no longer pay its bills.

Voter registration rates in the U.S. hit a record high in last year's midterm elections, according to the latest census data.

Registration rates rose to more than 69% of the citizen voting-age population, up more than 2% from the 2018 midterms.

Liz Tentarelli, president of the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, said research shows increasing political polarization leads to greater voter interest and turnout.

"If people get very dissatisfied with those who are in power or who are running for office they are much more likely to vote," Tentarelli explained.

Voter turnout in the 2022 midterms was down by more than 1% compared to the 2018 midterms. For those who were registered in 2022 but did not vote, the most common reason was "too busy" due to a "conflicting work or school schedule," which voting rights advocates say is even greater incentive to make Election Day a national holiday.

Voting advocates said getting eligible voters ages 18 to 29 to the polls remains the biggest challenge. In New Hampshire, eligible voters are required to register in-person at their town clerk's office or at the polls on Election Day.

Tentarelli acknowledged younger voters handle most of their business online and would prefer to register to vote online, too.

"So until we make that possible I think we're missing out on young people who care about the issues," Tentarelli noted.

Just 27% of voters ages 18 to 29 voted in last year's midterm, which was still the second-highest youth voter turnout rate in three decades. Tentarelli predicted even greater numbers of voters of all ages and from both parties will take part in the 2024 elections, even though the slate of candidates has yet to be determined.


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