elections

Vote sign in a window with masked man looking at it in reflection

US could stand to dial down democracy, says economist

When it comes to democracy, less may be more.

US could stand to dial down democracy, says economist
A small crowd of people are shown examining green ballots next to rows of boxes.

Main opposition party against mining wins Greenland election

Main opposition party against mining wins Greenland election
People take photos with there phones of man standing in middle of a crowd

In the diaspora, Colombia’s presidential election is as much about the past as the future

In the diaspora, Colombia’s presidential election is as much about the past as the future
Maddie on left leans on Wilmot

The new mayor of Helena, Montana, has made history — and now just wants to get to work

The new mayor of Helena, Montana, has made history — and now just wants to get to work
People wait to vote during the presidential election at a polling station of Duport Road in Monrovia, Liberia, Oct. 10, 2017.

Former warlords are among the Liberians vying to be the next head of state

Former warlords are among the Liberians vying to be the next head of state
Protesters in Prague show symbolic red cards to Czech President Milos Zeman on the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in 2014.

Things just got shaky for the last liberal democracy in Central Europe

For the last few years, the Czech Republic has been viewed as the last bastion of liberal democracy in Central Europe. That could soon change.

Things just got shaky for the last liberal democracy in Central Europe
new office for the American Institute of Taiwan

Why Trump's call with Taiwan's president upsets a carefully balanced fiction

The US, China and Taiwan have all signed onto a fiction — that Taiwan and China are one and the same government. Of course, the US doesn't completely go along with that, but for official purposes, it's been a useful lie for decades.

Why Trump's call with Taiwan's president upsets a carefully balanced fiction
Man posing for camera, wearing suit

I know you voted for Trump for a better future. But please don’t forget my future.

Luis Mancheno disagrees with Trump’s positions on almost everything, and he hopes his fellow Americans won’t leave him behind.

I know you voted for Trump for a better future. But please don’t forget my future.
The entrance of the Icelandic Pirate Party headquarters

Pirates in Iceland are on the verge of gaining real political power

In elections this weekend, Iceland's Pirate Party is expected to win big — perhaps enough to becoming the country's ruling party.

Pirates in Iceland are on the verge of gaining real political power
People line up in front of a bulding

Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II could still vote, kind of

States were left to design a system for massive civilian absentee voting. And in a hodgepodge of rules and regulations, people held in camps were effectively disenfranchised.

Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II could still vote, kind of
The White House

5 challenges facing the next president — whoever it is

Some of the problems that will have to be solved by the next president will require innovation and ingenuity.

5 challenges facing the next president — whoever it is
Three women protesting, with t-shirts and signs

Latinos in Arizona are helping make it a swing state — but not just because of Trump

A history of tough-on-immigration policies have galvanized Latinos in the state for years. And now they're registering to vote in big numbers.

Latinos in Arizona are helping make it a swing state — but not just because of Trump
Amid evidence of widespread fraud during Russia's 2011 parliamentary elections, thousands took to the streets to protest. The Kremlin has since learned its lesson, say analysts.

Putin's Russia promises its fairest elections now that it's largely dismantled the opposition

Russia's opposition likens itself to Michael Phelps facing an extreme challenge. "If you have a champion swimmer, and you fill up the pool with acid, he won't be able to swim. But it doesn't mean he's a weak swimmer."

Putin's Russia promises its fairest elections now that it's largely dismantled the opposition
An HB2 headline in the Raleigh News and Observer.

North Carolina's governor says 'basic etiquette' is behind the state's bathroom bill. Not so fast.

The Civilist host Steven Petrow is an expert on etiquette — and he can't find anything in etiquette rules that supports HB2.

North Carolina's governor says 'basic etiquette' is behind the state's bathroom bill. Not so fast.
Sen. Strom Thurmond

The filibuster that tried and failed to stop the advancement of equality, 59 years ago today

At precisely 8:54 p.m. on August 28, 1957, Senator Thurmond began the longest continuous filibuster in US history. A final stand against a tide of history that was overwhelming the forces of racism and white supremacy that dominated the South and Southern lawmakers in Congress.

The filibuster that tried and failed to stop the advancement of equality, 59 years ago today