The program for the 2017 Annual Meeting in San Francisco will be entitled “Lessons from the 2016 Elections (and Implications for the Future).” Here’s the description and call.

With Donald Trump’s unorthodox, and ultimately successful, campaign for the Republican Party nomination, Bernie Sanders’ insurgent presidential campaign and challenge to the Democratic Party establishment, and Hillary Clinton’s history-making turn as the first-ever female major-party nominee, the 2016 election season has been akin to the old Disneyland attraction Mister Toad’s Wild Ride.  As usual, election law played an important and defining role in an otherwise revolutionary and groundbreaking election season.  The 2016 election cycle dealt with a number of issues, including the prospect of denying votes to 17-year-olds in Ohio; challenges to Ted Cruz’s eligibility to be president; voter identification litigation (seemingly everywhere); controversy over re-enfranching ex-felons in Virginia; and the legality of ballot selfies in New Hampshire.  This campaign season also saw the emergence of several intriguing campaign finance issues including Jeb Bush’s $100 million implosion; Bernie Sanders’ significant gains among small donors as compared to the 2008 and 2012 election cycles; and Donald Trump’s self-funding in the primaries. Panelists will discuss a bevy of issues related to the 2016 elections, tell us what we’ve learned, and enlighten us on what it might mean for the future of the field.

 One panelist will be chosen from a Call for Papers.

 Confirmed panelists include Guy-Uriel Charles (Duke), Heather Gerken (Yale), Derek Muller (Pepperdine), Spencer Overton (George Washington), and Franita Tolson (Florida State).  We are looking for one additional panelist to join this distinguished group.

 The program will take place on Thursday, January 5, from 8:30 -10:15 am.

 Please submit an abstract or draft paper to Section Chair Mike Pitts at [email protected]. The deadline is September 1, 2016.