“En Banc Court Hears First Amendment Challenge to Campaign Finance Restriction”

June 15, 2024, 7:44 amcampaign finance, election law and constitutional law, First Amendment theoryJustin Levitt

Trane Robinson reviews arguments in the Sixth Circuit’s National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC case, about limits on political party expenditures coordinated with particular candidates. It’s an issue that’s been in the deregulatory community’s sights for a while now, and… Continue reading

“Changes sought in Florida felon voting process”

June 15, 2024, 7:43 amelection administration, felon voting, political equalityJustin Levitt

Unfortunately, even the changes contemplated are small – modifications in how individuals with convictions can apply for an advisory opinion on whether they’ve managed to figure out how much they owe the state in fines and fees.

This Year’s Clearies

June 15, 2024, 7:42 amelection administrationJustin Levitt

Federal News Network has a feature on the EAC’s Clearinghouse awards from this past year, for innovation and best practices in election administration. It’s important to lift up successes and best practices – and there’s an impressive diversity of… Continue reading

Structural Reform of U.S. Elections: The Choice Between Instant Runoff (Hare) and Convergence (Condorcet) Voting [updated]

June 14, 2024, 10:23 amUncategorizedNed Foley

The Election Law team at Ohio State University is hosting a thought-provoking webinar on Wednesday, June 26, from 3-4 pm to discuss the possibilities of Structural Reform of U.S. Elections, with a focus on the nuanced differences two different electoral methods:… Continue reading

“The Stanford Internet Observatory is being dismantled”

June 14, 2024, 9:08 amcheap speech, First Amendment theoryJustin Levitt

Stanford disputes the characterization, but if this report is true, that’s a disturbing and unfortunate loss to the study of online communications ecosystems. UPDATE: Looks like there’s at least a radical downsizing. WaPo with more.

Citing First Amendment, Michigan Supreme Court narrows construction of voter intimidation statute after 2020 robocall prosecution

June 14, 2024, 8:10 amcampaigns, cheap speechDerek Muller

People v. Burkman and People v. Wohl, decided yesterday by the Michigan Supreme Court, a 5-2 decision. The majority narrowed construction of the statute and remanded for further consideration. The dissenting opinions, which concurred in part, would have held… Continue reading

“Georgia requires police training on election intimidation and interference”

June 14, 2024, 7:45 amelection subversion riskElection InterferenceJustin Levitt

The AJC says that this makes Georgia the first state in the country to train police in protections against election threats as part of the basic statewide training. Police response to alleged incidents of interference has to be reeeeeeeeeeeeally carefully… Continue reading

“Arizona lawmakers agree to let voters decide on retention rules for state Supreme Court justices”

June 14, 2024, 7:44 amdirect democracy, judicial elections, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

The ballot initiative – in the wake of controversy over the state Supreme Court ruling on abortion, affecting two Justices currently on the ballot in November — would apparently end terms for state justices and judges entirely.

“Attorney charged in voting machine tampering case announces run for Michigan Supreme Court”

June 14, 2024, 7:43 amelection subversion risk, judicial electionsJustin Levitt

Welp.

“Harlan Crow Provided Clarence Thomas at Least 3 Previously Undisclosed Private Jet Trips, Senate Probe Finds”

June 14, 2024, 7:42 amethics investigations, statutory interpretation, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

These flights were revealed by the Senate Judiciary Committee based on disclosure by Crow, not Justice Thomas. Justice Thomas has maintained (including in response to the latest) that he was told that these flights fall under an exception in… Continue reading

“Participation in Las Vegas city elections has nearly doubled since 2019 change”

June 14, 2024, 7:33 amelection administrationJustin Levitt

Moving municipal elections to even-numbered years matters.

“Texas election laws allow certain ballots to be traced back to voters, official says”

June 14, 2024, 7:32 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, voting technologypublic records lawsJustin Levitt

CBS report noting what purport to be decoded ballots of some prominent Texas officials, though I’m not sure whether the culprit is Texas “election laws” or the outer limits of the scope of public records responses. The controversy seems to… Continue reading