All posts by Spencer Overton

“Federal judge suspends new Minnesota campaign finance law set to take effect Jan. 1”

December 22, 2023, 7:10 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

From the Minnesota Reformer: A federal judge halted a campaign finance law that aimed to curtail political contributions from corporations with at least some degree of foreign ownership. U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday,… Continue reading

“NYCCFB Appoints Paul S. Ryan as Agency’s New Executive Director”

December 22, 2023, 7:07 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

Congrats to Paul Seamus Ryan! From the NYC Campaign Finance Board: December 20, 2023 – The New York City Campaign Finance Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Seamus Ryan as the next Executive Director of the… Continue reading

“Disqualifying Trump may be legally sound but fraught for democracy, scholars say”

December 22, 2023, 6:48 amUncategorizeddisqualification, Section 3Spencer Overton

Washington Post: After warning for years that Donald Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy, two constitutional scholars proposed a possible solution over the summer to keep him from regaining power: Trump, they argued, could be banned from… Continue reading

“Trump recorded pressuring Wayne County canvassers not to certify 2020 vote”

December 21, 2023, 6:39 pmUncategorized2020 Election CycleSpencer Overton

Detroit News: Then-President Donald Trump personally pressured two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to sign the certification of the 2020 presidential election, according to recordings reviewed by The Detroit News and revealed publicly for… Continue reading

“Federal judges order 13 Michigan House and Senate districts redrawn”

December 21, 2023, 6:29 pmUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Opinion here, and excerpt below from the Detroit News: Lansing — Federal judges have declared 13 of Michigan’s House and Senate districts unconstitutional and ordered them redrawn, overturning a key portion of the maps drawn in 2021 by Michigan’s… Continue reading

“The List: What’s in & out for election administration in 2024”

December 21, 2023, 5:53 pmUncategorizedSpencer Overton

From M. Mindy Moretti – go to electionline for the full list: You’ve waited all year for it, so without further ado, here is electionline Weekly’s annual list of what’s in and what’s out in election administration for 2024. .… Continue reading

“GOP voter-fraud crackdown overwhelmingly targets minorities, Democrats”

December 21, 2023, 5:32 pmUncategorizedElection IntegritySpencer Overton

Washington Post: As Donald Trump falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, Republicans in some states launched special units to prosecute voter fraud as part of a high-profile and controversial push to stamp out cheating some… Continue reading

“Judge pledges quick turnaround on Georgia redistricting maps”

December 21, 2023, 7:44 amUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: U.S. District Judge Steve Jones took nearly two years to issue his October order that struck down Georgia’s political maps. He’s working on a far tighter deadline to render his verdict on redrawn congressional and legislative maps.… Continue reading

Reform Roundup: PR, fusion, RCV & more

December 21, 2023, 7:42 amUncategorizedFusionSpencer Overton

Dan Balz in the Washington Post on expanding the U.S. House, multi-member districts and proportional representation, ranked-choice voting and open primaries, reforming the U.S. Senate, eliminating the electoral college, reforming the U.S. Supreme Court, voting rights, and bridging divisions and… Continue reading

“Judge denies Kari Lake’s request to dismiss defamation suit”

December 21, 2023, 7:40 amUncategorizedDefamationSpencer Overton

KPNX 12News: PHOENIX — A Maricopa County judge on Wednesday denied U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake’s motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by fellow Republican Stephen Richer, one of the county’s top elections officials. . . . The… Continue reading

“An Analysis of Statewide Election Recounts, 2000-2023”

December 21, 2023, 7:38 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

A new FairVote report: Recounts resulted in only three reversals, or one out of every 2,310 statewide elections. All three reversals occurred when the initial margin was less than 0.06% of all votes cast for the top two candidates… Continue reading

“Colorado Supreme Court justices face a flood of threats after disqualifying Trump from the ballot”

December 21, 2023, 7:37 amUncategorized14th Amendment, TrumpSpencer Overton

NBC News: In the 24 hours since the Colorado Supreme Court kicked former President Donald Trump off the state’s Republican primary ballot, social media outlets have been flooded with threats against the justices who ruled in the case, according… Continue reading

Luttig and Marcus on Colorado Decision

December 21, 2023, 7:36 amUncategorized14th AmendmentSpencer Overton

Conservative scholar Judge J. Michael Luttig on why the 14th Amendment requires Trump’s disqualification, and Ruth Marcus on why SCOTUS should “clear the way for Trump to run.”

“Supreme Court seems destined to play pivotal role in 2024 elections”

December 21, 2023, 7:35 amUncategorizedSCOTUS, TrumpSpencer Overton

Washington Post: The Supreme Court will be pressed to answer multiple questions crucial to next year’s presidential election, thrust into a pivotal role not seen since its 2000 decision that sealed the victory for President George W. Bush.