All posts by Derek Muller

In 6-1 decision, New York high court finds New York City’s non-citizen voting law violates state constitution

March 20, 2025, 7:17 amcourt decisions, votingDerek Muller

From the majority opinion in Fossella v. Adams: On December 9, 2021, the New York City Council passed a bill entitled “A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to allowing lawful permanent residents in… Continue reading

“Kansans to vote on constitutional amendment to directly elect state Supreme Court”

March 20, 2025, 5:35 amUncategorizedDerek Muller

Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas lawmakers voted to change how Kansas appoints its Supreme Court nominations from a commission-led process to direct elections. Currently, the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission provides the governor three potential judges, from which the governor selects.… Continue reading

Are at-large v. single member district elections affecting how Texas school boards behave?

March 20, 2025, 5:35 amalternative voting systems, redistrictingDerek Muller

Interesting piece at the Texas Tribune.

“California elections officials rejected 122,000 ballots in 2024 election. Here’s why”

March 20, 2025, 5:35 amabsentee ballots, election administrationDerek Muller

Nice look at the data in the Sacramento Bee.

“Georgia Supreme Court questions State Election Board on last-minute voting rule changes”

March 19, 2025, 1:39 pmelection administrationDerek Muller

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Georgia Supreme Court debated Wednesday whether the State Election Board went too far when it attempted to pass new voting rules weeks before last year’s election. The case tests whether the board’s right-wing majority had the… Continue reading

“Congressional watchdog office left powerless as House leaders have yet to fill board seats”

March 19, 2025, 1:38 pmethics investigationsDerek Muller

NBC News: House leaders have yet to appoint board members to an independent office designed to investigate ethics complaints against lawmakers and their staff members, leaving the entity powerless for the time being and sparking concerns among outside watchdogs.… Continue reading

9th Circuit will go en banc to reconsider Arizona voter registration decision

March 19, 2025, 3:01 amcourt decisions, voter registrationDerek Muller

Back in September, I noted the sharply divided panel decision in Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans v. Mayes on whether the plaintiffs had standing to challenge parts of an Arizona voter registration law. The majority concluded that the plaintiff… Continue reading

“Judge tosses challenge to Georgia GOP election law changes made after 2020 election”

March 19, 2025, 2:58 amcourt decisions, election administrationDerek Muller

Courthouse News Service: A Georgia federal judge dismissed on Tuesday a challenge to provisions of a controversial GOP-sponsored election law that went into effect soon after the 2020 election, where President Donald Trump lost the state but disputed otherwise.… Continue reading

“Georgia Supreme Court reviews overturned State Election Board vote-counting rules”

March 19, 2025, 2:58 amelection administrationDerek Muller

Mark Niesse at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The battle over Georgia’s election rules reaches the state Supreme Court on Wednesday where the court will consider whether the State Election Board went too far last year. The case tests whether the… Continue reading

“DC Prosecutor Ed Martin Opens Election Accountability Unit”

March 18, 2025, 1:33 pmDepartment of JusticeDerek Muller

From Bloomberg Law: Washington’s top prosecutor, who has amplified false claims of election fraud, said he’s formed a special unit to uphold US election laws that has already started one investigation. Acting US Attorney Ed Martin announced the new… Continue reading

“Kansans intrigued by potential of bringing voters together with multi-party candidate nominations”

March 18, 2025, 1:33 pmballot accessDerek Muller

A look at fusion reform efforts in Kansas from the Kansas Reflector.

Federal court finds several Texas election provisions from SB1 in 2021 run afoul of federal statutes

March 18, 2025, 1:33 pmabsentee ballots, court decisions, voter registrationDerek Muller

A long opinion from the district court in La Unión Del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott is here. Several portions of SB1 relating to mail-in voting and voter assistance were found to violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and the… Continue reading

Federal court finds Ohio’s “fair and truthful” review of ballot initiatives runs afoul of Anderson-Burdick

March 18, 2025, 8:05 amvoter initiativesDerek Muller

Decision in Brown v. Yost, stayed pending appeal to the Sixth Circuit: Citizens of Ohio have the power to amend the state constitution. Proponents of an amendment must follow a process that culminates in their proposal being placed on… Continue reading

“Redondo Beach elects new leaders — and makes history with ranked choice voting”

March 18, 2025, 8:05 amalternative voting systems, election administrationDerek Muller

Interesting dive into the election here at the LAist: Results are in from this month’s Redondo Beach election. The South Bay city elected a mayor and other representatives — and pulled off an experiment in ranked-choice voting. Major indicators… Continue reading

Election Law Blog

The law of politics and the politics of law