All posts by Rick Hasen

“Supreme Court denies Republicans’ effort to stop California redistricting . . . for now”

August 21, 2025, 7:29 amdirect democracyRick Hasen

David Ettinger: This afternoon, the Supreme Court denied the original writ petition — filed Monday (see here) — by four Republican state legislators seeking to prevent the super-majority Democratic Legislature from enacting bills that would allow for the… Continue reading

“Mississippi Supreme Court election map dilutes Black voters’ power, judge rules”

August 20, 2025, 4:37 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Reuters: A federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its election map used in voting for state supreme court justices after finding the current one dilutes the power of Black voters in violation of a landmark federal voting rights law.… Continue reading

“Voting officials are leaving their jobs at the highest rate in decades”

August 20, 2025, 3:54 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

NPR: Turnover among the country’s election officials has continued to increase — now nearly five years after Donald Trump’s failed attempt to overturn the 2020 contest led to voting officials facing more pressure and harassment. Some 2 in 5 of… Continue reading

My New One in the NY Times on How States, Courts, and the Public Can Combat the Risk Trump Poses to the 2026 Midterm Elections

August 20, 2025, 7:42 amauthoritarian threats in US, election subversion riskRick Hasen

I have written this guest essay for the NY Times (free gift link). It begins: With Republicans potentially losing their current seven-vote majority in the House in next year’s midterm elections (or, less likely, their six-vote majority in the Senate),… Continue reading

“Texas House to take up GOP congressional map delayed by Democrats’ walkout”

August 20, 2025, 7:37 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: The Republican-led Texas House on Wednesday was set to advance a new congressional map crafted to hand five additional U.S. House seats to the GOP over fierce opposition from Democrats, who cast the plan as an attempt by… Continue reading

“The Democratic Party Faces a Voter Registration Crisis”

August 20, 2025, 7:36 ampolitical partiesRick Hasen

NYT: The Democratic Party is hemorrhaging voters long before they even go to the polls. Of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party, Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one between the 2020 and 2024… Continue reading

“Elon Musk Pledged to Start a Political Party. He Is Already Pumping the Brakes.”

August 20, 2025, 7:33 amthird partiesRick Hasen

WSJ: The billionaire Elon Musk is quietly pumping the brakes on his plans to start a political party, according to people with knowledge of his plans. Musk has told allies that he wants to focus his attention on his companies… Continue reading

I Spoke to Mary Harris of Slate’s “What Next” About Trump and Mail-in Ballots

August 20, 2025, 7:30 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can listen here.

ELB Book Corner: Karen Sebold: “Make the Federal Election Commission Great Again”

August 20, 2025, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book Corner, federal election commissionRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome Karen Sebold to ELB Book Corner, writing about her new book, Evaluating Campaign Finance Oversight: An Assessment of the Federal Election Commission. (Use that link with code LXFANDF30 for a 30 percent discount). Here is… Continue reading

“Gavin Newsom wants an election in a hurry on his gerrymander. Here’s what has to happen”

August 19, 2025, 2:02 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Cal Matters dives in.

“Democratic Texas lawmaker passes 24-hour mark on state House floor after refusing GOP demand for law enforcement escort”

August 19, 2025, 1:44 pmchicanery, redistrictingRick Hasen

Insanity: Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier has now spent over 24 hours on the Texas House floor in protest after refusing a Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state Department of Public Safety. When Texas… Continue reading

“California Republicans File Suit Seeking to Block Newsom Redistricting Plan”

August 19, 2025, 11:07 amredistrictingRick Hasen

NYT: Republican lawmakers in California have filed a lawsuit asking the State Supreme Court to stop Democrats from moving ahead this week with a plan to redraw congressional districts. It was the latest move in an escalating national battle over… Continue reading

New Section 2 Lawsuit Filed in Montana

August 19, 2025, 7:31 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Release: On August 14, 2025, the Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and two Native voters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana challenging Chouteau County’s unfair, at-large voting system for… Continue reading

“Can Federalism Protect Subnational Liberal Democracy from Central Authoritarianism?”

August 19, 2025, 7:24 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Jim Gardner has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Liberal democracy is eroding rapidly around the globe, including in the United States, raising alarming questions about whether American democratic institutions will endure. Nevertheless, some have speculated that… Continue reading

Election Law Blog

The law of politics and the politics of law