All posts by Rick Hasen

“Republicans invoke ‘nuclear option’ in push to change Senate rules”

September 11, 2025, 3:29 pmlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

WaPo: Republicans moved Thursday to speed up Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominees by changing the chamber’s rules over the objections of Democrats. Senators voted 53-45 to allow themselves to change the rules with a simple majorityinstead of 60… Continue reading

““Modernizing Voter List Maintenance: An Evidence-Based Framework for Access and Integrity”

September 11, 2025, 3:23 pmvoter registrationRick Hasen

Michael Morse, Rachel Orey, and Joann Bautista have published a Bipartisan Policy Center report on list maintenance, based on Morse’s earlier article. Here’s an excerpt of the executive summary: Voter registration lists are widely regarded as the backbone of election… Continue reading

The Despicable Assassination of Charlie Kirk

September 10, 2025, 5:01 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Once again I condemn the use of political violence. It is equally repugnant when directed at liberals or conservatives, Democrats or Republicans, governors, presidents, or activists like Kirk. I have had to post sentiments like this far too often in… Continue reading

I Spoke to NPR’s Fresh Air: “An election law expert weighs in on Trump’s effort to reshape our democracy” (Link to Audio)

September 10, 2025, 10:58 amauthoritarian threats in US, election administration, election subversion riskRick Hasen

Had a great conversation with Tonya Mosley for NPR’s Fresh Air: “Before 2026’s midterms, President Trump wants to ban mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines, and change voting rules. Legal expert Richard Hasen discusses the future of free and fair… Continue reading

“Michigan dismissal highlights the challenges in prosecuting cases against Trump’s 2020 fake electors”

September 10, 2025, 7:43 amchicanery, election subversion risk, electoral collegeRick Hasen

AP: Before the abandoned federal attempt to prosecute Donald Trump for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, state and local prosecutors brought cases against his fake electors. The term referred to the people who, in several of the… Continue reading

“Why some longtime gerrymandering opponents are reconsidering their strategies”

September 9, 2025, 12:10 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Hansi Lo Wang for NPR.

“Trump Administration Quietly Seeks to Build National Voter Roll”

September 9, 2025, 6:50 amauthoritarian threats in US, election subversion riskRick Hasen

NYT: The Justice Department is compiling the largest set of national voter roll data it has ever collected, buttressing an effort by President Trump and his supporters to try to prove long-running, unsubstantiated claims that droves of undocumented immigrants have… Continue reading

“Democrats pick members for new GOP-led committee on Jan. 6 Capitol attack”

September 9, 2025, 6:46 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

WaPo: Democrats named the members of their caucus to serve on a new subcommittee reinvestigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — a Republican-led probe that threatens to reignite tensions over one of the most divisive… Continue reading

“White House may discuss mid-decade redistricting with Nebraska lawmakers this week”

September 9, 2025, 6:33 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Nebraska Examiner: A handful of Nebraska lawmakers are set to travel to Washington, D.C., this week for a “state leadership conference” at the White House’s invitation. But, if what happened with delegations from other states is an indication, another reason… Continue reading

“Missouri House Set to Vote on Map That Boosts Republicans”

September 9, 2025, 6:31 amredistrictingRick Hasen

NYT: The Missouri House of Representatives is poised to vote on Tuesday on new congressional boundaries that would create an additional Republican-leaning district, part of President Trump’s national push to redraw maps to favor his party ahead of the midterm… Continue reading

“Thune Moves to Speed Trump Nominees Past Democratic Blockade”

September 8, 2025, 8:49 pmlegislation and legislatures, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT: Republicans took the first step on Monday toward changing the Senate’s rules to speed the confirmations of Trump administration nominees being slowed by Democratic opposition, touching off the latest in a yearslong tit for tat between the two… Continue reading

Register for Free Sept. 16 Webinar from Safeguarding Democracy Project: “The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections”

September 8, 2025, 7:30 amauthoritarian threats in US, election administration, election subversion riskRick Hasen

The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections Tuesday, September 16, 12:15pm-1:15pm PT, Webinar Register here. Ben Haiman, UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice, Liz Howard, NYU Law Brennan Center for Justice, and Stephen Richer, Ash Center for Democratic Governance… Continue reading

“Russia Steps Up Disinformation Efforts as Trump Abandons Resistance”

September 7, 2025, 11:47 amcheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has dismantled the American government’s efforts to combat foreign disinformation. The problem is that Russia has not stopped spreading it. How much that matters can now be seen in… Continue reading

“Republicans brace for redistricting ‘catastrophe’ in California”

September 7, 2025, 11:43 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: Republicans wield almost no power in California. But as a moribund state party gathered here over the weekend, it confronted an even grimmer reality now suddenly settling in: If the state gerrymanders its congressional map, they’ll practically be… Continue reading