All posts by Rick Hasen

“Despite protestations, prosecution of Donald Trump for violating federal election law well-grounded: Mark R. Brown”

September 4, 2024, 9:16 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cleveland.com oped: [Brad] Smith’s points are misleading, confusing and often incorrect. The FECA places limits ($2,700 in 2016) on how much individuals may legally contribute to federal campaigns, and Cohen’s payment of $130,000 to Daniels plainly exceeded this limit.… Continue reading

“A Democracy With Everything but a Choice; A new analysis of American elections finds that in half of all races for partisan offices, a candidate runs unopposed. Democrats are the biggest no-shows.”

September 4, 2024, 7:43 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Michael Wines for the NYT.

“Here’s why many election experts aren’t freaking out about certification this year”

September 4, 2024, 7:40 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Miles Parks for NPR: Across the country, dozens of local officials this year are tasked with some role in certification who have shown an openness to refusing to do so, based on disproven or unsubstantiated election conspiracy theories, according to… Continue reading

“What Would Stop the Steal 2.0 Look Like?”

September 4, 2024, 7:38 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

The Dispatch: Much has been done to strengthen the federal law governing the counting of Electoral College votes in Congress to prevent the chaos that occurred on January 6, 2021 (more on that below). But intense post-election chaos could… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Nate Persily: “Election Administration and the Right to Vote” (in Zelizer/Greenberg Volume)

September 4, 2024, 7:00 amELB Book Corner, election administrationRick Hasen

I am very pleased to welcome to ELB Book Corner three contributors to the edited volume, Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue (Julian E. Zelizer & Karen J. Greenberg eds. NYU Press 2024). The second… Continue reading

“RFK Jr. must remain on the Michigan ballot, judge says”

September 3, 2024, 3:08 pmballot accessRick Hasen

AP: A Michigan judge ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must remain on the November presidential ballot, dealing a blow to his crusade to strategically remove his ticket from the battleground state. Kennedy suspended his campaign and endorsed former … Continue reading

“Don’t Trust the Election Forecasts” — Must-Read Justin Grimmer

September 3, 2024, 8:06 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Justin Grimmer for Politico Mag: I’m a political scientist who develops and applies machine learning methods, like forecasts, to political problems. The truth is we don’t have nearly enough data to know whether these models are any good at… Continue reading

My Take Over the Labor Day Weekend in the Wall St. Journal on the Chances of a Subverted Presidential Election in 2024: We Are In Better Shape Than 2020 But Vigilance is the Watchword

September 3, 2024, 7:16 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Here’s a gift link to the article.

ELB Book Corner: Lindsay Langholz: “The Electoral Count: New and Improved” (in Zelizer/Greenberg Volume)

September 3, 2024, 6:56 amELB Book Corner, election subversion riskRick Hasen

“Democrats grow concerned Republicans are planting seeds with legal suits to overturn a Trump defeat”

September 3, 2024, 6:55 amelection subversion risk, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Peter Nicholas for NBC News: Republicans are setting off a slew of legal fights in the battleground states ahead of the November election, raising suspicions among Kamala Harris and her Democratic allies that the underlying goal is to gin up… Continue reading

“Convicted fraudsters launch AI lobbying firm using fake names”

September 3, 2024, 6:48 amchicanery, lobbyingRick Hasen

Politico: A Washington startup pitched as a service to integrate AI into lobbying is covertly run by a pair of well-known, far-right conspiracy theorists and convicted felons who are using pseudonyms in their new business, according to four former employees… Continue reading

“They didn’t submit a photocopy that wasn’t required; Why abortion won’t be on the Arkansas ballot in November”

September 3, 2024, 6:43 amballot access, chicanery, direct democracyRick Hasen

I missed this from Adam Unikowsky back on Aug. 25: On August 22, 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court held, by a 4-3 vote, that an abortion-rights ballot initiative would not appear on the 2024 ballot. Why? It’s a confusing… Continue reading

“Beijing-Backed Trolls Target U.S. Voters as Election Nears”

September 3, 2024, 6:40 amcheap speechRick Hasen

WSJ: Chinese government-backed trolls are targeting U.S. voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election, assuming fake identities of politically engaged voters on social media to promote divisive narratives around issues including gun control, racial inequality and the Israel-Hamas war, according… Continue reading

Election Law Blog

The law of politics and the politics of law