All posts by Rick Hasen

“Harris Asked Voters to Protect Democracy. Here’s Why It Didn’t Land.”

November 7, 2024, 7:26 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: Her campaign pitch was moving, even high-minded. If Vice President Kamala Harris were elected to the White House, she would safeguard the ideals of a good nation. Voters had a choice, she said: democracy, constitutional rights and bedrock freedoms… Continue reading

“Jan. 6 riot defendants celebrate Trump’s election, angle for pardons”

November 7, 2024, 7:24 amchicanery, election subversion riskRick Hasen

WaPo: Some defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack reacted to Donald Trump’s election victory with elation Wednesday, as their defense lawyers began taking steps to delay trials or sentencesin ongoing cases in anticipation of presidential pardons… Continue reading

“Another 2024 election loser: Ranked choice voting”

November 7, 2024, 7:21 amalternative voting systemsRick Hasen

Politico: Voters in multiple states rejected structural changes to how they vote. More initiatives that could transform how voters vote were on ballots across the country than ever before. Many would have combined two proposals popular with reformers — an… Continue reading

“What to Know About Trump’s New York Criminal Case After the Election”

November 7, 2024, 7:04 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump was the one criminal case against the former president that actually went to trial. Now that Mr. Trump has reclaimed the presidency, it, too, is in jeopardy.… Continue reading

“Trump’s Victory Is a Major Win for Elon Musk and Big-Money Politics”

November 6, 2024, 2:44 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

NYT: His victory lap was the culmination of an effort that began only six months ago and depended on a risky gamble: Mr. Musk’s new super PAC effectively led Mr. Trump’s get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states — and Mr. Trump… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

November 6, 2024, 2:07 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Earlier today, I spoke with president-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power. A… Continue reading

“What Trump’s reelection means for his Fulton County criminal case”

November 6, 2024, 12:16 pmchicanery, election subversion riskRick Hasen

AJC: Donald Trump’s victory means he is likely to name a U.S. attorney general who will halt the two federal prosecutions he is facing. That means Fulton County’s election interference case could be the only criminal case left standing. And… Continue reading

“DOJ moving to wind down Trump criminal cases before he takes office”

November 6, 2024, 12:13 pmchicanery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NBC News: Justice Department officials have been evaluating how to wind down the two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office to comply with long-standing department policy that a sitting president can’t be prosecuted, two people… Continue reading

NPR Talks with Chris Krebs About Election Security in Yesterday’s Election

November 6, 2024, 9:20 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can listen here.

Trump Convincingly Wins Election, Harris Expected to Concede Later Today, and Peaceful Transition of Power Seems Assured for 2024; Broader Implications for American Democracy Less Certain

November 6, 2024, 7:28 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Despite some minor hiccups—and a series of Russia-originating bomb threats aimed at voters and government officials in swing states–the election yesterday went remarkably smoothly in most of the United States. Donald Trump won election handily to become the 47th… Continue reading

“Bomb threats sully otherwise uneventful voting across the country on Election Day”

November 5, 2024, 10:32 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Votebeat reports.

“The math is starting to look daunting for Harris in Pennsylvania”

November 5, 2024, 10:25 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

Politico: Fewer than 37,000 mail ballots are left to count in Philadelphia, the Democratic stronghold where Kamala Harris had hoped to run up the score and offset Donald Trump’s gains in other parts of the state. Trump is currently… Continue reading

Ranked Choice Voting Measures on Track to Lose in at Least Some States; Redistricting Reform Goes Down in Ohio

November 5, 2024, 9:58 pmalternative voting systems, redistrictingRick Hasen

Nick Stephanopoulos: Of the major democracy-related initiatives (not including AK & NV, where votes aren't in yet), only Maine's limit on Super PAC donations looks to be passing now. RCV is going down in AZ, CO, and ID, and… Continue reading

“Hoax bomb threats linked to Russia target polling places in battleground states, FBI says”

November 5, 2024, 4:32 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Reuters: Hoax bomb threats, many of which appeared to originate from Russian email domains, were directed at polling locations in four battleground states – Georgia, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin – as Election Day voting was underway, the FBI said on… Continue reading