All posts by Justin Levitt

“These Groups Offer to Secure the Next Elections From Hackers”

October 9, 2017, 5:25 pmchicanery, voting technologyJustin Levitt

Fortune has a different scoop from the same report: Ethical hackers will team up with U.S. governors, academics and others to help prevent election results from being hacked, according to a person familiar with the plan. The coalition’s members include… Continue reading

Putin pledges to prosecute vote violations

October 9, 2017, 5:24 pmchicaneryJustin Levitt

He’s looking carefully into Russian elections, at least.

“The future of gerrymandering”

October 9, 2017, 5:23 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Dan Tokaji and Michael Morley star in a National Constitution Center podcast. Michael’s also got a Prawfs piece up on the Congressional enforcement power that may follow from a holding in Gill.

“‘Partisan’ Gerrymandering Is Still About Race”

October 9, 2017, 5:23 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

The subhead from ProPublica: The Wisconsin case before the Supreme Court claims to be about partisanship. But race is a factor in this case and many others nationwide. A few briefs in Gill (including one on behalf of law … Continue reading

“Dear Supremes, Stay Out of the Gerrymandering Business”

October 9, 2017, 5:15 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Over at National Review, Jay Cost asks the Court to leave redress of gerrymandering to the political process. When the cause of action is a complaint that adherents of a plausible majority party have been intentionally and durably prevented… Continue reading

“Bannon expands his list of Senate Republican targets for 2018”

October 9, 2017, 5:14 pmcampaigns, political parties, primariesJustin Levitt

CNN covers the expanding GOP civil war.

“Democratic Senator Feinstein, 84, ‘all in’ on re-election”

October 9, 2017, 5:14 pmcampaignsJustin Levitt

Reuters: Feinstein is the oldest U.S. senator but among several octogenarians, including Republicans Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Richard Shelby, Jim Inhofe, Pat Roberts and John McCain.

“NDP announces B.C. referendum on proportional representation”

October 8, 2017, 2:32 pmalternative voting systemsJustin Levitt

From the CBC: Delivering on a promise to give British Columbians a choice in how future elections will be decided, Attorney General David Eby has announced plans for a referendum on proportional representation. “Today we have taken the first… Continue reading

Notorious RBG holds forth on partisan gerrymandering, among other things

October 8, 2017, 1:15 pmelection law "humor", redistrictingJustin Levitt

Or, at least, the Kate McKinnon SNL version did. “That’s not a district, that’s a tapeworm.” Looking forward to more Ginsburns in the future.

“The people paying for California political ads might be easier to identify under this new state law”

October 8, 2017, 1:14 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Governor Brown signed the California DISCLOSE Act yesterday, including provisions to specifically identify in ads the largest contributors to the entities producing them. (I’ve written about similar provisions, here.) Common Cause is pleased.

“Ranked-choice voting alters calculus in Minneapolis, St. Paul races”

October 8, 2017, 1:14 pmalternative voting systems, campaignsJustin Levitt

The Star-Tribune gives local flavor to the campaign incentives under ranked choice voting, with an intriguing contrast of races in which there’s an incumbent and races without.

“Facebook tells advertisers more scrutiny is coming”

October 8, 2017, 1:13 pmcampaignsJustin Levitt

Axios: Facebook is going to require ads that are targeted to people based on “politics, religion, ethnicity or social issues” to be manually reviewed before they go live, according to an email sent to advertisers and obtained by Axios.… Continue reading

NAACP sues Commerce Dept for 2020 Census records

October 8, 2017, 1:12 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Missed this on Thursday: The NAACP has filed a FOIA case to get records about preparations for the 2020 Census.

“In Manhattan, mayoral candidate only needs one vote”

October 8, 2017, 1:11 pmballot accessJustin Levitt

Fascinating. Under Montana law, if Clements had applied to be a formal candidate in the mayor’s race, all write-in names would have counted. But because he’s the only registered write-in candidate and no one is on the regular ballot,… Continue reading