All posts by Justin Levitt

“Who’s Behind Voting-Machine Makers? Money of Unclear Origins”

July 13, 2019, 12:06 pmelection administration, voting technologyJustin Levitt

More from the AP. The subhead: “North Carolina election officials are learning that private equity firms which don’t disclose whose money they’re investing hold major stakes in voting-machine makers.”

“Prosecutors unlikely to charge Trump Org executives, sources say”

July 13, 2019, 12:05 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

Reports from CNN and The Hill on potential campaign-finance charges against executives in the Trump Organization. FWIW, I fully believe that the sources are being accurately quoted, but I’m always pretty skeptical about underlying representations of whether prosecutions are or… Continue reading

Partisan Polarization: It’s _Less_ Bad Than We Thought?

July 13, 2019, 12:04 pmpolitical parties, political polarizationJustin Levitt

An intriguing new study finds substantial split-ticket voting for downballot incumbents.

“Annexed Boise Neighborhood Left Out of Voting Rolls For Almost Five Years”

July 13, 2019, 12:03 pmredistricting, votingJustin Levitt

Fixed now, but a helpful reminder that cities are organic, not static … and that it helps to let election offices know as they grow or shrink.

A fight over certifying referenda for signature-gathering

July 13, 2019, 12:03 pmballot access, petition signature gathering, referendumJustin Levitt

When partisan officials control the process for certifying summaries and titles for initiatives and referenda heading onto the ballot, there will be controversy along the way. This story is about alleged foot-dragging on beginning the petitioning process to validate a… Continue reading

“Libertarian, Green parties sue Texas over ballot requirements”

July 13, 2019, 12:02 pmballot access, political partiesJustin Levitt

From the Houston Chronicle.

Trump’s Executive Order on the Census

July 12, 2019, 10:59 amcensus litigation, chicaneryJustin Levitt

Hi. Please don’t consider this a preview for the coming week: most of the posts will be a lot shorter. I promise. Until yesterday, the official government reason for getting citizenship information in connection with the decennial census was the… Continue reading

No Census or redistricting cases from SCOTUS today

June 20, 2019, 7:45 amcensus litigation, redistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

Rick is otherwise engaged at the moment, so I thought I’d send word: four opinions from SCOTUS this morning, but not the Census or redistricting cases. More opinions coming at 10am ET tomorrow.

Proportionality and the Oral Arguments — Part II

March 27, 2019, 9:10 ampolitical parties, redistricting, Supreme Court, The Voting WarsJustin Levitt

Yesterday, Nick offered some thoughts on the arguments in the Rucho and Benisek partisan gerrymandering cases, and several Justices’ fixation on whether all of this litigation is just a Trojan horse for achieving proportional representation. Nick’s post highlights the fact… Continue reading

“New Yorkers frustrated with Democratic dominance push bill to slice up state”

March 9, 2019, 11:27 amUncategorizedJustin Levitt

One state, three governors, three legislatures.

“How the Daughters and Granddaughters of Former Slaves Secured Voting Rights for All”

March 9, 2019, 11:22 ampolitical equality, votingJustin Levitt

The Smithsonian lifts up African-American suffragettes.

“Dem long shots crash 2020 debate stage”

March 9, 2019, 11:21 ampolitical parties, primariesJustin Levitt

A Politico update on the impact of new rules for Democratic primary debates.

“Speaker Says Assembly No Longer Supports Public Campaign Financing, Downplays Other Reforms”

March 9, 2019, 11:21 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Democrats in New York state government back off of campaign finance reform now that they’re in power.

“Prison Gerrymandering Distorts Our Democracy in the Worst Ways”

March 9, 2019, 11:20 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

The Nation on the piece of HR 1 that would require the Census to count people who are incarcerated at their last known address. The Census Bureau requested comment on the issue several times in the last few years, but… Continue reading