All posts by Justin Levitt

“States don’t have enough money to secure the 2020 election, new report warns”

July 18, 2019, 11:23 amchicanery, election administration, voting technologyJustin Levitt

A WaPo article on a new Brennan Center report diving into how six states (Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania) used 2018 federal election security grants … and the need each has for much more.

2020 Presidential fundraising hits a new record

July 18, 2019, 11:23 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Campaign Finance Institute parses the 2Q returns.

“A ‘Train Wreck’ Was Averted at the Supreme Court, but for How Long?”

July 18, 2019, 11:22 amcensus litigation, election law and constitutional lawJustin Levitt

Linda Greenhouse on the rule of law’s near-miss in the census case, and its aftermath.

“The Citizenship Question Is Dead But The Fight Isn’t Over”

July 18, 2019, 11:22 amcensus litigation, redistrictingJustin Levitt

David Gans weighs in on the base for representation in redistricting. UPDATE: Keshia Morris does too.

The Citizenship Question Is Dead But The Fight Isn’t Over, Part II

July 18, 2019, 11:22 amcensus litigationJustin Levitt

HuffPost on complete count advocacy in hard-to-count communities And a piece from Minnesota on a complete count, but not an over-complete count, of snowbirds.

“Why Have Democrats Suddenly Become The Anti-Citizenship Party?”

July 18, 2019, 11:21 amcensus litigationJustin Levitt

Auguste Meyrat, in The Federalist, with a slightly different take on the census controversy.

“After census debacle, White House to knock out senior Commerce official”

July 18, 2019, 11:21 amcensus litigationJustin Levitt

Earl Comstock, top policy director over at Commerce, features heavily in the motion for sanctions over conduct in the litigation over the citizenship question on the census.

A preview of the points of redistricting flux in 2020

July 18, 2019, 11:21 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

With some fascinating data on the fastest shrinking, and fastest growing, place in every state.

“2020 Redistricting: An Early Look”

July 18, 2019, 11:21 ampolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Kyle Kondik reviews partisan control of the process for Rasmussen. I’ve got a summary of who’s in charge of what, with the partisan control as of today, right here for Congress and here for state legislatures.

California’s citizens redistricting commission

July 18, 2019, 11:20 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

The application process is underway, until August 9, with stats (including the mix of gender, region, ethnicity, and political affiliation) updated regularly here. As of last week, 5000 people have applied for 14 slots.

“Wisconsin bill to end partisan gerrymandering picks up Republican support”

July 18, 2019, 11:20 ampolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The bill to respond to partisan gerrymandering in the state gets some bipartisan support after Rucho. And Miles Rapoport reviews some of the efforts underway elsewhere.

“William Barr’s donations to Senate Republicans spiked just before they confirmed him as attorney general”

July 18, 2019, 11:19 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Interesting. And according to the story, unusual: Neither Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, nor Eric Holder—the three prior attorneys general—made payments to either party committees or senators ahead of confirmation hearings and votes. Holder gave $250 to the Democratic Senatorial… Continue reading

“Court documents show close contact between Cohen and Trump during hush-money arrangements”

July 18, 2019, 11:17 amcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

Unsealed copies of the Cohen search warrant materials were released today based on the close of the campaign finance investigation. Here’s the cover letter. Zoe Tillman’s got links to the docs. Phone records in the documents show Cohen… Continue reading