All posts by Justin Levitt

“Most Americans say no statehood for the District of Columbia, poll shows”

July 15, 2019, 10:56 ampolitical equalityJustin Levitt

The latest polling numbers in the fight for representation for DC residents. That’s consistent with past polls … which have also showed a majority favoring full voting rights for DC.

“With straight-ticket voting gone, Texas House down-ballot races hang in the balance”

July 15, 2019, 10:55 ampolitical parties, political polarizationJustin Levitt

Commentary on the impact of the demise of straight-ticket voting options in Texas.

Interesting suit against AZ initiative signature law

July 14, 2019, 12:52 pmballot access, direct democracy, recall elections, referendumJustin Levitt

Arizona law invalidates any signatures collected for a citizens’ initiative, referedum, or recall by a particular circulator, if the circulator is paid or from out of state, and if that circulator is subpoenaed in a challenge and can’t appear in… Continue reading

“What the French Revolution teaches us about the dangers of gerrymandering”

July 14, 2019, 11:07 ampolitical parties, political polarization, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Rebecca Spang with a Bastille Day connection to unabashed partisan redistricting.

“How white supremacy shaped the original census — centuries before the citizenship debate”

July 14, 2019, 11:07 amcensus litigation, political equalityJustin Levitt

The WaPo sees a through-line in debates about race and the census. Janai Nelson has a deeper look in the Columbia Law Review.

Citizenship data and the redistricting fight

July 14, 2019, 11:06 amcensus litigation, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The Nation picks up the redistricting thread.

“How Trump can mitigate the damage of folding on the census”

July 14, 2019, 11:06 amcensus litigation, chicaneryJustin Levitt

Hugh Hewitt’s op-ed suggests that the president should have refused to quit on the census case, and calls for a motion for reconsideration in the Supreme Court. For perspective, it also claims that “the Supreme Court sat on the decision… Continue reading

“If the Supreme Court Won’t Prevent Gerrymandering, Who Will?”

July 14, 2019, 11:05 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

Sam Wang in the NYT looks to the states.

“For Democratic presidential hopeful Steve Bullock, it’s all about the ‘dark money’”

July 14, 2019, 11:05 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Spotlight on Bullock’s spotlight on campaign finance and the Copper Kings.

“Taking political financing private may be legal, but looks wrong for Gillum”

July 14, 2019, 11:05 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

One Floridian commentator’s take on the flow of funds between PACs and c4s. FWIW, I’m not sure the particular objection highlighted here makes much sense. It protests the funding of a c4 from donations collected for a PAC, on the… Continue reading

“California lawmakers consider new rules for political ads”

July 14, 2019, 11:04 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The AP reports on new proposals for disclaimers on Facebook ads about pending legislation.

“W.Va. Secretary of State: Russians Meddled in Social Media, Not Voting Machines”

July 14, 2019, 11:04 amchicanery, voting technologyJustin Levitt

Mac Warner’s point is absolutely right: in 2016, the most meaningful system hacked was us. Humans were the most vulnerable link. And as for securing the non-human component, election officials know that there’s been an enormous amount of work done.