All posts by Justin Levitt

“What Is “Fusion Voting”? Just a Way to Save the Country, That’s All”

June 16, 2024, 7:42 amalternative voting systems, political polarization, primariesJustin Levitt

Dan Cantor and Bill Kristol ask: What in the world could possibly bring the two of us together? One of us is a slightly reformed Reaganite, the other a slightly chastened social democrat, each of us mugged by authoritarianism.… Continue reading

“Fulton election board puts limits on voter eligibility challenges”

June 15, 2024, 7:50 amelection administration, voter registrationvoter challengesJustin Levitt

Specifically, requiring substantial evidence of the basis for the challenge before effectuating the challenge, which strikes me as a very good thing. Here’s the current Fulton County page on voter challenges, and the video of the board meeting (… Continue reading

“States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure”

June 15, 2024, 7:47 amelection administrationfundingJustin Levitt

Yep. (More here, along similar lines.) It’s hard to plan, even harder to invest, if you don’t know when or whether the next infusion of life support is coming.

“Mini Madoff” gets 18 months for fake Super PAC (and credit card fraud)

June 15, 2024, 7:46 amcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

Christopher Richardson was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in March in the Americans for Progressive Action affair. Sentences for campaign finance fraud charges seem to be of interest lately.

Credulous coverage of probable vaporware

June 15, 2024, 7:45 amThe Voting WarsJustin Levitt

The AP’s lede: The Republican National Committee on Friday launched a swing state initiative to mobilize thousands of polling place monitors, poll workers and attorneys to serve as “election integrity” watchdogs in November — an effort that immediately drew… Continue reading

“En Banc Court Hears First Amendment Challenge to Campaign Finance Restriction”

June 15, 2024, 7:44 amcampaign finance, election law and constitutional law, First Amendment theoryJustin Levitt

Trane Robinson reviews arguments in the Sixth Circuit’s National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC case, about limits on political party expenditures coordinated with particular candidates. It’s an issue that’s been in the deregulatory community’s sights for a while now, and… Continue reading

“Changes sought in Florida felon voting process”

June 15, 2024, 7:43 amelection administration, felon voting, political equalityJustin Levitt

Unfortunately, even the changes contemplated are small – modifications in how individuals with convictions can apply for an advisory opinion on whether they’ve managed to figure out how much they owe the state in fines and fees.

This Year’s Clearies

June 15, 2024, 7:42 amelection administrationJustin Levitt

Federal News Network has a feature on the EAC’s Clearinghouse awards from this past year, for innovation and best practices in election administration. It’s important to lift up successes and best practices – and there’s an impressive diversity of… Continue reading

“The Stanford Internet Observatory is being dismantled”

June 14, 2024, 9:08 amcheap speech, First Amendment theoryJustin Levitt

Stanford disputes the characterization, but if this report is true, that’s a disturbing and unfortunate loss to the study of online communications ecosystems. UPDATE: Looks like there’s at least a radical downsizing. WaPo with more.

“Georgia requires police training on election intimidation and interference”

June 14, 2024, 7:45 amelection subversion riskElection InterferenceJustin Levitt

The AJC says that this makes Georgia the first state in the country to train police in protections against election threats as part of the basic statewide training. Police response to alleged incidents of interference has to be reeeeeeeeeeeeally carefully… Continue reading

“Arizona lawmakers agree to let voters decide on retention rules for state Supreme Court justices”

June 14, 2024, 7:44 amdirect democracy, judicial elections, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

The ballot initiative – in the wake of controversy over the state Supreme Court ruling on abortion, affecting two Justices currently on the ballot in November — would apparently end terms for state justices and judges entirely.

“Attorney charged in voting machine tampering case announces run for Michigan Supreme Court”

June 14, 2024, 7:43 amelection subversion risk, judicial electionsJustin Levitt

Welp.

“Harlan Crow Provided Clarence Thomas at Least 3 Previously Undisclosed Private Jet Trips, Senate Probe Finds”

June 14, 2024, 7:42 amethics investigations, statutory interpretation, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

These flights were revealed by the Senate Judiciary Committee based on disclosure by Crow, not Justice Thomas. Justice Thomas has maintained (including in response to the latest) that he was told that these flights fall under an exception in… Continue reading