Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Allegheny County Council approves redistricting commission”

December 23, 2023, 7:37 amUncategorizedredistrictingSpencer Overton

WESA (NPR Pittsburgh): Allegheny County Council voted Tuesday in favor of a new process for drawing the boundaries of its own council districts. New boundaries are drawn for legislative districts after each national census. Under county council’s current rules, that… Continue reading

“Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case on Trump’s Immunity Defense for Now”

December 22, 2023, 8:48 pmUncategorized2020 Election CycleSpencer Overton

NYT: The Supreme Court declined on Friday to decide for now whether former President Donald J. Trump is immune from prosecution on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. The decision to defer consideration of a central issue… Continue reading

“Wisconsin Supreme Court orders new legislative maps in redistricting case brought by Democrats”

December 22, 2023, 8:45 pmUncategorizedgerrymanderingSpencer Overton

Star Tribune: MADISON, Wis. — The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps on Friday and ordered that new district boundary lines be drawn as Democrats had urged in a redistricting case they hope will weaken GOP majorities.… Continue reading

Rick Pildes on how SCOTUS might approach Trump’s eligibility to serve as president

December 22, 2023, 2:13 pmUncategorizeddisqualification, Section 3Spencer Overton

Rick is interviewed by Isaac Chotiner of the New Yorker: . . . The case is almost certain to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, which, unlike the Colorado Supreme Court, has a strong conservative majority. . .… Continue reading

“Democrats sue New Hampshire over GOP-backed election law”

December 22, 2023, 7:17 amUncategorizedvoter IDSpencer Overton

From Politico: The Democratic National Committee is suing New Hampshire officials over a Republican-backed election law that it claims will disenfranchise voters and have a chilling effect on key members of the party’s base in 2024. The challenge, which… Continue reading

“Federal judge suspends new Minnesota campaign finance law set to take effect Jan. 1”

December 22, 2023, 7:10 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

From the Minnesota Reformer: A federal judge halted a campaign finance law that aimed to curtail political contributions from corporations with at least some degree of foreign ownership. U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday,… Continue reading

“NYCCFB Appoints Paul S. Ryan as Agency’s New Executive Director”

December 22, 2023, 7:07 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

Congrats to Paul Seamus Ryan! From the NYC Campaign Finance Board: December 20, 2023 – The New York City Campaign Finance Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Seamus Ryan as the next Executive Director of the… Continue reading

“Disqualifying Trump may be legally sound but fraught for democracy, scholars say”

December 22, 2023, 6:48 amUncategorizeddisqualification, Section 3Spencer Overton

Washington Post: After warning for years that Donald Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy, two constitutional scholars proposed a possible solution over the summer to keep him from regaining power: Trump, they argued, could be banned from… Continue reading

“Trump recorded pressuring Wayne County canvassers not to certify 2020 vote”

December 21, 2023, 6:39 pmUncategorized2020 Election CycleSpencer Overton

Detroit News: Then-President Donald Trump personally pressured two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to sign the certification of the 2020 presidential election, according to recordings reviewed by The Detroit News and revealed publicly for… Continue reading

“Federal judges order 13 Michigan House and Senate districts redrawn”

December 21, 2023, 6:29 pmUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Opinion here, and excerpt below from the Detroit News: Lansing — Federal judges have declared 13 of Michigan’s House and Senate districts unconstitutional and ordered them redrawn, overturning a key portion of the maps drawn in 2021 by Michigan’s… Continue reading

“The List: What’s in & out for election administration in 2024”

December 21, 2023, 5:53 pmUncategorizedSpencer Overton

From M. Mindy Moretti – go to electionline for the full list: You’ve waited all year for it, so without further ado, here is electionline Weekly’s annual list of what’s in and what’s out in election administration for 2024. .… Continue reading

“GOP voter-fraud crackdown overwhelmingly targets minorities, Democrats”

December 21, 2023, 5:32 pmUncategorizedElection IntegritySpencer Overton

Washington Post: As Donald Trump falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, Republicans in some states launched special units to prosecute voter fraud as part of a high-profile and controversial push to stamp out cheating some… Continue reading

“Judge pledges quick turnaround on Georgia redistricting maps”

December 21, 2023, 7:44 amUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: U.S. District Judge Steve Jones took nearly two years to issue his October order that struck down Georgia’s political maps. He’s working on a far tighter deadline to render his verdict on redrawn congressional and legislative maps.… Continue reading

Reform Roundup: PR, fusion, RCV & more

December 21, 2023, 7:42 amUncategorizedFusionSpencer Overton

Dan Balz in the Washington Post on expanding the U.S. House, multi-member districts and proportional representation, ranked-choice voting and open primaries, reforming the U.S. Senate, eliminating the electoral college, reforming the U.S. Supreme Court, voting rights, and bridging divisions and… Continue reading