Category Archives: Uncategorized

Are Joy and Optimism Essential to the Future of American Democracy?

August 8, 2024, 8:02 amUncategorizedTabatha Abu El-Haj

With very little actual election-law news in this 24-hour news cycle, I am thinking about the downside of emphasizing our democratic dismay. We should not ignore the many risks to our electoral system. But should we also be worried that… Continue reading

Distinguished Scholarship Award–APPLY SOON!

August 7, 2024, 10:16 amUncategorizedTabatha Abu El-Haj

The AALS Section on Election Law is soliciting submissions for its annual Distinguished Scholarship Award. This year, the Section will grant two awards, one for 2023 and one for 2024. Each award will be given to a single work that… Continue reading

Voter Intimidation Made Easier in Arizona

August 7, 2024, 6:10 amUncategorizedFirst Amendment, voter intimidationTabatha Abu El-Haj

Votebeat reports Maricopa County Superior Judge issued a temporary injunction preventing Arizona from enforcing a manual interpreting the state’s laws that prevent voter intimidation. The judge found the new rules over broad in violation of the First Amendment, accepting Arizona… Continue reading

“Georgia Board Grants Local Officials New Power Over Certifying Elections”

August 7, 2024, 5:51 amUncategorizedballot counting, election admiinstration, polarizationTabatha Abu El-Haj

N.Y. TImes: In a move that is likely to sow discord in the counting of ballots this fall, the state’s Georgia Election Board approved on Tuesday a measure that empowers local officials to refuse or delay certification of a… Continue reading

“Jenna Ellis, Former Trump Lawyer, Will Cooperate in Arizona Election Fraud Case”

August 6, 2024, 5:57 amUncategorized2020 Election Conspiracies, The Big LieTabatha Abu El-Haj

N.Y. Times: Ellis is one of 18 individuals charged by Arizona for their involvement in efforts to overturn Arizona’s election results in 2020. Arizona agreed to drop nine fraud, forgery, and conspiracy charges in exchange for her cooperation and… Continue reading

“With voting under attack, Arizona schools don’t want to be polling locations”

August 5, 2024, 6:24 amUncategorizedvoter turnoutTabatha Abu El-Haj

This Washington Post article should be read in light of all we know about the social nature of voting and the importance of fun and festivity to turnout (think Souls to the Polls) and the data on how important it… Continue reading

Turning to Tabatha . . .

August 4, 2024, 6:58 pmUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Thanks to Rick Hasen for the opportunity to guest blog over the past 14 days. In maintaining this blog Rick builds community and provides a service to us all. I’m appreciative of the blog and his many other contributions to… Continue reading

“Judge in Trump’s federal election subversion case rejects defense effort to dismiss the prosecution”

August 4, 2024, 7:57 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Washington Post: The federal judge presiding over the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump rejected Saturday a defense effort to dismiss the indictment on claims that he was prosecuted for vindictive and political purposes. The ruling from… Continue reading

“Trump Says Georgia’s Governor Is Hampering His Efforts to Win There”

August 4, 2024, 7:54 amUncategorizedelection subversion, The Big LieSpencer Overton

NY Times: Former President Donald J. Trump suggested without evidence on Saturday that Georgia’s Republican governor was hampering his efforts to win the battleground state in November, a claim that carried echoes of Mr. Trump’s attempt to overturn his… Continue reading

“Marjorie Taylor Greene’s and Brad Raffensperger’s Voter Registrations Targeted in Georgia’s New Online Portal”

August 4, 2024, 7:51 amUncategorizedvoter registrationSpencer Overton

ProPublica: On Friday, four days after Georgia Democrats began warning that bad actors could abuse the state’s new online portal for canceling voter registrations, the Secretary of State’s Office acknowledged to ProPublica that it had identified multiple such attempts… Continue reading

“Civil rights icon [Emmet Bondurant] receives ABA’s highest honor”

August 4, 2024, 7:50 amUncategorizedone person one voteSpencer Overton

American Bar Association: Emmet Bondurant “embodies the purpose of the ABA Medal” said American Bar Association President Mary Smith as she bestowed the association’s highest honor on the Atlanta lawyer who has pursued justice with integrity and demonstrated… Continue reading

“Lefty Dem group urges city voters to influence upstate elections where their vacation homes are: ‘Morally reprehensible’”

August 4, 2024, 7:48 amUncategorizedresidencySpencer Overton

NY Post: A lefty nonprofit is encouraging Democrats to vote in the districts where their vacation homes are in order to “maximize” their voting power — a “morally reprehensible” strategy experts said gives an unfair advantage to the rich… Continue reading

“How an Elon Musk PAC is using voter data to help Trump beat Harris in 2024 election”

August 3, 2024, 9:52 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

CNBC: ….If a user lives in a state that is not considered competitive in the presidential election, like California or Wyoming for example, they’ll be prompted to enter their email addresses and ZIP code and then directed quickly to… Continue reading

“American Bar task force calls on lawyers to defend against threats to democracy”

August 3, 2024, 9:50 amUncategorizedauthoritarianism, election subversionSpencer Overton

The Hill: When the American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy officially launches Thursday, it will call on America’s lawyers to take up the “clarion call” to defend the U.S. constitutional democracy against the “serious threat” of “rising… Continue reading