Category Archives: Election Meltdown

“How to safeguard against the worst possible outcomes in November”

July 23, 2020, 9:09 pmelection administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

David Ignatius WaPo column: What can U.S. citizens do to help protect the integrity of our November presidential election, after President Trump’s refusal last Sunday to pledge he’ll accept the outcome and his unfounded claims that the election could… Continue reading

“Refusal to concede? Vote counting delays? Lefty groups brace for the worst.”

July 22, 2020, 2:10 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

Greg Sargent WaPo column: In a recent interview, President Trump repeatedly refused to say whether he will accept the outcome of the voting this fall, while claiming vote-by-mail will “rig the election.” So it’s easy to imagine various… Continue reading

“Trump’s assault on election integrity forces question: What would happen if he refused to accept a loss?”

July 22, 2020, 2:04 pmchicanery, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

WaPo: President Trump’s relentless efforts to sow doubts about the legitimacy of this year’s election are forcing both parties to reckon with the possibility that he may dispute the result in November if he loses — leading to an unprecedented… Continue reading

“A democracy cannot rely on luck:” Crucial Norm Ornstein Column in The Atlantic: “The November Election Is Going to Be a Mess Disaster is avoidable—if lawmakers act now.”

July 22, 2020, 9:20 amelection administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Among Norm’s excellent suggestions: 1. Print a huge supply of absentee ballots and return envelopes. If state and local election officials can’t afford to do so, they can establish public-private partnerships, using resources from foundations, corporations, and others to get… Continue reading

“The states at the center of the 2020 voting crisis”

July 22, 2020, 8:55 amElection MeltdownRick Hasen

Axios reports.

“‘Things could get very ugly’: Experts fear post-election crisis as Trump sets the stage to dispute the results in November”

July 20, 2020, 8:48 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

CNN deep dive: Voting experts and political strategists from across the political spectrum are increasingly alarmed about the potential for a disputed presidential election in November, one in which one candidate openly questions the legitimacy of the results or… Continue reading

“Election lawsuits set record pace amid COVID-19 pandemic as results decide who votes and how Nov. 3”

July 20, 2020, 7:30 amelection administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Bart Jansen deep dive for USA Today: Requiring an excuse for absentee voting. Paying for postage for mail-in ballots. Purging names from voter registration lists. Placing the names on ballots to provide an advantage in so-called “donkey votes.”These are… Continue reading

“How Americans cast ballots in November will likely be decided by courts”

July 16, 2020, 8:53 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

The Ground Truth Project reports.

I Talked to WNPR’s “Here and Now” about “Election Meltdown” and the Pandemic

July 14, 2020, 12:56 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

You can listen here, beginning at the 22 minute mark.

My New One in LA Lawyer Magazine: “California’s Ballot Harvesting Law: A Crop of Trouble?”

July 14, 2020, 9:07 amabsentee ballots, election administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

I have written this article for L.A. Lawyer. It begins: California has been in the vanguard of election reform, passing voting rules that modernize the election process and make it easier to register and vote, such as same day an… Continue reading

“Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting could lead to nightmare scenario, election expert warns”

July 14, 2020, 8:12 amelection administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Jon Ward for Yahoo News: Anyone can spin out a worst-case scenario for the presidential election, but it’s worth paying particular attention to those that keep experts like Richard Hasen up at night.Hasen, a law and political science professor at… Continue reading

“There are two easy steps to avoiding chaos this election. We haven’t taken them yet.”

July 12, 2020, 8:09 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

Kevin Johnson and Yuval Levin WaPo oped: There is no easy way to avert such problems. The management of elections inherently raises concerns about politicization, with each party worrying that the other will try to manipulate the rules to gain… Continue reading

Trump Falsely Says Absentee Ballots Will Lead Election Results to Be Delayed for Months, Falsely Suggests 20 Percent Rate of Fraudulent Ballots, Falsely Draws Distinction Between Absentee and Mail-In Ballots

July 10, 2020, 10:44 amabsentee ballots, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

CNN: President Donald Trump has railed against “mail-in voting” while defending “absentee voting,” baffling experts who say those voting systems are essentially the same thing.Trump made the claims in a series of tweets Friday morning, which included some of… Continue reading

“‘Epic failure’: U.S. election officials warn of November chaos due to budget crunch”

July 10, 2020, 10:32 amelection administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Reuters: Presidential nominating contests held this year in states from Wisconsin to Georgia have exposed massive challenges in conducting elections during the worst public health crisis in a century. Closed or understaffed polling venues led to long lines, there… Continue reading

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The law of politics and the politics of law