Category Archives: Election Meltdown

“Lessons and Recommendations from the 2020 General Election”

January 16, 2021, 3:18 pmelection administration, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Final report from the National Task Force on Election Crises. Executive summary: The 2020 election was defined by paradox and contradiction. Thanks to millions of poll workers, election officials, and citizens who stepped up to make our democracy work, the… Continue reading

“Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection”

January 14, 2021, 7:16 amElection MeltdownRick Hasen

NYT: Donald J. Trump on Wednesday became the first American president to be impeached twice, as 10 members of his party joined with Democrats in the House to charge him with “incitement of insurrection” for his role in egging on… Continue reading

“‘Clear and present danger to the republic’: House readies bipartisan impeachment of Trump”

January 13, 2021, 7:19 amElection MeltdownRick Hasen

Politico: The House convened Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for inciting a violent insurrection that — just one week earlier — stormed the U.S. Capitol, battered police officers and sent lawmakers fleeing for safety.The charge, “willful incitement of insurrection,”… Continue reading

“The Only Way to Save American Democracy Now”

January 11, 2021, 8:12 amElection Meltdown, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: What’s next to save American democracy?The events of the past week have left many in this country reeling and worried seriously for the fate of democratic governance in the United States.… Continue reading

With Biden’s Win Now Officially Recognized by Congress, Trump Needs to Be Immediately Removed from Office for the Remainder of His Term; The Next 13 Days are Dangerous Times

January 7, 2021, 9:03 amElection MeltdownRick Hasen

I made this case in my statement yesterday but now that the vote counting is complete in Congress, this becomes Job 1: Restoring order and finishing the constitutionally mandated counting of the ballots is step number one. Step number 2… Continue reading

Facebook Suspends Trump Until After Biden Inauguration So Trump Doesn’t Interfere with Peaceful Transition of Power

January 7, 2021, 8:16 amcheap speech, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Zuckerberg statement.

My Statement: When Order is Restored at the Capitol, Congress Needs to Quickly Count the Electoral College Votes Confirming Biden Victory and Trump Needs to Be Immediately Removed from Office

January 6, 2021, 2:20 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

Today has been a very sad day for American democracy. Just as Congress was beginning the formality of the process of counting state electoral college votes—as a disingenuous objection for counting Arizona’s electoral college votes from Rep. Gosar and Sen.… Continue reading

Thanks to the National Law Journal’s Supreme Court Brief for Recommending Election Meltdown on Its List of Best SCOTUS Books of 2020

December 29, 2020, 6:17 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

You can find the recommendation here (subscription required).

Louie Gohmert Sues Mike Pence in Lawsuit Asking Court to Give Pence “Exclusive Authority” To Decide Which Electoral College Votes to Count at Jan. 6 Congressional Session (No, This Won’t Work)

December 28, 2020, 7:53 amElection Meltdown, electoral collegeRick Hasen

But here’s the complaint.

“Forget the conspiracy theories — here are the real election security lessons of 2020”

December 27, 2020, 1:00 pmElection Meltdown, voting technologyRick Hasen

Politico: The foreign cyberattacks that so many intelligence officials feared didn’t upend the 2020 elections — but this year’s contests nonetheless showed how much the nation still needs to do to fix its security weaknesses.Paper trails protected the integrity… Continue reading

“Get ready, Georgia: More election drama expected after Senate runoffs”

December 26, 2020, 8:51 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

AJC: Georgia’s extraordinarily thin partisan divide set the stage for rampant misinformation, lawsuits and fights over election integrity after the presidential election.With control of the Senate on the line Jan. 5, elections officials are bracing for a new round of… Continue reading

“Pence under pressure as the final step nears in formalizing Biden’s win”

December 25, 2020, 10:21 amElection MeltdownRick Hasen

WaPo: Pence is hoping for a low-key Jan. 6 and is not planning any unnecessary drama, aides said, intending to stick to his perfunctory role. He is eyeing a trip overseas soon after.Trump realized only recently that Pence would play… Continue reading

“Government report warns of potential violence and foreign interference during Georgia Senate runoffs”

December 25, 2020, 10:07 amchicanery, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

Yahoo News: With the Georgia Senate runoff races just two weeks away, the Department of Homeland Security is warning of the possibility of “ideologically motivated violence” and even a foreign influence campaign as voters prepare to go to the… Continue reading

“Could Trump declare martial law to try to steal the election? That and other efforts his allies are floating won’t work, say legal and national security experts. Here’s why.”

December 24, 2020, 11:11 amchicanery, Election MeltdownRick Hasen

WaPo reports. Can anyone imagine such a headline as recently as 5 years ago?

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The law of politics and the politics of law