Category Archives: political parties

Federal Court Rejects Challenge by Independent Voters to NJ Closed Primary System

August 19, 2014, 7:41 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

The court held there is no constitutional right of independent voters to vote in a major party’s closed primary. The result is unsurprising and the opinion is unpublished.

“The New Racism: This is how the civil rights movement ends”

August 10, 2014, 8:39 pmpolitical parties, political polarization, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Must read TNR cover story by Jason Zengerle on African American political power in Alabama and in the South. Similarly, after a lawsuit was brought by the Alabama Democratic Conference and the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus, a three-judge federal court… Continue reading

“Midterms Give Parties Chance for Sweeping Control of States”

August 10, 2014, 8:30 pmcampaigns, legislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Congress Off for the Exits, but Few Cheer”

August 2, 2014, 12:27 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT: By traditional measurements, the 113th Congress is now in a race to the bottom with the 112th for the “do nothing” crown, with members of both parties frustrated about the lack of action. As of Wednesday, it had passed… Continue reading

“California doesn’t allow write-in candidates in its general election, so a write-in candidate is suing”

July 31, 2014, 12:24 pmballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

WaPo: “An independent candidate who received a single vote for a U.S. House seat in California is suing the state over it’s top-two primary system, which allows write-in candidates in the primary but not the general election.” UPDATE: Richard … Continue reading

In #MSSEN Challenge with Republican Party, McDaniel Apparently Cites No Evidence of Voter Fraud

July 31, 2014, 11:20 amcampaigns, chicanery, fraudulent fraud squad, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

This, instead of “8300 questionable ballots.”

“Chuck Schumer Is Wrong About the Top-Two Primary “

July 27, 2014, 8:58 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Harry Enten writes.

“Don’t expect campaign finance reform to reduce polarization”

July 24, 2014, 8:55 amcampaign finance, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Mann and Corrado respond to La Raja and Schaffner.

“Bad Readers: The judges who ruled against Obamacare are following Scalia down a terrible path of interpretation.”

July 23, 2014, 8:50 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarization, statutory interpretation, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this new Jurisprudence essay for Slate. It begins: Unless you are a lawyer or a glutton for punishment, you probably want to avoid reading the new D.C. Circuit and 4th Circuit opinions reaching conflicting results on the… Continue reading

“Former Top Aide to Governor Arnold Schwarznegger Admits Top-Two Injures Independent Candidates”

July 21, 2014, 4:05 pmballot access, political parties, primaries, third partiesRick Hasen

This item appears at the Independent Political Report (via BAN).

“End Partisan Primaries, Save America”

July 21, 2014, 4:02 pmballot access, political parties, political polarization, primariesRick Hasen

Sen. Schumer endorses Top-Two in NYT oped. The political science does not (at least not yet) seem to support what Sen. Schumer thinks about the effects of top two, however.

“Leadership war stymies Senate mission”

July 20, 2014, 8:07 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Paul Kane for WaPo: The Senate went three months this spring without voting on a single legislative amendment, the nitty-gritty kind of work usually at the heart of congressional lawmaking. So few bills have been approved this year, and so… Continue reading

“The Conversation: Dissecting a ‘no party preference’ campaign in California”

July 20, 2014, 4:46 pmalternative voting systems, ballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

SacBee: “Two seasoned California campaign strategists, one a Republican and one a Democrat, who advised a “no party prefence” candidate running for secretary of state, discuss the campaign.” Sragow: Dan didn’t make it into the general election for three… Continue reading