Category Archives: political parties

“Kill the Caucuses! Maine, Nevada, and Iowa were embarrassing. It’s time to make primaries the rule.”

February 15, 2012, 11:48 amelection administration, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

My new Slate Jurisprudence column begins: In the last few weeks, the Keystone Kops have taken over the Republican presidential caucuses. First Mitt Romney was declared the winner of the Iowa caucuses by a scant eight votes, and then… Continue reading

“Maine, Iowa Caucus Mishaps Prove It’s Time for a Better System”

February 15, 2012, 10:10 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

John Avlon has written this column for The Daily Beast/Newsweek.

“Republicans Rethink Caucus Support”

February 15, 2012, 8:11 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

The Fix reports. I’ll have a piece in Slate on the caucus process posting shortly.

“Pressure mounting for GOP caucus reconsideration”

February 14, 2012, 11:43 amcampaigns, election administration, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

News from Maine:“The Maine GOP announced Saturday that Romney narrowly edged Ron Paul, 39 percent to 36 percent, in a nonbinding presidential preference poll taken during the caucuses. The margin was fewer than 200 votes. A number of communities… Continue reading

“Caucus System Under Fire”

February 11, 2012, 9:14 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Politico reports.

New CRS Report

February 9, 2012, 8:02 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Presidential nominating process: Current issues (Jan. 27)

“Voters rebelling against caucuses; Weaknesses of system exposed”

February 8, 2012, 12:56 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

The Washington Times reports.

“The Nevada GOP embarrasses itself — again”

February 8, 2012, 8:38 ampolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Must-read Jon Ralston column on Nevada caucus follies.

“Caucus Counting Troubles Plague Primaries”

February 7, 2012, 5:48 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

NPR reports.

“Religious Condition Stirs Protest at a Caucus Site”

February 5, 2012, 8:47 pmpolitical parties, primaries, votingRick Hasen

NYT: “LAS VEGAS — A special Saturday night Republican caucus here intended to accommodate Orthodox Jews who could not vote before sundown became the scene of controversy and confrontation after caucusgoers were told that to be admitted they had… Continue reading

Ninth Circuit Brief Filed in Top-Two Case

February 4, 2012, 10:14 pmballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

From the challengers: “Our Brief shows that California’s Top Two Primary Law violated the rights of Californians in two troubling ways. First, it unconstitutionally violated the rights of minor-party candidates, by forcing them to falsely state on the ballot… Continue reading

“FairVote: Your Primary Resource in 2012”

January 20, 2012, 4:03 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Check it out.

“Appeals court upholds Washington state’s open primary system”

January 20, 2012, 9:46 amballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

The LA Times offers this report, with the subhead: “The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel’s decision may signal affirmation for California’s open primary system, in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of… Continue reading

Breaking News: Ninth Circuit Upholds Washington’s Top-Two Primary

January 19, 2012, 9:38 amballot access, political parties, primariesRick Hasen

On remand from the Supreme Court, and after the case went back to the trial court, the Ninth Circuit today, in a unanimous opinion, upheld Washington state’s top two primary law (on grounds that will make California’s top two… Continue reading