Category Archives: political parties

“New law makes voters’ primary party choice public”

January 5, 2020, 12:57 pmpolitical parties, primariesJustin Levitt

The Pioneer Press reviews an interesting new facet of Minnesota’s law. As in many states, voters have to declare a party preference before voting in a primary, but apparently, the voters’ choice of party is “secret, just like your actual… Continue reading

“Census will mean new ways for politicians to keep power despite earning fewer votes”

January 5, 2020, 12:49 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Bill Leonard weighs in on new opportunities for partisan gerrymandering after the Census.

California Democratic Party settles lawsuits alleging harassment and discrimination by former leader

January 3, 2020, 4:35 pmpolitical partiesJustin Levitt

The LA Times has the latest on the continuing fallout from the scandal involving the former chair.

“Top DFLers, state party defend law that permits Trump-only GOP primary ballots”

January 3, 2020, 4:34 pmelection law and constitutional law, political parties, The Voting WarsJustin Levitt

The real story isn’t that state party officials are defending state party associational rights under the First Amendmetn (even if they also benefit opposing parties). The real story is the practical recognition that litigation now begins to creep up on… Continue reading

“Leaked Trump Camp Tape Reignites Concerns Over GOP ‘Ballot Security’ Plans”

January 3, 2020, 4:33 pmchicanery, political partiesJustin Levitt

Tierney Sneed at TPM highlights the audio Rick blogged before the holidays, about the lapse of the consent decree between the DNC and RNC governing “ballot security” efforts.

Unaffiliated voters and the California primaries

January 2, 2020, 1:37 pmpolitical parties, primariesJustin Levitt

Jessica Levinson forecasts coming confusion in California, a heavily absentee-voting state where voters have now been trained on a “top two” state primary (in which voters can vote on all candidates, no matter their party registration). But the top… Continue reading

“Virginia was home to the first gerrymander. It should also be the home of its solution.”

January 2, 2020, 1:31 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Sam Wang urges the new unilateral Democratic majority in Virginia to follow through on redistricting reform.

“We can’t assume Virginia Democrats will keep their promise on redistricting reform”

January 1, 2020, 3:19 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The Post’s editorial board laments the potential change of heart after the change in electoral fortunes.

“New York Dems Are Redrawing Congressional Districts and It Could Put Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Out of a Job”

January 1, 2020, 3:18 pmcensus litigation, political parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The Daily Wire ties the census, redistricting, and (perhaps) a bit of wish fulfillment. They’re not wrong about legislative leadership use of redistricting to enforce party discipline, though. It’ll be interesting to see the extent to which New York’s new … Continue reading

“The Constitution in 2020″ in 2020”

January 1, 2020, 3:16 pmelection law and constitutional law, political partiesJustin Levitt

Josh Blackman, at the Volokh Conspiracy, offers a timely reminder of the 2009 ACS essay compilation — “The Constitution in 2020” – with a progressive vision of future constitutional law. The compilation included, among others, a piece by Pam … Continue reading

“Cash, claims of illegality already flying in Michigan’s Senate race”

January 1, 2020, 3:15 pmcampaign finance, political partiesJustin Levitt

Here come the allegations of unlawful coordination. And with it, your reminder that, as Dan Tokaji and Renata Strause explained years ago, in assessing the legality of campaign coordination, there’s often a “gap between the line the law draws… Continue reading

Partisan gerrymandering and the 2010s

December 30, 2019, 1:00 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

And for David Daley, one of the biggest stories of the decade-in-review is partisan gerrymandering.

I’m shocked – shocked – to find that gambling is going on in here.

December 30, 2019, 1:00 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

A few stories about incumbent government officials weighing the merits of redistricting reform, finding reason to put up the strongest resistance coincidentally right when they unilaterally control the partisan levers of power. In Virginia, it’s Democrats; in Idaho,… Continue reading