Category Archives: Department of Justice

“Why the Supreme Court May Soon Strike Down a Key Section of the Voting Rights Act”

September 10, 2012, 12:34 pmDepartment of Justice, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Nick Stephanopoulos: “Accordingly, the three-judge court’s decision to block Texas’s new district plans could amount to a Pyrrhic victory. The decision is thorough and well-reasoned, and its interpretation of the provision is quite defensible. But by highlighting the greater… Continue reading

“Rights group asks court to stop Texas voting map”

September 7, 2012, 2:19 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

AP: “A Latino civil rights group is asking the Supreme Court to stop Texas from using congressional districts drawn by a lower federal court in the November election because they discriminate against minorities.” I give this petition very little… Continue reading

“Feds OK Florida early voting plan for 5 counties”

September 6, 2012, 9:12 amDepartment of Justice, The Voting Wars, voting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

AP: “U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder agreed Wednesday to accept Florida’s revised early-voting plan for five counties covered by the federal Voting Rights Act. Holder filed his response with a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C.”

“Justice Department Clears New Hampshire Voter ID Law”

September 5, 2012, 8:52 amDepartment of Justice, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

TPM links to the preclearance letter.

“Redistricting in Today’s Changing Racial Landscape”

September 4, 2012, 9:36 amDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Abigail Thernstrom has written this article, published at 23 Stanford Law and Policy Review 373 (2012). From the conclusion: At its inception, the Voting Rights Act stood on very firm constitu-tional ground; it was pure antidiscrimination legislation designed to… Continue reading

“Data Issues in Texas Voter ID Case Highlight Coming Battle Over Voting Rights Act”

September 4, 2012, 6:58 amDepartment of Justice, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

A ChapinBlog.

“Despite voter ID law, minority turnout up in Georgia”

September 3, 2012, 8:32 pmDepartment of Justice, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “When Georgia became one of the first states in the nation to demand a photo ID at the ballot box, both sides served up dire predictions. Opponents labeled it a Jim Crow-era tactic that would suppress the… Continue reading

“Did Greg Abbott Just Save the Voting Rights Act?”

September 3, 2012, 8:28 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Texas Lawbook: “The Texas Attorney General claims in court that the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 is outdated, unnecessary and an unconstitutional encroachment on the sovereignty of the state, but his legal efforts may have just assured the… Continue reading

“Way Cleared for November Vote in Texas”

September 1, 2012, 1:22 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, voting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“On Overreaching, or Why Rick Perry May Save the Voting Rights Act But Destroy Affirmative Action”

September 1, 2012, 1:10 pmDepartment of Justice, voting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Ellen Katz has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Election Law Journal). Here is the abstract: The State of Texas is presently staking out two positions that are not typically pursued by a single litigant. On the one hand, Texas… Continue reading

“Poverty, Dignity, and Voting Rights in Texas”

September 1, 2012, 1:07 pmDepartment of Justice, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Read Joey Fishkin on the two Texas VRA decisions this week.

“Rejected voter ID law, maps ruled discriminatory not deterring Texas Republicans”

August 31, 2012, 4:51 pmDepartment of Justice, election administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

AP: “On Election Day in Texas, the mere act of voting would have been fresh flexing of Republican power: Show a photo ID, then cast a ballot in a political district likely drawn to favor GOP candidates. The script… Continue reading

Texas Voter ID Roundup

August 31, 2012, 7:59 amDepartment of Justice, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

AP USA Today Washington Post Wall St. Journal New York Times Los Angeles Times San Antonio Express-News ABC News McClatchy Austin American-Statesman Reuters BLT SCOTUSBlog NPR

Sounds Like There Will Be No Emergency SCOTUS Action in the Texas Voter ID Case

August 30, 2012, 3:33 pmDepartment of Justice, election administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, voter initiatives, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Earlier today I wrote about how Texas, which had indicated an intent to appeal, could seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court to put its ID law into effect for November’s elections. But now comes this from AP: “State… Continue reading