Category Archives: legislation and legislatures

18 States with New Voting Restrictions

July 14, 2021, 5:25 amlegislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

WaPo reports on research from the Voting Rights Lab: “As of mid-July, 18 states had enacted 35 laws with provisions that create new hurdles to vote, according to the Voting Rights Lab. Arizona and Texas lead the country in… Continue reading

“Inside the secret plan for the Texas Democratic exodus: A phone tree, a scramble to pack and a politically perilous trip”

July 13, 2021, 8:49 pmlegislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

WaPo: They activated the plan with a phone tree late Sunday: Pack your bags — and make sure they weigh no more than 45 pounds. Be ready to leave Austin at noon tomorrow. We’ll tell you then where we’re… Continue reading

“Biden to call for ‘a new coalition’ to defend voting rights”

July 13, 2021, 4:01 amlegislation and legislatures, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

Politico: In a high-profile voting rights speech Tuesday, President Joe Biden plans to “blast the denial of the right to vote as grounded in autocracy, undemocratic, un-American, and unpatriotic,” a White House official shared with POLITICO. …While Biden’s speech… Continue reading

“Texas House Democrats preparing to flee the state in move that could block voting restrictions bill, bring Legislature to a halt”

July 12, 2021, 12:43 pmlegislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

The latest form the Texas Tribune: Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives plan to leave the state and fly to Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon in a bid to again deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass new… Continue reading

“As Republicans Take Aim at Voting, Democrats Search for a Response”

July 12, 2021, 7:42 amlegislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

NYT: “President Biden is expected to put his political muscle behind the issue in a speech in Philadelphia on Tuesday. But in Congress, Democratic senators have been unable to move voting and election bills that would address what many… Continue reading

“Electoral Votes Regularly Given”

July 12, 2021, 6:25 amelectoral college, legislation and legislatures, statutory interpretationDerek Muller

I’ve posted a couple of brief items already, but I want to take a moment to join the other new contributors in thanking Rick for his kind invitation to join the Election Law Blog. This site has been an extremely… Continue reading

“After Marathon Hearings, Texas Republicans Advance Voting Measure”

July 12, 2021, 3:50 amlegislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

NYT: Texas Republicans moved legislation to overhaul the state’s voting system closer to passage on Sunday, brushing aside fierce opposition from Democrats to gain approval from key committees in the House and the Senate after marathon weekend hearings.The committee… Continue reading

“Why America’s Most Popular Party Isn’t Getting More Done”

July 11, 2021, 6:55 amlegislation and legislatures, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

Jeff Greenfield in Politico: The decision [in Brnovich] was a gift-wrapped present to future Republican candidates, and a direct slap at one of the top priorities of not just Democrats, but good-government advocates across the country. The Democratic response?… Continue reading

“Top Biden ally pleads with him to scrap filibuster for election reform”

July 10, 2021, 9:12 amlegislation and legislatures, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

Politico: House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) told POLITICO Biden “should endorse” the idea of creating a carveout to the legislative filibuster in the Senate for legislation that applies to the Constitution. In effect, the reform would make it… Continue reading

“Comparative Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Omnibus Legislation”

May 30, 2021, 3:38 pmlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Interesting new volume edited Ittai Bar-Siman-Tov .

“The 2020 election still hovers over the Supreme Court with another pending Pennsylvania case”

April 18, 2021, 7:47 pmlegislation and legislatures, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ariane de Vogue for CNN: Five months after the presidential election and nearly 100 days into President Joe Biden‘s term, the Supreme Court is still considering whether to take up a case related to voting rights in the battleground… Continue reading

Derek Muller: “Iowa’s Second Congressional District Contest Should Be Dismissed for Lack of Exhaustion of State Remedies”

December 22, 2020, 11:32 amlegislation and legislatures, recountsRick Hasen

The following is a guest post from Derek Muller about Iowa’s Second Congressional District Contest: Iowa’s Second Congressional District is officially one of the closest congressional elections in American history. Congresswoman-Elect Mariannette Miller-Meeks led by 47 votes after the official… Continue reading

“POLITICO Playbook PM: Deep dive: Electoral College on the Hill”

December 22, 2020, 11:04 amelectoral college, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Interesting stuff on the VP here: THE VP TYPICALLY presides over the certification in his role as the president of the Senate. JONATHAN SWAN from Axios had an excellent report this morning about how President DONALD TRUMP is turning on everyone, and… Continue reading

“How did the GOP gain in the House while Trump lost? It’s actually pretty simple.”

December 18, 2020, 8:22 amlegislation and legislatures, political polarizationRick Hasen

Aaron Blake: One of the increasingly prevalent arguments spun by President Trump and his allies when it comes to supposed voter fraud in the 2020 election is this: Republicans had, by and large, a pretty good election below the presidential… Continue reading