The Hill: For more than four decades, when Republicans needed strategic advice drawing political boundaries, the party turned to a small cadre of expert cartographers, trained in the rare art of redistricting. At the heart of that group was Tom Hofeller. … Continue reading →

Doug announces: Seven years ago, I joined the University of Minnesota to help build and launch the Humphrey School’s election work – and over that time, we’ve built a master’s- and undergraduate-level Certificate in Election Administration program that’s reaching students, election officials … Continue reading →

Here’s my yearly roundup of election law academic hires, promotions moves, visits, accolades: Ellen Aprill has been given the Outstanding Academic Award for 2018 for distinguished academic achievement in the nonprofit section by the Nonprofit Organizations Committee of the American Bar Association’s Business … Continue reading →

In an earlier post, I linked to a story and posted a picture of an endorsement letter in a South Dakota AG’s race where former FEC Commissioner Lee Goodman is identified as the “Chairman” of the FEC. Former Commissioner Goodman … Continue reading →

Every work day I rely on the excellent work of Ken Doyle.  So I find this notice in today’s report very distressing: Notice to Subscribers Bloomberg BNA will cease publishing Money & Politics Report with the issue dated June 29, … Continue reading →

WaPo:  David Koch, one of the two billionaire brothers at the helm of the powerful conservative political network, is retiring from his family’s conglomerate, Koch Industries, and stepping down as chairman of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. His brother, Charles … Continue reading →

Another one: The Republican-endorsed candidate for North Dakota secretary of state is out of the race just two days after The Forum reported on his 2006 window-peeping incident on the North Dakota State University campus. Will Gardner made the announcement … Continue reading →

Whoa: NEW … END OF AN ERA … BOB BAUER, long-time top Democratic political law expert, is leaving Perkins Coie. He has been with the law firm for more than 35 years. The former White House Counsel to President Barack Obama … Continue reading →

I am very sad to report that Joaquin Avila, one of the country’s leading voting rights attorneys and activists, has died.  Avila, a MacArthur genius award winner, was known as the father of the California Voting Rights Act. In coming … Continue reading →

Congrats to Jeff Wice! Release: Albany, NY — The Rockefeller Institute is pleased to announce that Jeffrey M. Wice, nationally renowned expert on elections and redistricting, is joining the Institute as a research fellow. Wice brings more than 35 years of experience … Continue reading →

Great news: At Democracy Fund, we believe that Americans deserve modern, voter-centric elections as a part of a responsive political system. As a grantmaker, this means investing in other organizations, projects, and platforms that support the spread of good information and foster … Continue reading →

Richard Winger recaps his connection to election law. Condolences to his family and friends. … Continue reading →

Great news for plaintiffs. Paul is one of the very best. (The original arguing attorney had to drop out for medical reasons). … Continue reading →

Announcement here. Still waiting for the Institute to denounce President Trump’s incessant attacks on the free press. So far, I’ve not seen anything (and when I call them out on it, I’m labeled a “speech suppressor” who does not have … Continue reading →

Condolences to his family and friends on this untimely death. … Continue reading →

Announcement via email: We are very pleased to announce that Professor David T. Canon, University of Wisconsin, Madison, has been appointed to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy beginning September 1, 2017. Professor … Continue reading →

Politico: White House counsel Don McGahn has largely stepped back from managing Donald Trump’s response to the expanding Russia investigation, but that hasn’t stopped the president from lashing out at him about it anyway. Trump started the week by giving … Continue reading →

Must-listen Nina Totenberg at NPR. … Continue reading →

Release: Common Cause announced today that Stephen Spaulding will be returning to Common Cause in May as Chief of Strategy and External Relations. He departs the Federal Election Commission (FEC) this week after serving as Special Counsel to FEC Commissioner … Continue reading →

Peter Overby for NPR. … Continue reading →

The NLJ: Yale Law School has named its first female dean. University officials announced Tuesday that Yale Law professor Heather Gerken, 48, will assume the deanship on July 1, replacing outgoing dean Robert Post. Gerken will be the first woman … Continue reading →