Category Archives: The Voting Wars

“With Biden’s voting rights push stalled, Georgia activists regroup”

April 11, 2022, 7:12 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

WaPo: For months, Georgia voting rights advocates and faith leaders warned that a new state law would drastically suppress minority turnout and pleaded with Congress to enshrine protections.But with no signs of progress in President Biden’s push for voting rights… Continue reading

“Georgia voting rights trial to begin after years of heated elections”

April 11, 2022, 6:54 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

AJC: One of the most prominent voting rights cases in years is going to trial Monday, testing allegations that Georgia’s election policies illegally obstructed voters from casting their ballots.The long-awaited trial will highlight complaints about voting problems in the… Continue reading

“Frustrated Michigan clerks call for election reforms: ‘Now is the time'”

March 1, 2022, 6:35 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Detroit News: Two organizations that represent hundreds of Michigan clerks called on state lawmakers Monday “to set aside their agendas” and make bipartisan improvements to voting policies ahead of the November statewide election. Mary Clark, president of the… Continue reading

“Michigan Initiatives Clash on How to Stop GOP’s Election Deniers”

February 28, 2022, 10:17 amdirect democracy, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Steven Rosenfeld: A new front is opening in Michigan’s voting wars that raises fundamental questions about how far defenders of fact-based elections and representative government must go to protect voting rights in an era marked by Republicans who deny results… Continue reading

Must-Read Politico: “Dems fear for democracy. Their big donors aren’t funding one of its main election groups.”

February 22, 2022, 6:51 amelection subversion risk, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Politico: Democratic secretaries of state say they’re at the vanguard of protecting democracy, pushing back against election disinformation and attempts to suppress the vote.But while the party’s base has largely rallied behind them, its biggest donors have not.During the… Continue reading

Watch Archived Video of Council on Foreign Relations Webinar on How Local Journalists Should Cover the Voting Wars

February 18, 2022, 12:53 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

I was happy to participate in this event with Clara Hendrickson and Carla Anne Robbins. The link will take you to a video and a transcript. Or you can watch here:

My New Research: Election Litigation Rates in the U.S. Have Hit an All-Time High: 2020 Rate is 26% Higher Than 2016, But Future Trends Less Certain (Election Law Journal)

February 17, 2022, 7:34 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

I have written Research Note: Record Election Litigation Rates in the 2020 Election: An Aberration or a Sign of Things to Come? for the Election Law Journal (free access to full article). Here is the abstract: Election litigation rates in… Continue reading

Analysis: In 2020 Pre-Election Litigation (Before Trump Tried to Overturn Election), Democratic and Voting Rights Organizations Ultimately Lost Election Law Cases “By a Ratio of More than 7 to 1”

February 4, 2022, 8:49 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Even as someone who follows this litigation closely, I was astounded by this detailed analysis passed along by a knowledgeable reader: There is no question that the 2020 election gave rise to more litigation than any election in modern history. … Continue reading

“Cawthorn Challenge Raises the Question: Who Is an ‘Insurrectionist’?”

January 26, 2022, 6:54 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

NYT: A group of lawyers is working to disqualify from the ballot a right-wing House Republican who cheered on the Jan. 6 rioters unless he can prove he is not an “insurrectionist,” disqualified by the Constitution from holding office,… Continue reading

“Trump followers zero in on secretary of state campaigns”

January 24, 2022, 11:22 amelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Zach Montellaro for Politico: Donald Trump’s pick to become Arizona’s top elections official raised more campaign cash in 2021 than his two potential Democratic opponents combined — a sign of MAGA-world’s deep engagement in taking over under-the-radar positions in charge… Continue reading

Nevada: “Election official departures rising amid burnout, angry voters, new requirements”

January 24, 2022, 11:21 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Nevada Independent: More Nevadans than ever made their voices heard in the 2020 election, spurred by intense interest in the presidential race and helped by law changes that vastly expanded paths to register and multiplied voting options that… Continue reading

“No, Biden and Trump are not alike on election legitimacy”

January 24, 2022, 6:47 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

CNN’ column by John Harwood: In other words, Trump unsuccessfully sought to replace a legitimate election outcome with an illegitimate one; his allies aim to improve the chances of succeeding next time. Biden sought safeguards against illegitimate outcomes… Continue reading

President Biden’s Should Clarify His Remarks on Election Legitimacy and the 2022 Elections. But Even The Troubling Aspects of What He Said Are Nowhere Nearly as Bad as What Trump Repeatedly Has Said About Election Legitimacy

January 20, 2022, 7:08 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

There’s been some discussion and attacks on President Biden for the following two exchanges as his press conference on Wednesday: Q Thank you, Mr. President. Speaking of voting rights legislation, if this isn’t passed, do you still believe the upcoming… Continue reading

“Manchin, Sinema join with GOP in rejecting attempt to change filibuster rules, effectively killing Democratic voting bill”

January 20, 2022, 6:48 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

WaPo: The year-long Democratic push for federal voting rights legislation died in the Senate on Wednesday night, after Republicans blocked an elections bill for the fifth time in six months and Democrats failed to unite their caucus behind a plan… Continue reading