Category Archives: The Voting Wars

My New One at MSNBC Opinion: “Trump’s executive order on elections is a blatant power grab; It seems especially dangerous to take power away from the states when there are many threats to our democracy.”

March 26, 2025, 2:51 pmauthoritarian threats in US, election administration, Election Assistance Commission, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

I have written this piece for MSNBC Opinion. It begins: By design, presidents have no power over the conduct of federal elections. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on election administration aims to flip that, trying to take power… Continue reading

President Trump Issues Dangerous Executive Order That Would Shift to Presidency More Power Over the Conduct of Federal Elections and Potentially Disenfranchise Millions of Voters

March 25, 2025, 2:03 pmelection administration, Election Assistance Commission, Election Meltdown, election subversion risk, Elections Clause, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

I am still making my way through this new Trump executive order on election administration (helpfully posted by Chris Geidner). There is a lot in here, but let me make four initial points as I still digest this. An executive… Continue reading

Election Litigation Hits Record, Increasing More than 14 Percent in the 2024 Election Cycle Compared to the 2020 Election Cycle, Despite End of Covid Pandemic

March 24, 2025, 7:58 amBush v. Gore reflections, legislation and legislatures, political polarization, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

As described in my forthcoming Essay, the results of updating my data on the rates of election litigation to include 2023 and 2024: The voting wars also brought a significant increase in litigation. The rate of election administration has… Continue reading

Watch Archived Video of Safeguarding Democracy Project Event, “What Do Documentary Proof of Citizenship Laws Accomplish?” (with Adrian Fontes, Walter Olson, & Nina Perales)

March 6, 2025, 4:26 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

You can watch this discussion, which took place on March 4, 2025 at UCLA Law, at this link:

“‘Election integrity’ still top of mind for some House Republicans”

March 5, 2025, 7:42 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Roll Call: After a cycle that delivered them full power in Washington, Republicans are still pushing to change federal election law — and some Democrats are sounding a renewed alarm. A proposal that aims to bar noncitizens from voting could… Continue reading

9th Circuit affirms limits on AZ proof of citizenship laws

February 25, 2025, 3:50 pmabsentee ballots, election administration, NVRA (motor voter), The Voting Wars, voter registrationproof of citizenshipJustin Levitt

Justin here. A 9th Circuit panel is out with 156 pages’ worth of opinion in Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes, the latest in the battles revolving around Arizona’s laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote. There’s (obviously) quite a… Continue reading

“Georgia Republicans advance a plan to leave a bipartisan voter data group, despite warnings”

February 19, 2025, 7:38 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter registrationRick Hasen

AP: For years, Republicans echoing President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was ridden with voter fraud have pushed for states to leave a bipartisan group that lets officials share data to keep voter rolls accurate. Nine… Continue reading

“Wisconsin Supreme Court dismisses Racine voting van lawsuit”

February 19, 2025, 7:36 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

WPR: The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority has dismissed a lawsuit claiming a Racine mobile-voting van is illegal, ruling that the Republican man who filed the challenge didn’t have legal standing to do so. The battle over the voting van… Continue reading

Will Mitch McConnell Save America from the SAVE Act?

February 3, 2025, 7:49 amelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting Wars, voter registrationRick Hasen

Votebeat: Lane, one of four congressional staff members on the panel, said the SAVE Act will be a priority for the House this time. He acknowledged a push to consider what a voter identification requirement would look like and… Continue reading

Pam Bondi, the 2020 election, Project 2025, and the Ku Klux Klan Act

January 15, 2025, 12:19 amprovisional ballots, The Voting Warsdemocratic backsliding, project 2025, The Big LieJustin Levitt

Pam Bondi’s hearings start today. She’s applying for the job of Attorney General: the lawyer for the United States. Given the shifting loyalties and vindictive proclivities of the President-elect who has put her forward, every Senator has both an obligation… Continue reading

Announcing the Winter/Spring Lineup of Safeguarding Democracy Project Events

January 13, 2025, 7:29 amcheap speech, election administration, The Voting Wars, voter registration, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

We’ve got a great lineup of in person, online, and hybrid events! Tuesday, January 28 Fair Elections and Voting Rights: What’s Ahead in the Next Four Years? Register for the webinar here. In-person registration here. Lunch will be… Continue reading

“Trump has pressed for new voting requirements. Republicans in Congress will try to make that happen”

December 26, 2024, 10:49 amelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

AP: Republicans plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress to push through long-sought changes that include voter ID and proof-of-citizenship… Continue reading

Jan. 28 Safeguarding Democracy Project Live and Online Event with Amy Gardner, Pam Karlan, and Stephen Richer: “Fair Elections and Voting Rights: What’s Ahead in the Next Four Years?”

December 17, 2024, 8:07 amelection administration, election subversion risk, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

The UCLA Law Safeguarding Democracy Project will be announcing its spring speaker series in January, but here’s our first event for you to put on your calendars: Tuesday, January 28 Fair Elections and Voting Rights: What’s Ahead in the Next… Continue reading

“After Trump’s Victory, Republicans Trust the Election System Again”

December 17, 2024, 6:57 amelection administration, election subversion risk, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

NYT: Americans are more confident in the country’s election system than they have been at any time since the 2020 election, according to a new study — a shift owed to a sea change in Republican sentiment since Donald J.… Continue reading