Category Archives: voter initiatives

“Ballot language set for Ohio 60% constitutional amendment question, now named State Issue 1”

May 18, 2023, 9:23 amvoter initiativesDerek Muller

Cleveland.com: A state panel has set the language that will appear before voters for the upcoming Aug. 8 election when they’re asked to make it harder to change the Ohio constitution. The Ohio Ballot Board, chaired by Republican Secretary… Continue reading

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upholds AG’s ruling striking campaign finance ballot question

May 17, 2023, 5:11 amcampaign finance, voter initiativesDerek Muller

From the Eagle-Tribune: The state’s highest court upheld a decision by the Attorney General’s office to reject a ballot question calling for limits on campaign spending by political action committees. In ruling issued Tuesday, the state Supreme Judicial Court… Continue reading

“Wisconsin Supreme Court rules Marsy’s Law was properly enacted into law”

May 16, 2023, 9:14 amvoter initiativesDerek Muller

Molly Beck in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law aimed at expanding and strengthening the rights of crime victims. The 6-1 decision released Tuesday by… Continue reading

“Ohio supermajority amendment opponents sue, arguing ‘no legal basis’ for August election”

May 15, 2023, 5:26 pmvoter initiativesDerek Muller

From the Ohio Capital Journal: State lawmakers approved a measure to ask voters if Ohio should raise the threshold for approving constitutional amendments to 60%. But in an unusual move, they set the August date for that election through… Continue reading

“In Rejecting Voter ID Measure, Arizonans Bucked History and Surprised Advocates”

December 8, 2022, 10:29 amvoter id, voter initiativesDerek Muller

BoltsMag

Eighth Circuit finds Nebraska’s per-county signature requirement for ballot initiatives passes constitutional scrutiny

August 31, 2022, 8:39 amvoter initiativesDerek Muller

From Eggers v. Evnen, in an opinion by Judge Raymond Gruender, joined by Judge David Stras (some citations omitted): The Nebraska constitution gives voters the power directly to enact statutes and constitutional amendments placed on the general-election ballot. Neb.… Continue reading

“Can ‘community centers’ help GOP court voters of color?”

November 14, 2021, 6:09 pmpolitical parties, Uncategorized, voter initiativesTabatha Abu El-Haj

National Journal RNC, under Ronna McDaniel, is opening community centers around the county to court voters of color. For the moment, centers are focused on “firing up already-involved activists and local politicians,” more than “finding new votes,” and their hours… Continue reading

“The Common Good and Voter Polarization”

August 14, 2021, 7:30 ampolitical polarization, voter initiativesDerek Muller

New draft on SSRN by John G. Matsusaka and Chad Kendall: Do voters see democracy entirely as a game of self-interest in which one person’s gain is another’s loss, or do they also view it as a search for… Continue reading

DNC to Spend $25 Million on Voter Outreach and Litigation

July 9, 2021, 4:16 amvoter initiatives, voter registrationDan Tokaji

NYT: Facing an onslaught of state-level ballot restrictions and gridlock in Congress over voting rights legislation, the White House detailed a multimillion-dollar plan on Thursday to register voters and fight voter suppression.In a speech at Howard University, Vice President… Continue reading

“Miami-Dade State Attorney Preparing Plan To Restore Voting Rights, Even If Money Is Owed”

July 18, 2019, 11:16 amfelon voting, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

A spotlight on Miami, following up on the more general effort I’d flagged by prosecutors to fight back against the Florida legislature’s fines-and-fees limitations on the Amendment 4 initiative restoring the vote to those with convictions.

I Talked to Texas Standard About DOJ’s About-Face on Texas’s Voter ID Law

February 28, 2017, 2:17 pmDepartment of Justice, The Voting Wars, voter initiatives, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Listen.

Initiatives after Hollingsworth v. Perry

June 28, 2013, 11:32 amvoter initiativesJustin Levitt

There’s quite a bit of coverage of Perry‘s holding with respect to the initiative process. A smattering: In California: LA Times: Prop. 8 ruling raises fears about effects on other initiatives Orange County Register (editorial): Prop. 8 ruling blow to … Continue reading

“Prop. 8 deserved a defense”

June 28, 2013, 10:50 amvoter initiativesJustin Levitt

Erwin Chemerinsky’s thoughtful op-ed discusses ways for California (and other states) to defend public initiatives in federal court.

BREAKING NEWS: DOMA struck down, Prop 8 case dismissed on standing

June 26, 2013, 7:34 amlegislation and legislatures, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

DOMA has been struck down as unconstitutional. Prop 8 case from California dismissed on standing grounds (initiative proponents have no cognizable injury distinct from the general population). I haven’t yet read thoroughly, but SCOTUSblog reports that neither finds a constitutional… Continue reading