Category Archives: direct democracy

“When Voters Pull the Trigger: Can Direct Democracy Restrain Legislative Excesses?”

June 24, 2014, 9:25 amdirect democracy, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Vladimir Kogan has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Direct democracy is sometimes described as a “gun behind the door” that influences state policy outcomes, but little is known about how legislators react when voters actually pull… Continue reading

Breaking: Divided 9th Circuit Strikes Down CA Law Requiring Identity of Ballot Measure Proponents on Face of Petition

June 16, 2014, 9:44 amdirect democracy, petition signature gatheringRick Hasen

The vote on this point in Chula Vista Citizens for Jobs v. Norris was 2-1. I expect this issue will go en banc and perhaps to the Supreme Court—with a decent chance of reversal.

“Begich Could Benefit From a Ballot Initiative Bounce”

May 13, 2014, 8:20 amcampaigns, direct democracyRick Hasen

Roll Call: Alaska Sen. Mark Begich is all of a sudden the likely beneficiary of a legislative blunder that may send more voters to the polls this fall. Begich’s midterm electorate is expected to expand as a result of… Continue reading

“Judge rewrites description of Nevada voter measure”

May 7, 2014, 5:06 pmdirect democracy, election administration, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

LVRJ: “A state judge Wednesday rewrote a description that details the effect of a voter photo identification initiative backed by conservative activist Sharron Angle.”

As Expected, Same Sex Marriage Opponents Rely on Affirmative Action Case to Make Argument to Leave Issues to Voters

May 6, 2014, 8:10 pmdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Following up on these pieces by Bill Rankin and Josh Gerstein, Lyle Denniston reports: The Supreme Court’s new display of respect for America’s voters and their capacity to decide deeply controversial issues is being turned into a defense… Continue reading

“Congressman John Conyers Probably Will File a Lawsuit to get on Democratic Primary Ballot”

May 4, 2014, 9:22 pmballot access, direct democracy, petition signature gatheringRick Hasen

Ballot Access News: Michigan election officials are likely to keep Congressman John Conyers off the August 5 primary ballot, unless he files and wins a lawsuit. See this story, which explains that Michigan law requires circulators for primary… Continue reading

“In Colorado, an effort to revive democracy”

May 4, 2014, 4:40 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Ryan Ross: An election initiative recently approved for signature-gathering by Colorado ballot-access regulators means that for the first time in a century, Coloradans have an alternative to political stagnation, hyper-partisanship, and a seemingly endless stream of political acrimony, recalls,… Continue reading

“Conyers might fail to qualify for ballot”

May 2, 2014, 7:23 amballot access, direct democracy, petition signature gatheringRick Hasen

Aaron Blake: Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), who stands to become the longest-serving member of Congress if he wins reelection this year, might not even qualify for the ballot. According to a new report in The Detroit News, two… Continue reading

“House passes ballot measure on court appointments”

May 1, 2014, 10:19 amdirect democracy, judicial electionsRick Hasen

New battle in Florida: “Voters will have a chance to decide whether an outgoing governor should appoint vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court that open at the same time a new governor is sworn in.”

“Will High Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling Affect Gay Marriage Cases?”

April 24, 2014, 3:29 pmdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bill Rankin (in article originally appearing in the AJC): The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this week in a Michigan affirmative action case gave great deference to the voters’ right to decide controversial issues at the ballot box. The court’s plurality… Continue reading

Is Yesterday’s SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision a Win for Ballot Measures?

April 23, 2014, 7:31 amdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Josh Gerstein explores as one of his five questions about Schuette.

“Montana justices reject attempt to block initiative that forbids Medicaid expansion”

April 3, 2014, 7:44 amdirect democracyRick Hasen

Missoulian: “The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday denied an attempt to block officials from approving petitions for an initiative prohibiting the state from using funds or staff to administer the Affordable Care Act and forbiding the state from expanding… Continue reading