John Matsusaka has written this article for Public Choice. Here is the abstract: Many political practitioners believe that voters are more likely to approve propositions listed at the top than the bottom of the ballot, potentially distorting democratic decision making,… Continue reading

This does not count the at least 17 state ballot measures for CA.

Recall Elections Blog has this post, noting the involvement of former Secretary of State Scott Gessler in the claim of forged signatures on the local recall petition.

Competing views in The Diplomat, citing Hamilton and Machiavelli.

Austin American-Statesman: Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Steve Adler that challenges the May 7 electoral defeat of Proposition 1 and attacks the city’s “Swiss-cheese regulation” of ride-hailing companies. The suit filed late… Continue reading

Brown v. Superior Court: Here we consider the scope of Elections Code provisions enacted in 2014, which created a new process by which a proposed initiative measure is submitted for public comment. (Elec. Code, § 9002.)1 After the comment… Continue reading

David Ettinger: On Monday morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinion in Brown v. Superior Court, which was argued — with just six days’ notice — on the early-May calendar. Brown is a high-profile case.  It concerns… Continue reading

Bob Egelko for the SF Chronicle: Prosecutors, law enforcement groups and victims’-rights advocates turned in 593,000 signatures for the initiative, which would attempt to fix a system plagued by delays and high costs by tightening legal deadlines and requiring more… Continue reading

Hello ballot fatigue.

[Bumping to the top. The event will be livestreamed.] Looking forward to participating in this KPCC Air Tak event May 12: As we look to the November ballot, this is expected to be a record year for citizen initiatives… Continue reading

Articles: Craig M. Burnett & Mathew D. McCubbins, Marriage on the Ballot: An Analysis of Same-Sex Marriage Referendums in North Carolina, Minnesota, and Washington During the 2012 Elections, 19 Chap. L. Rev. 1 (2015). Matt Childers & Mike Binder,… Continue reading

Thad Kousser has written this oped for the San Diego Union-Tribune: The deal to phase in a $15 minimum wage that Gov. Jerry Brown, legislators and union leaders cut recently is huge news for many reasons — California becomes the… Continue reading