“Will There Ever Be Six Californias?”
My interview with WSJ Digital about the proposed ballot measure.
Category Archives: direct democracy
“Taking the Initiative: How to Save Direct Democracy”
Jessica Levinson has posted this draft of SSRN (forthcoming, Lewis and Clark Law Review). Here is the abstract:
In Meyer v. Grant a unanimous Supreme Court dealt a grievous blow to the most popular form of direct democracy – the… Continue reading
“Disentangling the direct and indirect effects of the initiative process”
John Matsusaka has written this article for Public Choice. Here is the abstract:
Voter initiatives are important for policy making in many countries. While much research shows that the initiative process affects policy choices, almost no evidence explains how the… Continue reading
Empathy for Whom in First Amendment Cases?
Dahlia Lithwick, comparing McCullen to Doe v. Reed:
Several members of the Roberts court seem to have a sliding scale of empathy that affords boundless concern for signers of an anti-gay referendum and very little compassion for real women… Continue reading
“When Voters Pull the Trigger: Can Direct Democracy Restrain Legislative Excesses?”
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
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”
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”
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
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”
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”
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”
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”
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?”
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