Category Archives: direct democracy

“In secret recording, trainer for Unlock Michigan advises on unlawful tactics”

September 22, 2020, 7:46 amchicanery, direct democracyRick Hasen

Detroit Free Press: The company collecting signatures to strip Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of her emergency powers coached paid petition circulators on giving voters false information, illegally collecting signatures without witnessing them, trespassing on private property, and even lying under oath,… Continue reading

Michigan COVID Initiative Case Ends with a Whimper, Withdrawn at SCOTUS, Dismissed Below

July 23, 2020, 8:51 pmdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Michigan withdraws its request for emergency relief at the Supreme Court after plaintiffs dismiss their case with prejudice. Why? It appears that the plaintiffs inadvertently misrepresented how much signature gathering they had been able to do.

Eighth Circuit Reverses in Arkansas Initiative Qualification Case, Holding Trial Court Should Not Have Lessened Requirements Due to COVID-19: Weird Ideas about “Severe Burdens”

July 23, 2020, 8:26 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Opinion here. A snippet: Robert Allen is a registered voter in Arkansas undergoing chemotherapy to treat his stage IV bladder cancer. With the exception of medical appointments, Allen’s doctors advised him to stay home and limit in-person contact to his… Continue reading

Read the Federal District Court Opinion Extending the Time for Oregon Initiative Proponents to Collect Signatures for Redistricting Ballot Measure

July 13, 2020, 5:34 pmballot access, court decisions, direct democracyRick Hasen

Following up on this post, you can read this order.

Oregon: “Federal District Court Grants People Not Politicians an Extension”

July 13, 2020, 8:33 amdirect democracy, redistrictingRick Hasen

Release: A federal district court issued a preliminary order granting People Not Politicians, a broad and diverse coalition to create an independent citizens commission for Oregon, relief to qualify its redistricting reform initiative for the November 2020 election. The… Continue reading

Michigan Goes to Supreme Court to Reverse Laws Easing Initiative Signature Gathering Restrictions During Pandemic

July 12, 2020, 8:06 pmdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

You can find the petition (No. 20A1) at this link. [Corrected link]

Supreme Court, Without Noted Dissent, Won’t Revive District Court Order Blocked by 6th Circuit Allowing Ohio Petition Circulators to Collect Electronic Signatures

June 25, 2020, 11:01 amdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

SCOTUS won't block lower court ruling that stopped petition gatherers in Ohio from collecting electronic signatures to put measures on the ballot this year pic.twitter.com/MUs50ohue7— Sam Levine (@srl) June 25, 2020

Ohio Petition Signature Gatherers Seek Supreme Court Relief in Covid Case

June 17, 2020, 5:59 pmdirect democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Read the emergency application for a stay in Thompson v. DeWine.

“Alaska Supreme Court Says Initiative for a Top-Four System and Campaign Finance Disclosure Does Not Violate the Single-Subject Rule, and Therefore Can be on November 2020 Ballot”

June 12, 2020, 3:36 pmballot access, campaign finance, direct democracyRick Hasen

BAN reports.

“Backers of Michigan LGBT rights initiative granted extra time for ballot petition signatures”

June 11, 2020, 8:02 amdirect democracyRick Hasen

MLive: Backers of a Michigan LGBT rights initiative have been granted 69 extra days to gather the signatures required for their question to appear before voters.The additional time equates to the length of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home orders intended… Continue reading

Federal District Court Extends Nevada Petition Filing Deadline in Light of COVID for Circulators of Redistricting Petition

May 29, 2020, 3:14 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Opinion here. The court rejected a request to relax the in-person signature requirements.

“Mich. ballot initiative hampered by pandemic, lockdown seeks day in court”

May 27, 2020, 12:17 pmballot access, direct democracyRick Hasen

The Detroit News reports.

Revised Version Available of My Paper on Direct Democracy Rights During a Pandemic, Taking Into Account Awful 6th Circuit Opinion from Tuesday

May 27, 2020, 11:59 amballot access, direct democracy, election administrationRick Hasen

Draft here (paper is forthcoming in the University of Chicago Law Review Online). Abstract: Putting aside the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Republican National Committee v. Democratic National Committee, the case over extending the date for receipt of absentee ballots… Continue reading