Category Archives: political equality

“Lowering the Voting Age to 16: Learning from Real Experiences Worldwide”

January 3, 2020, 4:38 pmpolitical equality, votingJustin Levitt

The new year brings another new book on electoral mechanics, edited by Jan Eichhorn and Johannes Bergh. The abstract: This book explores the consequences of lowering the voting age to 16 from a global perspective, bringing together empirical research… Continue reading

“A Century of Votes for Women”

January 2, 2020, 1:30 pm19th Amendment, political equalityJustin Levitt

Christina Wolbrecht and J. Kevin Corder with a new book on the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The abstract: How have American women voted in the first 100 years since the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment? How have popular… Continue reading

Quantitative election administration studies: early voting and polling place location

January 2, 2020, 1:30 pmelection administration, legislation and legislatures, political equality, The Voting WarsJustin Levitt

Two studies newly published in the latest issue of the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics series: Ethan Kaplan and Haishan Yuan, Early Voting Laws, Voter Turnout, and Partisan Vote Composition: Evidence from Ohio We estimate effects of early voting on… Continue reading

“Suit on ex-offender voting filed in close-divided N Carolina”

December 30, 2019, 1:03 pmpolitical equalityJustin Levitt

The AP covers a lawsuit, filed in November under the state constitution, challenging disenfranchisement after incarceration, for terms of probation or parole or until payment of fines and fees. The case documents are here (the early-December amended complaint is… Continue reading

The long arm of Gill

July 19, 2019, 10:38 amelection law and constitutional law, political equality, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Mississippi cites Gill v. Whitford in contesting challengers’ standing to contest the requirement that statewide candidates win both a majority of the state and a majority of state house districts. And the Court’s refusal to recognize that redistricting problems are … Continue reading

“Can a racially gerrymandered legislature amend the N.C. constitution?”

July 19, 2019, 10:37 ampolitical equality, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Facing South on the lawsuits challenging the validity of amendments to the state constitution because they were passed by a legislature elected via unlawful district lines.

“Make the Guarantee Clause Great Again”

July 17, 2019, 5:15 pmpolitical equality, political parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

A clever title for a clever piece about partisan gerrymandering, and the doctrine holding the Guarantee Clause nonjusticiable. I’m inclined to agree on the substance.

“Surge In Voters With Disabilities May Influence 2020 Election”

July 16, 2019, 10:48 ampolitical equality, voters with disabilities, votingJustin Levitt

A reminder of a significant population often overlooked when summary stats are compiled. In 2018, 14.3 million people with disabilities cast ballots, more than the 11.7 million Latino voters that year and nearly as many as the 15.2 million African-American… Continue reading

New volume of the Harvard Law & Policy Review is out

July 15, 2019, 11:00 amcampaign finance, ethics investigations, political equality, political parties, redistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

Chock full of election-law goodies. Among other pieces: Elizabeth Warren, Foreword (on corruption and faith in government)Jeffrey Clements, “But It Will Happen”: A Constitutional Amendment to Secure Political Equality in Election Spending and RepresentationViki Harrison,… Continue reading

“Most Americans say no statehood for the District of Columbia, poll shows”

July 15, 2019, 10:56 ampolitical equalityJustin Levitt

The latest polling numbers in the fight for representation for DC residents. That’s consistent with past polls … which have also showed a majority favoring full voting rights for DC.

“How white supremacy shaped the original census — centuries before the citizenship debate”

July 14, 2019, 11:07 amcensus litigation, political equalityJustin Levitt

The WaPo sees a through-line in debates about race and the census. Janai Nelson has a deeper look in the Columbia Law Review.

“Oklahoma City artist visiting 36 states for 19th amendment tribute flag”

July 14, 2019, 11:03 ampolitical equalityJustin Levitt

Four states down, 32 to go.

“How the Daughters and Granddaughters of Former Slaves Secured Voting Rights for All”

March 9, 2019, 11:22 ampolitical equality, votingJustin Levitt

The Smithsonian lifts up African-American suffragettes.

“Putting Political Equality Before The Courts In Campaign Finance Cases”

October 6, 2016, 8:54 amcampaign finance, political equalityRick Hasen

Ron Fein: Why do we want to limit the influence of money in politics and what do we tell the courts? For 40 years, since the Supreme Court’s 1976 Buckley v. Valeodecision, the legal arguments for limiting big… Continue reading