Monthly Archives: March 2012

“Hasen: Texas voter ID law may be headed to the Supreme Court”

March 12, 2012, 7:41 pmelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

My new oped in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram begins: On Monday, the Justice Department blocked implementation of Texas’ new voter identification law. Texas said the law is a necessary measure to prevent voter fraud. Justice responded that the law is… Continue reading

“Justice Department bars Texas voter ID law”

March 12, 2012, 7:26 pmDepartment of Justice, election administration, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Albany Redrawing Political Map With Old Lines of Thought”

March 12, 2012, 7:21 pmcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

NYT: “This was the year New York State lawmakers were going to stop protecting incumbents by gerrymandering political maps to improve their re-election chances….But in Albany, as they say, it is déjà vu all over again.”

“The Cost of Inaccuracy: Voter Registration Examined”

March 12, 2012, 7:10 pmelection administration, voter registrationRick Hasen

That’s the lead story in March’s issue of NCSL’s “The Canvass.”

“Michael Steele: “I Wanted a Brokered Convention”

March 12, 2012, 7:08 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Mother Jones: “I wanted a brokered convention,” Steele tells me. “That was one of my goals.” Why in the world would a party chairman desire apparent turmoil? To create excitement and shake up the party, Steele explains. So far this… Continue reading

“Economic Boycotts as Harassment: The Threat to First Amendment Protected Speech in the Aftermath of Doe v. Reed”

March 12, 2012, 7:02 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Elian Dashev has written this very important student note for the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. [Disclosure: I was the academic advisor on this note.] Here is the abstract: The recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Doe v. Reed… Continue reading

“Are Nonprofits People Too?”

March 12, 2012, 5:12 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Stanford Social Innovation Review: There is a great deal of discussion about what the Citizens United decision means for elections, campaign finance, and democracy. But what does it mean for the nonprofit sector? This will be the topic of… Continue reading

“Texas Law Requiring Voter IDs Is Blocked “

March 12, 2012, 5:09 pmvoter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WSJ reports.

“Please join GW’s Political Law Society for a Super PAC Panel”

March 12, 2012, 1:28 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Details here.

“As Rivals Divide, Romney Gains”

March 12, 2012, 1:27 pmalternative voting systems, primariesRick Hasen

WSJ: “The divided support between Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich has prevented either from becoming a permanent heir to the Not-Mitt mantle. As long as both are in the race, neither can likely amass enough delegates to overtake Mr.… Continue reading

“WyLiberty Files to Stop FEC Chill on Free Speech”

March 12, 2012, 1:02 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Press release: “CHEYENNE: The Wyoming Liberty Group (WyLiberty) filed an advisory opinion request with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) today to ensure grassroots organizations will not have to register and report with the federal government just to speak. This… Continue reading

“2012 GOP primary shaping up to be cheapest race in years”

March 12, 2012, 12:58 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

WaPo: “Lost amid all the talk about millionaires influencing the 2012 election is a striking fact: The Republican primary race is shaping up as the cheapest and most financially depressed presidential nominating contest in years.” The article confirms that… Continue reading

And in Election Law News from Wisconsin

March 12, 2012, 12:54 pmThe Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Second judge strikes down state voter id law as unconstitutional under the state constitution (opinion) and GAB sets July recall dates, possibly including Gov. Walker.

“Justice Dept. Blocks Texas Law Requiring Photo ID at Polls”

March 12, 2012, 12:49 pmThe Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

NYT reports. Update: Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Justice Department Rejecting Texas’ Voter ID Law AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision not to preclear Texas’ voter… Continue reading