Monthly Archives: November 2013

“Humble blogger thwarted by Texas anti-voting dragnet”

November 5, 2013, 12:51 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Jonathan Bernstein (or is that Jonathan H. Bernstein?): The real point, of course, is to make it harder for people to vote so that they won’t vote. Longer lines are a feature of voter ID measures and the exact-name-match requirement,… Continue reading

“Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Fla. political donor law”

November 5, 2013, 12:49 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Washington Times: A Florida political activist is out of luck after the Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear his challenge to a state law that prohibited groups from donating small amounts of money without first forming a political… Continue reading

“Wiley Rein Seeks $2M in Fees in Voting Rights Case”

November 5, 2013, 10:29 amelection law biz, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

BLT: The lawyers who successfully challenged the Voting Rights Act before the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year are seeking $2 million in legal fees from the federal government. U.S. Department of Justice lawyers and attorneys from Wiley Rein,… Continue reading

“From Social Welfare Groups, A River Of Political Influence”

November 5, 2013, 9:51 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Deep dive from Peter Overby of NPR, and Viveca Novak and Robert McGuire of Open Secrets. (Part II coming tomorrow).

“The Supreme Court’s Docket Addresses the Washington Gridlock”

November 5, 2013, 7:34 ampolitical polarizationRick Hasen

Pam Karlan writes for the Boston Review.

“15 officials facing recall votes on Tuesday”

November 5, 2013, 7:32 amrecall electionsRick Hasen

This item appears at the Recall Elections Blog.

Court Strikes Down CA Loyalty Oath

November 5, 2013, 7:30 amcampaignsRick Hasen

The following press release arrived via email: A California Superior Court in San Luis Obispo County has declared three Joe McCarthy era sections of the State’s Election Code unconstitutional. In the case brought by John Barta against Secretary of State… Continue reading

“What Ending Pay-to-Play Would Do for DC”

November 5, 2013, 7:26 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Craig Holman WaPo oped.

“FEC Says Attempted Hacking of Website Impedes Public Access to Campaign Data”

November 5, 2013, 7:24 amcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: “Attempts to hack the Federal Election Commission website have caused ongoing problems with the website, the main source for public access to campaign finance data.”

Briffault on McCutcheon

November 5, 2013, 7:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Jurist: With contribution limits effectively sidestepped by the unlimited spending of Super PACs, political nonprofits, and other campaign finance vehicles, the old reform strategy of using dollar limits to curb the influence of big money is unlikely to succeed. Even… Continue reading

“California donor disclosure case exposes how nonprofits can play in politics”

November 5, 2013, 7:21 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Big Money Flows in New Jersey Races to Thwart Christie Agenda”

November 5, 2013, 7:17 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: “In this new world of Citizens United, you want to take advantage of all the opportunities you can to advance the candidates you want to support,” said Ginger Gold Schnitzer, director of government relations at the New Jersey… Continue reading

“After Shelby County”

November 4, 2013, 3:01 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Kali Borkoski reports for SCOTUSBlog on Pasadena, TX after Shelby County. Watch!

“Walker withdraws elections board nomination”

November 4, 2013, 2:55 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

AP: “Gov. Scott Walker wants to replace, without explanation, the former judge who led the nonpartisan elections board during Walker’s recall in 2012, raising questions about his motives for the unusual move.”