Monthly Archives: October 2014

“What’s In A Name? It Could Matter If You’re Writing To Your Lawmaker”

October 13, 2014, 9:33 amlegislation and legislatures, voter idJustin Levitt

NPR reports on a fascinating (and alarming) study — I’d seen an earlier draft. Researchers emailed state legislators, asking what kind of documentation they needed; the only difference in the emails was the name of the sender (Jacob Smith… Continue reading

“GOP-Backed Voting Limits Spur Backlash”

October 13, 2014, 9:33 amelection administration, The Voting WarsJustin Levitt

And here come the backlash stories. A snippet of the latest: Already, more Americans than ever will face new voting restrictions in November as 15 states – some with the closest midterm races in the country – begin implementing laws… Continue reading

“The Most Persuasive Judicial Response to Voter Suppression Laws Yet”

October 13, 2014, 9:31 amelection administration, election law and constitutional law, The Voting Wars, voter idJustin Levitt

Andrew Cohen connects Judge Ramos to Judge Posner in The Week.

“The Big Lie Behind Voter ID Laws”

October 13, 2014, 9:31 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter idJustin Levitt

Yesterday’s editorial from the New York Times.

“Braced for Voter Fraud in Colorado”

October 12, 2014, 10:50 pmfraudulent fraud squadJustin Levitt

John Fund’s latest in the National Review Online. Mr. Fund is a very careful writer. One paragraph (the brackets are mine) states: One of the examples [Secretary Gessler] cites [as reason to be afraid of same-day registration] is Wisconsin. In… Continue reading

Collateral Damage from the Voting Wars?

October 12, 2014, 2:37 pmThe Voting WarsJustin Levitt

NPR profiles the surprisingly close election for Kansas Secretary of State.

“Judge Richard A. Posner’s Riposte Skewers State’s Flawed Voter ID Law”

October 12, 2014, 2:36 pmelection administration, election law and constitutional law, The Voting Wars, voter idJustin Levitt

Today’s editorial in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Fifth Circuit documents

October 12, 2014, 12:28 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

The 5th Circuit still hasn’t recognized the Texas voter ID appeal on its own case management system, in part because the state’s initial petition for a 5th Circuit order slowing the whole business down was apparently filed under seal. But… Continue reading

“Jackson County Being Pressured to Open Satellite Office for voters”

October 12, 2014, 11:58 amabsentee ballots, election administrationJustin Levitt

This story has the update on a suit to force the opening of a satellite registration office on a reservation in South Dakota.

“Midterm Voters Drown in Dark Money”

October 12, 2014, 11:50 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Al Hunt at BloombergView.

The Latest Ms. McIntyre?

October 12, 2014, 8:54 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

A federal court in Colorado has blocked Colorado from applying its reporting and disclosure law to a small nonprofit weighing in on a ballot measure. The Coalition for Secular Government argues for separation of church and state; its policy paper… Continue reading

“Devers’ $5 Giveaways Are Legal, State Says”

October 12, 2014, 8:54 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Kansas Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance says that giving away $650 of $5 bills is apparently all good under the state’s campaign finance law.

Demographics of American Office Holders

October 12, 2014, 8:53 amUncategorizedJustin Levitt

See this infographic. Statistics on local officeholders, in particular, can be tricky to compile. [Update: In a related piece, FairVote looks at the gender of elected officials in our 100 largest cities.]

Va. Governor Changes Political Calculus for New Cong. Districts

October 12, 2014, 8:53 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, it’s been nearly 25 years since a Democratic governor signed off on Virginia’s plan to draw congressional districts.