Monthly Archives: September 2015

New Data on Campaign Spending in NJ

September 29, 2015, 3:05 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NJ ELEC: “An unprecedented wave of independent special interest spending drove the cost of the 2013 legislative general election to $53.3 million, the most ever without adjusting for inflation, according to a new analysis by the Election Law Enforcement… Continue reading

“Legislator Says Gift Ban Violates His Freedom of Speech”

September 29, 2015, 2:59 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Lee Fang for The Intercept: Supreme Court, in its Citizens United decision, ruled that corporations have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited amounts in elections. Now politicians in Kentucky are claiming they have a Constitutional right to receive… Continue reading

“Kris Kobach, his views spark intense reactions – from supporters, opponents (+videos)”

September 29, 2015, 7:53 amelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Bryan Lowry for the Wichita Eagle: Kobach has had “a devastating impact on voting rights in the state of Kansas and, for that matter, across the country,” says Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.… Continue reading

The Roberts Court at 10: Election Law

September 29, 2015, 7:47 amcampaign finance, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

With today’s 10 year anniversary of John Roberts’ joining the Supreme Court as Chief Justice of the United States. here’s another link to my paper in progress, Election Law’s Path in the Roberts Court’s First Decade: A Sharp Right Turn … Continue reading

“10 Ways Super PACs and Campaigns Coordinate, Even Though They’re Not Allowed To”

September 29, 2015, 7:41 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

National Journal reports.

“Big Donors Seek Larger Roles in Presidential Campaigns”

September 29, 2015, 7:37 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Doubts about new redistricting case”

September 28, 2015, 4:57 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Lyle Denniston for SCOTUSBlog: The Supreme Court on Monday afternoon told lawyers involved in a new case on the constitutionality of a congressional election district in Virginia to file new briefs on whether the case can go forward in the… Continue reading

“FEC employees: a bedraggled lot; Staffers at federal election regulator give own agency low marks”

September 28, 2015, 4:41 pmelection law biz, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Consistent with what I hear. It is really too bad because there are some wonderful people who work at the agency.

“Of Judges and ‘Wannabes'”

September 28, 2015, 1:46 pmjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Kate Berry at the Brennan Center: Should all judicial candidates be treated equally? This question gripped the Ninth Circuit during en banc oral argument earlier this month in Wolfson v. Concannon.* Plaintiff Randolph Wolfson is an Arizona lawyer who ran… Continue reading

“Remembering Bill Crawford”

September 28, 2015, 1:45 pmThe Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Here is a guest post from Josh Douglas: I was saddened to learn of Rep. Bill Crawford’s death last week. I had the opportunity — and pleasure — to interview Rep. Crawford this past summer for research for a new… Continue reading

More Evenwel Amicus Briefs

September 28, 2015, 1:39 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Brief of Hawaii Reapportionment Plaintiffs Fair Elections Legal Network

“Why The Most Urgent Civil Rights Cause Of Our Time Is The Supreme Court Itself”

September 28, 2015, 7:39 amcampaign finance, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have written this longread for TPM, and I’ve been working on it for quite some time. It begins: The future composition of the Supreme Court is the most important civil rights cause of our time. It is more important… Continue reading

“Chief Justice John Roberts Amasses Conservative Record, and the Right’s Ire”

September 28, 2015, 7:37 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

Adam Liptak NYT Sidebar column: Political scientists say the conservative critique has a little merit, but not much. An analysis of voting patterns over the last decade shows Chief Justice Roberts to be well to the right of Justices Kennedy… Continue reading

Public Supports SEC Rule on Corporate Political Disclosure

September 28, 2015, 7:36 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

From Lisa Gilbert: I wanted to flag important polling released Friday by Public Policy Polling which shows that 88% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats want the SEC to issue a rule requiring publicly traded corporations to disclose their political… Continue reading