Monthly Archives: January 2016

“Before Rise as Outsider, Ted Cruz Played Inside Role in 2000 Recount”

January 25, 2016, 8:56 amBush v. Gore reflections, campaigns, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

NYT: Mr. Cruz, now a Texas senator and a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, rarely invokes the 2000 race and recount. He has largely disavowed the comparatively moderate Bush wing of theRepublican Party in pursuit… Continue reading

“North Carolina’s voter ID law heads to trial”

January 25, 2016, 8:35 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Reuters reports.

“Conservative national groups battle in the states over Constitution redo”

January 25, 2016, 8:24 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

CPI: It’s only a short phrase buried in the U.S. Constitution, but it enables an unprecedented avenue to change the law of the land: If two-thirds of the states demand it, Congress “shall call a convention” for proposing… Continue reading

“Kris Kobach files new round of voter fraud cases in 3 Kansas counties”

January 25, 2016, 8:21 amelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

He promises details later.

Shelby County, Texas Lose Voting Fee Cases Before the Supreme Court

January 25, 2016, 8:20 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Today’s Supreme Court order list includes news that Shelby County, Alabama was denied fees in its voting case which got a key part of the Voting Rights Act struck down as unconstitutional. On this case, see my earlier post, Chutzpah … Continue reading

“How Mike Bloomberg could win as independent presidential candidate”

January 24, 2016, 5:03 pmalternative voting systems, electoral college, third partiesRick Hasen

Rob Richie: This weekend news broke that former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg is exploring a potential independent bid for president. A Morning Consult poll shows his appeal is at this point limited to about 15%, but it’s… Continue reading

“NC voter ID trial opens in Winston-Salem”

January 24, 2016, 3:37 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

New and Observer: Many in North Carolina may begin their Monday morning assessing what, if any, obstacles were left behind by the winter storm that covered the state with snow and ice. In a federal courtroom in Winston-Salem, U.S.… Continue reading

“Trial to start in lawsuit over North Carolina’s voter-ID law”

January 24, 2016, 3:31 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WaPo: Rosanell Eaton still remembers the day 70 years ago when she traveled two hours with her mother in a mule-drawn wagon to register to vote at the county courthouse. Before she could, she was forced to take a… Continue reading

“A strong independent presidential candidate would be a nightmare”

January 24, 2016, 10:14 amcampaigns, electoral college, third partiesRick Hasen

Must-read @NormOrnstein in WaPo: One of the most enduring themes in U.S. presidential politics is the fantasy of a knight in shining armor emerging to vanquish pretenders on both sides and lead the country to a world free from polarization,… Continue reading

“N.C.’s controversial voter ID law goes on trial; nation watches”

January 24, 2016, 10:11 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Michael Hewlett curtain-raiser for the Winston-Salem Journal.

“Bloomberg, Sensing an Opening, Revisits a Potential White House Run”

January 23, 2016, 4:27 pmballot access, campaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: Michael R. Bloomberg has instructed advisers to draw up plans for a potential independent campaign in this year’s presidential race. His advisers and associates said he was galled by Donald J. Trump’s dominance of the Republican field, and… Continue reading

“Michigan Progressives Find Their Inner Citizens United”

January 23, 2016, 4:16 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Steve Klein oped in the Detroit News: Gov. Rick Snyder signed a comprehensive campaign finance bill into law on Jan. 6, Senate Bill 571. It generated quite the clamor, including accusations that the bill includes a “gag order” against public… Continue reading

“Politicians Sue Colorado Mom into Silence Over Newspaper Ads”

January 22, 2016, 3:06 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release: On January 21, 2016, a concerned Colorado citizen joined with the Institute for Justice (IJ) to file a federal lawsuit against the Colorado secretary of state, seeking to ensure that anyone in Colorado can speak freely about the… Continue reading

“Virginia Urges Supreme Court to Let Redistricting Plan Stand”

January 22, 2016, 3:01 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Roll Call: Virginia’s election officials urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to keep in place a new, judge-selected redistricting plan for this year’s congressional elections, putting the officials at odds with 10 current and former members of the state’s… Continue reading