Monthly Archives: May 2016

“Democrats’ latest Supreme Court tactic: No recess till confirmation”

May 18, 2016, 7:23 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

WaPo: For three months, Senate Democrats have hammered their Republican counterparts over their refusal to take up President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. Now House Democrats are looking to do some hammering of their own. Six of them plan to introduce… Continue reading

Is Sanders Undermining Democratic Party with Claims of Rigged Nomination?

May 18, 2016, 7:08 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Josh Marshall: Sanders narrative today has essentially been that he is political legitimacy. The Democratic party needs to realize that. This, as I said earlier, is the problem with lying to your supporters. Sanders is telling his supporters that he… Continue reading

“Judge slams Kansas voter ID law’s ‘magnitude of harm'”

May 18, 2016, 7:01 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

AP: A judge said Tuesday that Kansas can’t require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections at motor vehicle offices. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled that the state’s proof-of-citizenship requirements likely… Continue reading

Bauer on “Oligarchy” and Campaign Finance Reform

May 18, 2016, 6:55 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bauer: The related but still distinguishable argument about political inequality has meant the same search for clinching proof that policy follows money and makes for a “rigged” system. This week, the Center for Competitive Politics took after a widely… Continue reading

“Donors can give nearly $500,000 to new joint fundraising effort between Trump and RNC”

May 17, 2016, 8:32 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will ask donors to give as much as $449,400 to support his White House bid and down-ballot candidates through a new fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee announced Tuesday night. The … Continue reading

“Judge rules Kobach must register 18,000 suspended Kansas voters”

May 17, 2016, 5:52 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

The Wichita Eagle reports.

“No ballot selfies during June 7 primary, state elections officials say”

May 17, 2016, 5:50 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

LAT reports. Oops. Better tell San Bernardino.

Breaking: Federal District Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against Kansas Proof of Citizenship Requirements for Registration at DMV

May 17, 2016, 3:44 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

A federal district court has issued this 67-page opinion temporarily preventing Kansas from requiring those registering to vote at the DMV while getting or renewing licenses to provide documentary proof of citizenship. From the Court’s conclusion: Under the heightened preliminary… Continue reading

“The Conspiracy Theory That the Clinton Campaign Stole Votes Makes No Sense”

May 17, 2016, 2:04 pmelection administration, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

The Nation reports.

Breaking: Federal Court Strikes Down Key Montana Contribution Limits, Setting Up Quick 9th Circuit Battle and Potential SCOTUS Deadlock

May 17, 2016, 12:52 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Senior federal district court judge Charles Lovell has issued this 30 page opinion granting summary judgment to plaintiffs challenging key provisions of Montana’s campaign finance law, including individual and committee contributions to candidates for governor and state offices. This case… Continue reading

“Ben & Jerry’s Just Started A New Political Fight In North Carolina”

May 17, 2016, 9:56 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

HuffPo: Ben & Jerry’s is churning out a campaign against laws that restrict access to voting. The ice cream giant on Tuesday announced a new flavor, Empower Mint, as part of the nascent effort to register voters in states… Continue reading

“BREAKING: Connecticut To Automatically Register 400,000 Voters”

May 17, 2016, 9:45 amelection administrationRick Hasen

Think Progress reports.

“Automatic Voter Registration in Oregon Is Revolutionizing American Democracy”

May 17, 2016, 9:44 amelection administrationRick Hasen

Ari Berman writes for The Nation.

“Beyond Severability”

May 17, 2016, 9:43 amstatutory interpretation, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I just had a chance to read Lisa Manheim’s excellent article, forthcoming in the Iowa Law Review. Here is the abstract: Severability is a wrecking ball. Even the most cautious use of this doctrine demolishes statutes in contravention of… Continue reading