Monthly Archives: September 2016

“The Myth of Pervasive Voter Fraud”

September 20, 2016, 11:34 amchicanery, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Andrew Cohen for Brennan: One of the most distressing indications of failure in American journalism today is the release of a poll last week that reveals that nearly half of the country believes that voter fraud occurs “very or somewhat… Continue reading

Sad News: Sunlight Foundation Likely to Fold or Merge into Another Organization

September 20, 2016, 11:30 amelection law bizRick Hasen

And the statement in part blames the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision for limiting the opportunities for meaningful money-in-politics reforms. If that’s the reason, hang on. Things could be getting much better in the next few years.

Could WI’s Approach to Voter ID Get Even More Disgusting?

September 20, 2016, 11:14 amchicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

One of the arguments that is often made in favor of mandatory voter id is the paternalistic one that forcing people to come up with the costs for the underlying documents etc. to get a state-issued voter id card will… Continue reading

At Least Some PA Overseas Ballots Apparently Omit Gary Johnson, Contain Other Errors

September 20, 2016, 8:59 amballot access, election administrationRick Hasen

I’ve just received what I’ve been told is a copy of the overseas ballot sent by Susquehanna County, PA. Gary Johnson is omitted, the Constitution Party candidates are listed as being from the Conservative Party, and it has the wrong… Continue reading

Court in TX Voter ID Case Grants DOJ Motion on Voter ID Education, Requires Preclearance of Materials

September 20, 2016, 8:52 amelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

The plaintiffs in the Texas voter id litigation have been complaining that Texas has not properly alerted voters that for this election they can vote without one of the narrow forms of ID. The court has now issued this order,… Continue reading

Is a Vote for Stein or Johnson a Vote for Trump? Yes Without Instant Runoff Voting

September 20, 2016, 7:32 amalternative voting systems, campaignsRick Hasen

I have written this USA Today oped: (with a condescending headline I did not choose) Many Millennials and other voters who are cool toward Hillary Clinton, and warming up to Libertarian Party candidate Johnson or Green Party candidate… Continue reading

“Sheldon Adelson Backs G.O.P. Congressional Candidates More Than Donald Trump”

September 20, 2016, 7:28 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: The Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon G. Adelson is shifting tens of millions of dollars into groups backing congressional Republicans despite months of entreaties from allies of Donald J. Trump, according to several Republicans with knowledge of Mr. Adelson’s… Continue reading

” An inside look at how politicians beg for big checks”

September 20, 2016, 7:27 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Matea Gold for WaPo: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had a lot of wealthy targets to hit in Palm Beach, Fla., on an April afternoon in 2011. There was a possible call with casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson. There was a private… Continue reading

“The Allure of Reform and A Modest Proposal”

September 20, 2016, 7:05 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bauer: Matt Grossman and David A Hopkins have pronounced many decades of liberal reform to be a failure. In a new book, they argue that the 1970s reform program did not lead to the success of liberal policies but… Continue reading

“The Success of the Voter Fraud Myth”

September 19, 2016, 10:13 pmelection administration, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

NYT editorial: How does a lie come to be widely taken as the truth? The answer is disturbingly simple: Repeat it over and over again. When faced with facts that contradict the lie, repeat it louder. This, in a nutshell,… Continue reading

NRA Sends Incorrect Voter Registration Materials in Wisconsin

September 19, 2016, 9:55 pmvoter registrationRick Hasen

Patrick Marley: ‘.@NRA is sending voter registration packets to WI voters but telling them to send them to wrong place — the state instead of local clerks” More: “So far, the state has received 24 @NRA voter… Continue reading

FL Officials Trying to Keep McMullin Off Presidential Ballot, Reversing Earlier Interpretation of FL Ballot Access Law

September 19, 2016, 7:56 pmballot accessRick Hasen

Missed this Politico story from last week, and it looks like McMullin would have a good case if the campaign went to court: he decision by Gov. Rick Scott’s administration to block Evan McMullin’s presidential campaign from the general election… Continue reading

Adelson Gives Trump Super PAC a Relatively Paltry Sum of $5 Million; More Generous Supporting Rs for House and Senate

September 19, 2016, 7:43 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

CNN: Conservative megadonor Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, have committed roughly $45 million so far to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and downballot Republicans’ attempt to control Congress, according to a person familiar with Adelson’s thinking. The billionaire on Tuesday… Continue reading

Texas May Pass a New Voter ID Law to Get Past “Democrat” Judge

September 19, 2016, 4:08 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter id, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

From the KUT report I’ve just linked to: During an appearance on Laura Ingraham’s radio show today, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the Texas Legislature will try to pass a new voter ID law in the next session. “I was… Continue reading