Monthly Archives: July 2017

“California’s Far North Deplores ‘Tyranny’ of the Urban Majority”

July 3, 2017, 9:42 pmvotingRick Hasen

NYT: However, two recent initiatives have channeled the deep feeling of underrepresentation. In May, a loose coalition of northern activists and residents, including an Indian tribe and the small northern city of Fort Jones, joined forces to file a federal… Continue reading

White House Responds to State Resistance to Pence-Kobach Demand for Data

July 3, 2017, 9:34 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Mic: Asked for comment about the recent turmoil involving the commission, a White House spokesperson responded late Monday night: “President Trump has charged this commission with producing a set of recommendations to increase the American people’s confidence in our election… Continue reading

“Happy Fourth of July! Show Us Your Papers”

July 3, 2017, 7:18 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

NYT editorial: The better question is what Mr. Trump and his allies so desperately hope to find. Remember that the commission was reverse-engineered to provide a veneer of legitimacy to Mr. Trump’s bogus claims that millions of noncitizens voted in… Continue reading

“Trump’s Voter Suppression Efforts Have Begun”

July 3, 2017, 7:13 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Great Dale Ho NYT oped: There are obvious data privacy concerns. Digital security experts have called the plan a gold mine for hackers. Mr. Kobach’s letter says the data will be held on a “secure FTP site,” but offers no… Continue reading

Without Explanation, Luis Borunda Quits Pence-Kobach Fraud Commission [Corrected]

July 3, 2017, 7:09 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Baltimore Sun: Maryland’s deputy Secretary of State has resigned from a controversial Trump administration panel probing alleged voter fraud in last year’s presidential election….Borunda did not respond to a request for comment. Correction: The initial headline of this post indicated… Continue reading

Former Wisconsin Senator Tells ProPublica No Sign of Voter Fraud to Support Strict Voter ID Laws

July 3, 2017, 2:47 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

ProPublica interview with former WI legislator Dale Schultz: The Republicans pushing the voter ID effort cited voter fraud as a concern and a reason to tighten voting rules and requirements. Did anyone ever show you compelling evidence of that? No,… Continue reading

Maine Secretary of State, Democrat on Pence-Kobach “Election Integrity” Commission, Won’t Turn Over Voter Data to Kobach

July 3, 2017, 1:49 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Letter (via Ari Berman). See my earlier Commentary: Dunlap badly mistaken in agreeing to serve on Trump voter fraud panel

“Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Files Hatch Act Complaint Against Kris Kobach”

July 3, 2017, 1:38 pmconflict of interest laws, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Release: Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed a formal Hatch Act Complaint against Kris Kobach who appears to have violated the Hatch Act in connection with his role as Vice Chair of the Presidential Advisory Commission… Continue reading

Connecticut SOS Changes Her Mind About Cooperating with Pence-Kobach Commission

July 3, 2017, 9:35 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Celeste Katz: When President Donald Trump’s new Commission on Election Integrity sent out a request for reams of personal information about voters, Denise Merrill was skeptical — but tentatively cooperative. The Connecticut secretary of state released a statement saying that… Continue reading

“Confident and Assertive, Gorsuch Hurries to Make His Mark”

July 3, 2017, 9:32 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

Adam Liptak NYT Sidebar: Justice Robert H. Jackson rejected Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes’s estimate of three years to “get acclimated,” saying it was “nearer to five.” Judging by Justice Gorsuch’s early opinions, he is fully acclimated. In June alone,… Continue reading

“Trump says states are ‘trying to hide’ things from his voter fraud commission. Here’s what they actually say.”

July 3, 2017, 9:23 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

WonkBlog.

“Trump launches his opening voter suppression salvo”

July 3, 2017, 9:11 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

WaPo editorial.

“House Republicans Want to Eliminate Federal Election Assistance Agency”

July 3, 2017, 8:46 amelection administration, Election Assistance Commission, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Government Executive: A spending bill from the House Appropriations Committee unveiled Thursday would give the Election Assistance Commission 60 days to terminate itself. The small agency was created after the tightly contested 2000 presidential election. It has an annual budget… Continue reading

“Voting Fights in the States”

July 3, 2017, 8:39 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Miles Rapoport: Well, it’s now the end of June, and while some legislatures are still in session, the great majority have finished their business for the year. Several states have indeed passed bad bills. But, overall, the results are significantly… Continue reading