Monthly Archives: August 2017

Federal Court Finds Louisiana Engaged in Intentional Racial Discrimination in At-Large Judicial Elections [Corrected]

August 18, 2017, 10:46 amjudicial elections, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

From the 91-page opinion, also finding Voting Rights Act discriminatory effect: District-based voting was rejected for the 32nd JDC on at least six occasions between 1997 and 2011. Taken as a whole, this timeline shows discriminatory intent. Local white officials,… Continue reading

“Seattle candidate accused of defrauding first-in-nation democracy-voucher program”

August 18, 2017, 10:44 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Seattle Times: Seattle police are investigating a City Council campaign after an allegation that it tried to defraud Seattle’s first-in-the-nation, taxpayer-funded “democracy voucher” program. The police inquiry comes after a former campaign manager for Sheley Secrestwent to city… Continue reading

“Husted, Arizona Inter Tribal, and Lessons from the Constitutional Structure”

August 18, 2017, 10:23 amelection administration, NVRA (motor voter), Supreme Court, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Franita Tolson: Husted is, therefore, more than just a case about statutory interpretation. It also implicates the Constitution’s allocation of power to the states and the federal government under the Elections Clause. As both the Arizona and Ohio laws illustrate,… Continue reading

Pippa Norris’s “Strengthening Electoral Integrity” Out In August

August 18, 2017, 7:27 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Looking forward to reading this last one of the trilogy. Book descriiption: Today a general mood of pessimism surrounds Western efforts to strengthen elections and democracy abroad. If elections are often deeply flawed or even broken in many countries around… Continue reading

Marc Elias Interviewed on “Take Care” Podcast

August 18, 2017, 7:22 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Listen.

“California Panel Changes Donor Rule as Democrat Faces Recall”

August 18, 2017, 7:19 amcampaign finance, recall electionsRick Hasen

AP: California‘s political watchdog moved forward Thursday with a controversial change to a campaign finance rule that will help a Democratic state senator facing a recall. The Fair Political Practices Commission voted 3-1 Thursday to adopt the change, which… Continue reading

“Charlottesville and the Problem of Donald Trump’s Constitution”

August 18, 2017, 7:15 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Bob Bauer, with a note on Pence-Kobach: Trump has not limited himself to waging this war of exclusion on a merely rhetorical front. His Vice President is managing the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, a major initiative to root… Continue reading

Court Rules in Favor of White Plain Petition Signatories Who Used “W.P.” on Candidate Petitions

August 17, 2017, 3:14 pmballot accessRick Hasen

BAN with a link to the ruling.

“Back to School; University of Minnesota adds Undergraduate Certificate in Election Administration”

August 17, 2017, 10:25 amelection administration, pedagogyRick Hasen

Doug Chapin with exciting news.

“At Senator Menendez’s Trial, Stakes Are High for Democrats”

August 17, 2017, 10:23 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Shane Goldmacher for the NYT: If Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, is convicted and then expelled from the United States Senate by early January, his replacement would be picked by Gov. Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey and an… Continue reading

“Neil Gorsuch Speech at Trump Hotel Raises Ethical Questions”

August 17, 2017, 10:13 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Adam Liptak for the NYT. This piece quotes my Celebrity Justice piece in the Green Bag.

If Pence-Kobach Voter Fraud Commission is Doing Any Substantive Work, It Would Be News to At Least One Democratic Commissioner

August 16, 2017, 2:01 pmfraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

From this Think Progress piece on whether any commission members might leave the Commission given President Trump’s abhorrent comments calling some of the white supremacists marching in Charlottesville “very fine people,” is this discussion from Democratic commissioner David Dunn: “I’ve… Continue reading