Monthly Archives: September 2017

Supreme Court Won’t Hurry Consideration of Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Case

September 13, 2017, 2:42 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Kimberly Robinson with the order. I linked to the jurisdictional statement here. I expect this means that the Maryland case, like the North Carolina partisan gerrymandering case, will be held for resolution of Gill v. Whitford, and then sent back… Continue reading

Political Geographers’ Amicus On Distinguishing Partisan Gerrymandering From Natural Geographic Clustering

September 13, 2017, 2:16 pmUncategorizedRichard Pildes

I want to single out, in two posts, two amicus briefs in Whitford. I am co-counsel on the first, filed on behalf of a group of academic experts in political geography (see here). I chose to represent these experts… Continue reading

von Spakovsky Says He Did Not Send Email to Attorney General But to Others and It Was Forwarded

September 13, 2017, 1:51 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Statement to Jessica Huseman. There doesn’t appear to be a question he wrote the letter against including Democrats, mainstream Republicans or academics on the Commission. The question is over who he sent it to. Looking at how things were… Continue reading

“Kobach: ‘High Possibility’ Commission Won’t Make Any Recommendations”

September 13, 2017, 7:34 amfraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

TPM: There was no mention of the data request during the commission’s meeting, which included presentations about historical election turnout data, electronic voting systems and issues affecting public confidence in elections. But speaking to reporters afterward, commission vice chairman Kris… Continue reading

Bob Bauer Calls on von Spakovsky to Resign from Pence-Kobach Sham Commission, and Has Questions About DOJ/AG Role

September 13, 2017, 7:27 amDepartment of Justice, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

MSMHL: The email was sent in February of this year. In June, President Trump appointed one of these Heritage experts, Hans Von Spakovsky, to the Commission. It turns out that Von Spakovsky also wrote the email, a fact now confirmed … Continue reading

“The voting commission is a fraud itself. Shut it down.”

September 13, 2017, 7:23 amfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Jennifer Rubin in WaPo: Wait a minute. Yes, a partisan politician — did we mention he’s running for governor? — and lawyer who writes for an alt-right publication known for hyperbole, exaggeration and outright falsehoods is simultaneously leading a commission… Continue reading

“Watchdog group wants Facebook to release Russian-sponsored ads”

September 13, 2017, 7:21 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

CNBC: The Campaign Legal Center is urging Facebook to release the content of political ads purchased by Russian nationals and displayed on Facebook, most notably during the 2016 presidential campaign cycle. CNBC obtained an advance copy of a letter sent… Continue reading

“Trump nominates Texas lawyer Trey Trainor for Federal Election Commission”

September 13, 2017, 7:19 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: President Donald Trump is nominating Trey Trainor, an Austin lawyer well known in Texas politics, to serve on the Federal Election Commission. The White House announced Trainor’s appointment late Tuesday night. He must be confirmed by the… Continue reading

Supreme Court, on 5-4 Party Line Vote, Blocks Texas Redistricting Remedy for Now. What’s Next?

September 12, 2017, 5:56 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

In two orders, with all of the conservative Republican-appointed Justices voting in favor and all the liberal Democratic-appointed Justices opposed, the Supreme Court put on hold a lower court order for Texas to redraw congressional and state house district… Continue reading

Updated: Someone at Heritage Sent Letter Urging Pence-Kobach to Keep Democrats, Mainstream Republicans, and Academics off Fraud Commission

September 12, 2017, 2:51 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Via a Campaign Legal Center FOIA: Note the reference to “the white paper we sent you” and “the three of us have written more on the voter fraud issue than anyone in the country on our side of the aisle.” … Continue reading

“The Missing Link in Gerrymandering Jurisprudence”

September 12, 2017, 2:26 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Ned Foley on Whitford: Thus, this new computer-assisted statistical approach can be used to identify what the constitutional principle was looking for: an egregious partisan gerrymander. Strictly defined, and precisely measured, an egregious partisan gerrymander is one that is identified… Continue reading

“Ballot Blocked: The Political Erosion of the Voting Rights Act”

September 12, 2017, 7:40 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

New book from Jesse Rhodes: Voting rights are a perennial topic in American politics. Recent elections and the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which struck down key enforcement provisions in the Voting Rights Act (VRA), have only… Continue reading

“Court blocks penalties in new New Hampshire voting law”

September 12, 2017, 7:35 amvotingRick Hasen

Josh Gerstein: A New Hampshire judge has blocked recent changes to the state’s voting laws that would have exposed some first-time voters to a fine or jail time if they failed to submit residence paperwork within 10 days of registering.… Continue reading