Monthly Archives: October 2017

“Corporations and American Democracy”

October 24, 2017, 1:10 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

This new book from the Tobin Project and Harvard University Press looks to be very important and with some important intersections to election law. Table of Contents: Preface Corporations and American Democracy: An Introduction [Naomi R. Lamoreaux and William J.… Continue reading

“Russia’s Favored Outlet Is an Online News Giant. YouTube Helped.”

October 24, 2017, 1:04 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: When the state-backed Russian news channel RT became the first news organization to surpass one billion views on YouTube in 2013, it marked the achievement with a retrospective of its most popular videos and a special guest — one… Continue reading

“Why Maine will likely vote again on ranked-choice elections”

October 24, 2017, 8:34 amalternative voting systemsRick Hasen

The latest from Maine. [corrected link]

“The Indispensable Electoral College”

October 24, 2017, 8:14 amelectoral collegeRick Hasen

Tara Ross is out with a new book-length defense of the electoral college, with the subhead: “How the Founders Plan Saves Our Country from Mob Rule.”

Pence-Kobach Fraud Commission Spokesperson Suggests There May Be No More Meetings of Sham Commission

October 23, 2017, 7:49 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

WaPo: The 11-member panel, which is nominally chaired by Vice President Pence and formally known as the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, has met publicly twice, in Washington in July and in New Hampshire last month. A third meeting… Continue reading

“Maine’s ranked-choice voting law could be delayed until 2021”

October 23, 2017, 7:38 pmalternative voting systemsRick Hasen

Bangor Daily News: The ranked-choice voting law enacted by voters in 2016 is in danger of full repeal following a series of votes Monday in the Legislature, but it has a stay of execution until December 2021. The law, which… Continue reading

“Obama’s army enlists in redistricting fight”

October 23, 2017, 4:12 pmcampaign finance, redistrictingRick Hasen

Politico: Organizing for Action, the progressive group born out of Barack Obama’s old campaign apparatus, is joining the redistricting effort that Obama has made a central cause of his post-presidency. On Monday, OFA officially launched a partnership with the National… Continue reading

House Committee on Administration Holding Hearing on State Voter List Maintenance

October 23, 2017, 1:05 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

Witness list for Wed. hearing.

“The Voter Fraud Commission Wants Your Data — But Experts Say They Can’t Keep It Safe”

October 23, 2017, 12:48 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

ProPublica: The voter-fraud-checking program championed by the head of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity suffers from data security flaws that could imperil the safety of millions of peoples’ records, according to experts. Indivisible Chicago, a progressive advocacy group… Continue reading

In Major Victory in Case with National Significance, Ninth Circuit on 2-1 Vote Upholds Montana Contribution Limits; Judge Bea Would Appear to Hold All Limits Unconstitutional

October 23, 2017, 11:20 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

In Lair v. Motl, a case I have been closely watching, the Ninth Circuit on a 2-1 vote reversed a district court decision and upheld Montana’s contribution limits. The case is of course important to Montana, but it has national… Continue reading

ELB Podcast Episode 19. Tom Mann and Norm Ornstein: Trumpism, and America, After Trump

October 23, 2017, 8:05 amELB Podcast, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

What is the connection between Republican Party extremism before Trump and the rise of Trump? What kinds of economic and political reforms can best preserve American democracy? What will life after Trump, and Trumpism, look like in the United States?… Continue reading

Friday’s First Amendment Law Review Symposium on Fake News to Be Webcast

October 23, 2017, 8:03 amcampaigns, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Great event coming up, but you’ve got to sign up by Wed. to watch. Details. I’ll be presenting my paper, Cheap Speech and What It Has Done (to American Democracy).

“Voter rights advocates push Illinois to exit multistate database over accuracy, security”

October 23, 2017, 7:53 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Chicago Tribune: Voter rights advocates are pushing Illinois election officials to withdraw from a longtime multistate voter registration database over questions of accuracy, security and voter suppression. The Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program is aimed at cleaning voter records and… Continue reading