Monthly Archives: March 2018

“Van Ostern Launches Campaign to Oust Gardner as N.H. Secretary of State”

March 14, 2018, 7:32 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

NHPR: New Hampshire’s Secretary of State is elected every two years, not by voters but by the Legislature – meaning that to win, Van Ostern will have to persuade enough state lawmakers that he’s better suited for the job than… Continue reading

“FEC considers expanding political ad disclaimers to mobile apps”

March 14, 2018, 6:36 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: Federal officials on Wednesday unveiled a proposal that could expand political disclaimer rules beyond websites such as Google to mobile applications such as Snapchat, but could give leeway about how much information would have to be disclosed based on… Continue reading

In Strange, Unanimous Unpublished Opinion, 11th Circuit Revives Common Cause’s Voter Purge Case Against Georgia

March 14, 2018, 6:14 pmelection administration, NVRA (motor voter), The Voting WarsRick Hasen

The district court had dismissed Common Cause’s claim that Georgia’s voter purge law violated the NVRA and the First Amendment. Today, the Eleventh Circuit, in a brief, unpublished opinion, sent the case back and told the trial court to… Continue reading

“Approval Of Tempe Ballot Measure Could Set Up Showdown With State”

March 14, 2018, 5:53 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

KJZZ: Tempe voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 403, which amends the City Charter to “require the disclosure of the origins of major contributions used to influence city elections.” That goes against a bill in the state Legislature that prohibits Arizona cities… Continue reading

“Kobach witness can’t support claim that illegal votes helped Hillary Clinton”

March 14, 2018, 9:36 amfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

CJ Online: Jesse Richman endured a blistering critique Tuesday of his estimate of 18,000 noncitizen voters in Kansas and said he couldn’t support claims by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote because more… Continue reading

Watch Brennan Center Video in Which Joan Biskupic and I Discuss Justice Scalia’s Legacy and My New Book, The Justice of Contradictions

March 14, 2018, 9:31 amScalia, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

(also at this link) There’s also this podcast. (Link to order the book.)

“FTC Exclusively Obtains Records from U.S. Marshals Service on Scalia’s Final Trip, Justices’ Summer Travel”

March 14, 2018, 9:27 amScalia, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Fix the Court: On the day before he died, Justice Antonin Scalia – deplaning from Southwest flight no. 1209 at Houston Hobby, gun in tow and in poorer health than was widely known – was met by deputy U.S. marshals… Continue reading

With Lamb Holding 627 Vote Lead in PA-18 Congressional Race, Republicans Raise Claims of Voting Irregularities, Possibility of Requesting Recount

March 14, 2018, 9:24 amelection administration, recountsRick Hasen

Philly.com: In a highly-watched special election in western Pennsylvania, Democrat Conor Lamb is currently maintaining a slim lead over Republican Rick Saccone Wednesday morning. With all precincts fully reporting and absentee ballots counted, Lamb holds a 627-vote lead over Saccone… Continue reading

Released Emails Show Coordination Between DOJ and Pence-Kobach Fraud Commission over Voter Fraud Allegations, with Communications Between John Gore and EAC’s Christy McCormick

March 14, 2018, 9:13 amelection administration, Election Assistance Commission, fraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

TPM: The chair of the Republican Party in Chicago last year passed on allegations of voter fraud to a member of President Trump’s now-defunct voter fraud commission, using a top Justice Department official as intermediary, newly released emails reveal. The… Continue reading

“Despite pledge to ‘drain the swamp,’ Trump has shown little interest in beefing up the Federal Election Commission”

March 14, 2018, 9:05 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo: More than a year into his presidency, President Trump has shown little interest in beefing up the Federal Election Commission, the agency that could serve as a key player in his avowed agenda to reduce the influence of moneyed… Continue reading

“‘Incredible and offensive’: Retired attorney feels sorry for Kobach team in voter fraud trial”

March 13, 2018, 8:36 amfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

The Topeka Capital Journal reports.

“Is one of the Pennsylvania voting cases doomed?”

March 12, 2018, 7:53 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Lyle Denniston for Constitution Daily.

“Gerrymandering Justice: Reaction to the Pa. Supreme Court’s Rulings”

March 12, 2018, 1:05 pmjudicial elections, redistrictingRick Hasen

Howard Bashman in the Legal Intelligencer: In my view, it would be a huge mistake for Republican state legislators to actually initiate impeachment proceedings against Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices for having issued rulings with which the legislators disagree as a… Continue reading

“Bill to shorten Atlanta voting hours advances in Ga. House”

March 12, 2018, 1:01 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Atlanta-Journal Constitution: Voters in Atlanta would have one less hour to cast their ballots under a bill that cleared a subcommittee Thursday. The legislation, Senate Bill 363, would force the city of Atlanta to close its polls at 7… Continue reading