Monthly Archives: May 2018

Indiana Suit Over Pre-trial Detainees Denied the Right to Vote Certified as Class Action

May 21, 2018, 7:32 amfelon votingRick Hasen

This may be the first class action suit by detainees seeking money damages for loss of the right to vote certified for class status. Here’s an earlier story in Indiana Lawyer: Lawyers for inmates of the Allen County Jail and… Continue reading

“From secretive super PACs to Jenny Craig, 2018 primaries awash in cash”

May 21, 2018, 6:55 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

CPI reports.

“Political Insiders Plotted the Most Gerrymandered District in America—and Left a Paper Trail”

May 21, 2018, 6:53 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

The Washingtonian on the Maryland gerrymander at issue in Benisek.

“Ryan-linked group raised $24.6M from anonymous donor”

May 20, 2018, 2:12 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Politico: American Action Network, the nonprofit group closely aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan, raised a record $41.9 million amid the GOP push to repeal Obamacare and restructure the tax code — more than half of which came from one… Continue reading

“FEC Democrat Pushes for Foreign Campaign Money Rules”

May 20, 2018, 1:36 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: A Democrat on the Federal Election Commission is renewing her push for FEC rules to prevent foreign campaign spending following an announcement from the Senate Intelligence Committee confirming Russian election meddling. “There is no doubt that Russia undertook… Continue reading

“Asked to propose a fix to voting rights violation, Texas offers few answers”

May 20, 2018, 1:34 pmNVRA (motor voter)Rick Hasen

Texas Tribune: Told it was breaking the law and asked to propose a fix, Texas seems to have mostly declined in a new filing the state’s legal adversaries have called “bad faith foot-dragging.” Following a ruling last month that Texas… Continue reading

“Trump Jr. and Other Aides Met With Gulf Emissary Offering Help to Win Election”

May 20, 2018, 1:31 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Three months before the 2016 election, a small group gathered at Trump Tower to meet with Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son. One was an Israeli specialist in social media manipulation. Another was an emissary for two wealthy… Continue reading

“Is the System Rigged Against Democrats?”

May 18, 2018, 12:00 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Zack Roth has this NYT Book Review of David Faris, It’s Time to Fight Dirty.

“Former White House Counsel Bob Bauer Exits Perkins Coie”

May 18, 2018, 11:58 amelection law bizRick Hasen

Law.com reports.

“Court Rules Santa Clara Violated the California Voting Rights Act”

May 17, 2018, 8:19 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

NBC Bay Area: A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge announced Tuesday that he believes Santa Clara’s at-large voting system violates the California Voting Rights Act and has impaired the Asian-American population from getting elected. Santa Clara registered voters Ladonna… Continue reading

“Not Just Ballots: Tennessee Hack Shows Election Websites Are Vulnerable, Too”

May 17, 2018, 7:53 pmchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

Miles Parks for NPR: When a WWE wrestler, especially one known for his demonic antics and a move calledthe “tombstone piledriver,” runs for mayor of your county, you know your election is going to get more attention than usual.… Continue reading

“Senate intelligence leaders: Russians schemed to help Trump”

May 17, 2018, 7:54 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Politico: Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday endorsed the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to help President Donald Trump and hurt Hillary Clinton. It’s a powerful bipartisan endorsement… Continue reading

“Superdelegates Are No. 1 on the Democratic Party To-Do List”

May 17, 2018, 7:48 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: Democratic Party officials, desperate to present a unified front in advance of the all-important 2018 midterms, are working to revamp their presidential nominating process and erase the final vestiges of the bitter 2016 presidential primary battle between Hillary Clinton… Continue reading

“Arkansas judge who blocked TV ads removes himself from Supreme Court justice’s case”

May 17, 2018, 7:40 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: A Washington County circuit judge who ordered that negative political ads against Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson be pulled off the airwaves recused himself from further involvement in the case Wednesday. However, the temporary restraining order by Circuit… Continue reading