Monthly Archives: May 2018
DOJ’s John Gore, Architect of the New Census Question on Citizenship, a No-Show at House Oversight Hearing on the Census: Rep. Gowdy May Subpoena
Sam Levine for HuffPo:
A top House Republican said he was willing to subpoena one of President Donald Trump’s Justice Department appointees to appear before Congress and answer questions about the department’s controversial request to add a question about citizenship… Continue reading
“Ohio Voters Pass Gerrymandering Reform Measure”
HuffPost:
Ohio voters approved a ballot measure on Tuesday that changes the congressional mapmaking process, a move proponents say will rein in excessive partisan gerrymandering.
By passing the ballot measure, called Issue 1, Ohioans amended their state Constitution to… Continue reading
Today’s Must-Read: Justin Levitt’s Testimony on the Census Adding the Citizenship Question
You can find Justin’s testimony here, from yesterday’s House Oversight hearing. From Justin’s testimony:
The testimony above demonstrates that existing data have been largely sufficient to enforce the Voting Rights Act. But — contrary to what we know… Continue reading
Federal Court Rejects DNC Voting Rights Act Challenge to Arizona Rules About Counting Ballots Cast in Wrong Precinct, Prohibiting Most Collection of Absentee Ballots
You can find the 83-page opinion at this link.
Near the end of the opinion, the court rejects treating race as party proxy argument:
Based on the totality of the circumstances, Plaintiffs have not shown that the legislature enacted H.B.… Continue reading
“Russia Tried to Undermine Confidence in Voting Systems, Senators Say”
NYT:
Russia was preparing to undermine confidence in the United States’ voting process when its hackers surveilled around 20 state election systems in the run-up to the 2016 elections, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded in a brief report released on … Continue reading
“Don Blankenship Loses West Virginia Republican Primary for Senate”
NYT:
Don Blankenship, a former coal baron who went to prison for his role in a deadly mine disaster, was soundly defeated in the West Virginia Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, after President Trump and … Continue reading
“Firm Tied to Russian Oligarch Made Payments to Michael Cohen”
NYT:
A shell company that Michael D. Cohen used to pay hush money to a pornographic film actress received payments totaling more than $1 million from an American company linked to a Russian oligarch and several corporations with business before… Continue reading
CFI will become part of the National Institute on Money in Politics
Big and exciting news in the election law biz, combining two very important organizations collecting and analyzing campaign finance data:
The National Institute on Money in State Politics (National Institute) and the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) jointly announced today that… Continue reading
“ACLU seeks $51K for fight with Kobach that led to contempt finding”
Topeka Capital Journal:
The American Civil Liberties Union is asking for more than $50,000 in compensation for hours spent fighting Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach over issues that led to his contempt of court finding.
U.S. District Judge Julie… Continue reading
“Republicans Make Moves To Crush Gerrymandering Reform”
TPM:
With anti-gerrymandering efforts gaining steam, Republicans in some states are mobilizing to protect their ability to continue rigging election maps.
In late April, a Republican group backed by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce sued to keep a popular redistricting… Continue reading
“Rosie O’Donnell’s campaign donations to Dems went over legal limit”
NY Post:
Rosie O’Donnell made illegally over-sized campaign donations to at least five Democratic federal candidates, according to a Post analysis of campaign filings.
The liberal comedian has regularly broken Federal Election Commission rules limiting the total any one person… Continue reading
Ohio Goes to Court Over Ballot Image Preservation
If NY AG Schneiderman Resigns, Because of Physical Abuse Allegations, What Happens Next Politically?
Given the horrific report coming out of Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow’s New Yorker reporting on NY AG Eric Schneiderman, a number of people have asked me what happens next politically.
I’ve just taken an initial glance, and welcome corrections… Continue reading