Monthly Archives: July 2018

“Massachusetts Senate unanimously passes automatic voter registration bill”

July 15, 2018, 7:27 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

The Hill reports that a different version was passed by the state house last month, and that legislators hope to hammer out a version that would take effect by 2020, if signed by the state’s Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican. … Continue reading

“Gerrymandering as a Campaign Issue”

July 15, 2018, 7:17 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

NPR: “After the Supreme Court declined to make a decision about whether partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional, the issue is becoming a campaign issue for Democrats around the country.”

“Big bills for Virginia’s redistricting battle”

July 15, 2018, 7:14 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

Daily Press: “Now on its way, for the second time to the U.S. Supreme Court, the cost to taxpayers of the House’s intervention in the case has reached $4,067,098.03, according to Speaker Kirk Cox’s office. (In addition, the attorney… Continue reading

“Reversing course, Sununu signs voter residency bill into law”

July 14, 2018, 10:11 amvoter registration, votingDan Tokaji

AP: “Republican Gov. Chris Sununu reversed course Friday and signed a bill imposing residency requirements on out-of-state college students who vote in New Hampshire. Current law allows students and others who consider the state their domicile to vote without… Continue reading

“Justice Kavanaugh can help fix gerrymandering”

July 14, 2018, 10:04 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

Jason Harrow in The Hill. I wouldn’t count on it, much as I like the First Amendment associational rights theory that he suggests.

Mississippi Relaxing Voter Registration Deadline for Runoffs to Comply with NVRA

July 14, 2018, 9:57 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

AP on the state’s action in response to a demand letter from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights on behalf of the NAACP: Mississippi is updating a voter registration deadline to meet a requirement of a 1993 federal law, giving… Continue reading

“Kavanaugh and Campaign Finance: Republican National Committee v. Federal Election Commission”

July 14, 2018, 9:46 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtDan Tokaji

Charles Davis on SCOTUSBlog: Kavanaugh’s opinion showed hostility towards the Supreme Court’s views in McConnell. It questioned the theory that these [soft money] limits could be justified simply by the close connection between political parties and candidates or officeholders,… Continue reading

“The Mystery Firm That Became the NRA’s Top Election Consultant”

July 14, 2018, 9:41 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Politico on the NRA’s payments to the consulting firm Starboard Strategic: It was not unusual for the NRA to spend large sums of cash in an election cycle. What was odd was where the money was going. Before 2013, Starboard… Continue reading

Today’s Indictment of Russian Agents Accused of Conspiring to Interfere with 2016 Election

July 13, 2018, 8:52 pmchicanery, voting technologyDan Tokaji

Available here. The indictment alleges a conspiracy to hack the systems of not only the DNC and Clinton campaign, but also election authorities. PBS: The indictment said two named defendants knowingly conspired to hack computers of U.S. “persons,”… Continue reading

Voting Rights Restoration Project in Alabama

July 13, 2018, 9:24 amfelon votingDan Tokaji

Campaign Legal Center and Southern Poverty Law Center announcement on their efforts to re-enfranchise Alabama voters with felony convictions: The Alabama Voting Rights Project will take a simple message across the state: A felony conviction does not permanently take away… Continue reading

“Voting Rights Group’s Lawsuit Challenges Education Amendment”

July 13, 2018, 9:18 amdirect democracyDan Tokaji

Law.com reports: “A constitutional amendment that could create more charter schools should be removed from the November ballot because it is misleading, the League of Women Voters of Florida alleged in a lawsuit.”

Ari Berman on Judge Kavanaugh and Voting Rights

July 13, 2018, 9:14 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

NYT op-ed: “The threat of voter disenfranchisement will get worse if Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed to the court. His opinion in the South Carolina [voter ID preclearance] case and his record in civil rights matters suggests that he will… Continue reading

Experts on Judge Kavanaugh and Election Law

July 13, 2018, 9:06 amSupreme CourtDan Tokaji

From Politico, here are some excerpts on how his confirmation would affect election law and democracy: Geof Stone: “Across the entire spectrum of critical constitutional issues – ranging from abortion to gay rights to affirmative action to gerrymandering to… Continue reading

CLC & Demos on Judge Kavanaugh’s Record

July 13, 2018, 8:47 amSupreme CourtDan Tokaji

Fact sheet available here. Their conclusion: “Judge Kavanaugh’s record raises serious concerns that he would expand the power of big money in politics, weaken voter protections, and insulate the president from the rule of law. Senators must press Kavanaugh… Continue reading