Monthly Archives: December 2018

Today’s Must-Read: “Russian Effort to Influence 2016 Election Targeted African-Americans”

December 17, 2018, 8:26 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: The Russian influence campaign on social media in the 2016 election made an extraordinary effort to target African-Americans, used an array of tactics to try to suppress turnout among Democratic voters and unleashed a blizzard of posts on Instagram… Continue reading

“Liberals Can Hold Corporations Accountable; Corporate America prefers Republican voters and Democratic consumers.”

December 17, 2018, 8:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Frank Wilkinson for Bloomberg View: It’s amazing that corporations have gotten away with it for so long. Cheerios had a social moment back in 2013 with an ad featuring a mixed-race family. Racists didn’t much like the idea of little… Continue reading

Just as Many of Us Suspected: Brian Kemp Had Zero Evidence When He Publicly Accused Democrats of Hacking the Vulnerable Georgia Election System and Used Accusation to Hide His Own Incompetence

December 16, 2018, 6:18 pmchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

AJC investigation: Brian Kemp, the Republican candidate for governor, had a problem. As did Brian Kemp, Georgia’s secretary of state. It was Nov. 3, a Saturday, 72 hours to Election Day. Virtually tied in the polls with Democrat Stacey… Continue reading

“Jersey Democrats cancel vote on controversial redistricting plan”

December 16, 2018, 6:13 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

NJ.com: Inundated with fierce opposition from across the political spectrum, Democrats who lead the New Jersey Legislature have abruptly shelved a controversial redistricting plan that critics say could bolster their power for decades. Democratic leaders had scheduled a vote for… Continue reading

Michigan: “You won’t find ‘good government’ in GOP’s campaign finance changes”

December 16, 2018, 5:51 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Daniel Wiener oped in the Detroit Free Press.

“Liberal groups move to sue after Walker signs lame-duck bills in Wisconsin”

December 14, 2018, 5:52 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Politico: Two liberal groups announced that they will take legal action in response to Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s decision to sign legislation limiting the powers of Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers. The One Wisconsin Institute, supported by the National… Continue reading

California Secretary of State Calls on Governor to Fire Head of State DMV After Additional Voter Registration Errors

December 14, 2018, 4:31 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

LAT: Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of… Continue reading

North Carolina Elections Board Sets January 11 Hearing on #NC09 Absentee Ballot Controversy, Meaning Mark Harris Won’t Be Seated as Congress Begins January 3

December 14, 2018, 1:46 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

This means Mark Harris will not be sworn in on January 3. #NC09 #ncpol — Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) December 14, 2018

“Appeals court temporarily blocks online voter registration for Texas drivers”

December 14, 2018, 12:11 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: Texas will not be required to meet a 45-day deadline to implement online voter registration for drivers — for now. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that mandated… Continue reading

“Despite Trump’s claims, campaign finance violations can be very serious”

December 14, 2018, 8:58 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Fredreka Schouten for CNN: President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress this week have repeatedly sought to dismiss as trivial allegations that Trump directed hush money payments to women in potential violation of the nation’s campaign-finance laws. “If… Continue reading

“‘A breakdown in trust’: Revelations about hush money and Russian interference renew debate over the legitimacy of Trump’s 2016 win”

December 14, 2018, 8:56 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Marc Fisher for WaPo: As if the country didn’t have enough to be divided about, now the forces aligned for and against President Trump are battling over whether his presidency is legitimate. The evidence emerging in recent days and months… Continue reading

“Va. House GOP asks U.S. Supreme Court to stop new electoral map”

December 14, 2018, 8:52 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Republican leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates have formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and block a lower court’s efforts to redraw the House map for the 2019 elections. In a court filing… Continue reading

“Pam S. Karlan on Fair Democracy”

December 14, 2018, 8:49 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

EPIC: Pam S. Karlan, Stanford Law professor and EPIC Advisor, delivered a speech to the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS), where she is also Board Chair. The mission of ACS is to “promote the vitality of the … Continue reading

George T. Conway III , Trevor Potter and Neal Katyal: “Trump’s claim that he didn’t violate campaign finance law is weak — and dangerous”

December 14, 2018, 8:22 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo column: But the case is actually harmful for Trump — especially what the judge ruled. Edwards repeatedly argued that the payments were not campaign contributions because they were not made exclusively to further his campaign. The judge rejected… Continue reading