Monthly Archives: May 2019

Florida: “Legislators make a deal on Amendment 4. Felons must pay but judges can waive costs.”

May 2, 2019, 9:04 pmfelon votingRick Hasen

Miami Herald: Florida lawmakers say they’ve settled on a way to implement Amendment 4 that requires felons to pay all court fees, fines and restitution before voting, but allows judges to waive those costs or convert them into community… Continue reading

“Are states equipped to tackle partisan gerrymandering on their own?”

May 2, 2019, 8:52 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Steve Mazie for the Economist. Yet the difficulty of replicating Michigan’s transition in most other states is a hard reality. And the Wolverine state’s success is allowing some justices to believe that the courts can sit back and let democracy… Continue reading

“Why wasn’t Donald Trump Jr. indicted? Look to Mueller’s ‘exercise of caution’”

May 2, 2019, 8:45 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Bob Egelko for the SF Chronicle.

“Democratic Candidates Are Preparing For A Contested Convention — By Courting Superdelegates”

May 2, 2019, 8:43 pmpolitical partiesRick Hasen

BuzzFeed reports.

“In long-winding case, court considers federal oversight of Texas redistricting”

May 2, 2019, 6:55 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Alexa Ura for the Texas Tribune: Back in the federal courthouse where most of an eight year-long case has played out, the fight over forcing Texas back under federal oversight of its mapmaking appeared to hinge on whether the state… Continue reading

Lawsuit Filed Against New Strict Tennessee Voter Registration Restrictions

May 2, 2019, 6:52 pmThe Voting Wars, voter registrationRick Hasen

Release via email: The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the NAACP, pro bono firm Hogan Lovells US LLP, Memphis-based firm Burch, Porter, & Johnson PLLC, Bromberg Law LLC, and community practitioner Daniel Ayoade Yoon filed suit today challenging… Continue reading

Tennessee: “Did House Speaker’s office attempt to frame activist? DA asks for special prosecutor to investigate”

May 2, 2019, 1:07 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

WTVF: Did Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada’s office try to frame a young activist who had challenged Republican lawmakers during this year’s legislative session?An exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation has uncovered new evidence – including racist text messages – that… Continue reading

Today’s Must-Listen from Pam Fessler: “Trips To Vegas And Chocolate-Covered Pretzels: Election Vendors Come Under Scrutiny”

May 2, 2019, 8:02 amchicanery, election administration, voting technologyRick Hasen

NPR Morning Edition.

“FEC Dysfunction Now Threatens Democracy”

May 2, 2019, 7:56 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

TAP: Of all the Federal Election Commission’s many chronic breakdowns in recent years, its failure to take the slightest action to either stave off or respond to Russian meddling in the 2016 election is the most damaging to American… Continue reading

Trump Pushing Barr to Investigate Biden?

May 1, 2019, 9:31 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Not out of the question, per the NYT: The Trump team’s efforts to draw attention to the Bidens’ work in Ukraine, which is already yielding coverage in conservative media, has been led partly by Rudolph W. Giuliani, who… Continue reading

“The great double standard of our election system”

May 1, 2019, 9:16 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Jon Sherman Hill oped.

“A Lawsuit About Trump and the NRA Could Upend How the Government Polices Campaign Finance”

May 1, 2019, 9:09 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Mother Jones: A gun safety group, Giffords, and a campaign finance watchdog, the Campaign Legal Center, are suing the Federal Election Commission for failing to act on multiple complaints alleging that the National Rifle Association unlawfully coordinated with Donald Trump… Continue reading