Monthly Archives: May 2019

“Finding Common Ground on Voter ID Laws”

May 21, 2019, 8:41 amelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Gene Mazo has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, University of Memphis Law Review). Here is the abstract: Voter ID laws are currently in force in 35 states. In most states, these laws have been divisive and controversial. Our political… Continue reading

Today’s Must-Read: WaPo on Leonard Leo’s Web of Federalist Society-Allied Organizations, Including JCN, Funded by Undisclosed Money, Making Leo Very Rich and Transforming the American Judiciary into a Deeply Conservative One

May 21, 2019, 8:36 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You’ve got to read this all the way to the end.

Breaking: Federal District Court Allows Suit Against Georgia’s Use of Unsecure DRE Machines without a Paper Trail to Go Forward, Partially Denying Motion to Dismiss

May 21, 2019, 8:27 amelection administration, voting technologyRick Hasen

Important opinion and order in an important case: In sum, the Plaintiffs have alleged that Defendants were aware of serious security breaches in the DRE voting system and failed to take adequate steps to address those breaches. Notably, even after… Continue reading

D.C. Circuit, Sitting En Banc, Upholds Federal Campaign Contribution Limits Applied to Bequests to Libertarian Party, with 3 Judges Partially Dissenting

May 21, 2019, 7:57 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Read the opinion in Libertarian National Committee v. FEC. Judge Tatel’s majority opinion begins: When Joseph Shaber passed away he left over $235,000 to the Libertarian National Committee (LNC). This case is about when and how the LNC can… Continue reading

Canadian Billionaire May Have Violated Foreign Contribution Ban Via Domestic Subsidiary

May 20, 2019, 8:01 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: And Zekelman Industries made political donations in the United States — skirting or possibly violating a ban on contributions by foreigners — including $1.75 million last year to a group supporting President Trump…..Federal Election Commission rules prohibit any… Continue reading

Report: Russians Trying to Sow Racial Violence in U.S. as Late as 2018, with Plan to “recruit African-Americans and transport them to camps in Africa ‘for combat prep and training in sabotage.'”

May 20, 2019, 7:48 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

The race-based aspects of Russian interference efforts in U.S. politics have not gotten sufficient attention: Russians who were linked to interference in the 2016 U.S. election discussed ambitious plans to stoke unrest and even violence inside the U.S. as recently… Continue reading

“New Washington campaign-finance law targets ‘gray money’ PACs”

May 20, 2019, 7:40 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Seattle Times: For example, Conscience of the Progressives is actually funded by conservatives and last year sent election mailers to aid Republicans in swing-district legislative races. It is funded almost wholly by another PAC named Send A Message, whose… Continue reading

“Miami Candidate’s Campaign Workers May Have Tampered With Absentee Ballots”

May 20, 2019, 7:28 pmabsentee ballots, chicaneryRick Hasen

Miami New Times: An explosive, 150-page WhatsApp chat leaked to Miami New Times appears to show members of Miami-Dade County Commission District 5 candidate Alex Diaz de la Portilla’s 2018 campaign team discussing destroying or stealing absentee ballots from… Continue reading

Kobach’s Demands to Be Trump’s Immigration Czar

May 20, 2019, 3:22 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

NYT scoop: Access to a government jet 24 hours a day. An office in the West Wing, plus guaranteed weekends off for family time. And an assurance of being made secretary of homeland security by November.Those were among a list… Continue reading

“Happy Birthday to an Important Voting Rights Protection”

May 20, 2019, 11:47 amNVRA (motor voter)Rick Hasen

Demos on the 26th anniversary of the NVRA.

“16-Year-Olds Want a Vote. Fifty Years Ago, So Did 18-Year-Olds.”

May 20, 2019, 7:39 amvotingRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Controversial voter fraud bill dies in Texas House, but could be revived”

May 20, 2019, 7:26 amfraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Houston Chronicle: Sweeping voter reforms that Democrats and voting advocacy groups called nothing more than a tool for voter suppression appear to have died in the Texas Legislature.The Texas House on Sunday night refused to schedule the controversial bill… Continue reading

“U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Let Businesses Donate to Candidates”

May 20, 2019, 7:08 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bloomberg: The U.S. Supreme Court declined an opportunity to give businesses broader rights to contribute money to political candidates and causes.The justices, without comment Monday, refused to question a Massachusetts law that bars for-profit corporations from making campaign donations.