Monthly Archives: June 2019

“House Democrats consider bills to ‘safeguard democracy’ in response to Mueller report”

June 10, 2019, 1:47 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NBC News: One likely piece of legislation would be framed as “Duty to Report,” requiring presidential campaign aides and entities to report foreign contacts and influence to law enforcement after Mueller identified numerous such interactions between Trump campaign aides… Continue reading

Little Steven Gets It

June 10, 2019, 10:48 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

https://twitter.com/StevieVanZandt/status/1138072370177032193 And if you are wondering what @StevieVanZandt is talking about when it comes to Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United, and campaign finance, I wrote a whole book about why the problem begins with Buckley's rejection of equality as a… Continue reading

“‘It felt like a big tide’: how the death tax lie infected Australia’s election campaign”

June 10, 2019, 7:57 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

This is a long, extensively detailed story from the Guardian Australia about the rapid spread on social media, in the closing days of the Australian election, of a completely false claim that the Labor Party had a secret plan to… Continue reading

“The Cybersecurity 202: Even a voting machine company is pushing for election security legislation” (But Mitch McConnell Against It)

June 10, 2019, 6:51 amelection administration, voting technologyRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“The Supreme Court’s Next Three Weeks Could Shake Up the 2020 Election”

June 10, 2019, 6:49 amcensus litigation, redistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Greg Stohr for Bloomberg. The U.S. Supreme Court enters the homestretch of its term with looming decisions that could affect the 2020 election and thrust the court even deeper into the nation’s political wars.Between now and the end of… Continue reading

“Ginni Thomas Plans New Conservative ‘Supergroup’ to ‘Protect President Trump’

June 8, 2019, 4:33 pmcampaigns, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

The Intercept: CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST VIRGINIA “Ginni” Thomas is launching yet another project to wage war on multiple fronts of America’s most heated cultural and political debates. This time, however, her plan will include a project to “protect President Trump” using… Continue reading

Is DOJ Still Investigating Roger Stone’s 2016 “Stop the Steal” Voter Suppression Activities?

June 8, 2019, 9:57 amchicaneryRick Hasen

Marci Wheeler on the tea leaves.

“High court could cause Va. election drama, but likely won’t”

June 8, 2019, 9:28 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

AP reports.

DOJ Settles Voting Rights Act Lawsuit with Michigan City Using Ranked Choice Voting

June 8, 2019, 9:19 amalternative voting systems, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

Release: The Department of Justice announced today that it has entered into an agreement to settle a voting rights lawsuit with the City of Eastpointe, Michigan. The Department’s lawsuit challenges the method of electing the city council in Eastpointe… Continue reading

“Australia’s elections show a way to come out on top”

June 8, 2019, 9:17 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Rob Richie and David Daley: If May’s biggest political surprise was the new ruler of Westeros on “Game of Thrones,” the result in Australia’s national election were a close runner-up.For weeks, opinion polls had predicted that the Labor Party… Continue reading

“Ron DeSantis signs crack down on constitutional amendments, solidifying Republican control in Florida”

June 7, 2019, 6:28 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Tampa Bay Times: The bill requires ballot initiatives pay petitioners by the hour, rather than by each signature they collect. They must register as an in-state circulator with the Secretary of State and turn in all signatures within 30… Continue reading

“Redistricting Guru’s Hard Drives Could Mean Legal, Political Woes For GOP”

June 7, 2019, 3:58 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Miles Parks reports for NPR.

“Election Security Measures Face a One-Man Roadblock: Mitch McConnell”

June 7, 2019, 1:33 pmchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

NYT: A raft of legislation to better secure United States election systems after what the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, called a “sweeping and systematic” Russian attack in 2016 is running into a one-man roadblock in the form of… Continue reading

Kobach Discussed with Trump Campaign Before 2016 Election the Issue of Adding Citizenship Question to Census; Trump Administration Asserts Privilege Over Answers About What Kobach Told Administration

June 7, 2019, 12:37 pmcensus litigationRick Hasen

Hansi Lo Wang: https://twitter.com/hansilowang/status/1137078802046230528 More in this oversight committee memo: When Mr. Kobach was asked whether he had additional meetings with the President or his aides other than those that have been publicly disclosed, his attorney stepped in… Continue reading