Monthly Archives: September 2019

House Judiciary Committee Hearing: “Evidence of Current and Ongoing Voting Discrimination”

September 9, 2019, 1:07 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Tuesday at 10 am. Witness list: Myrna Pérez, Voting Rights and Elections Program Director, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU LawVanita Gupta, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human RightsDale Ho, Voting Rights Project Director, ACLUDerrick Johnson, President… Continue reading

“Weaponizing the Ballot” (on Laws Requiring Candidate Disclosure of Tax Returns)

September 9, 2019, 1:03 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Derek Muller has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: States are considering legislation that would exclude presidential candidates from appearing on the ballot if they fail to disclose their tax returns. These proposals exceed the state’s power… Continue reading

Trump Comes Out Against Term Limits for Committee Chairs

September 9, 2019, 8:49 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump House Republicans should allow Chairs of Committees to remain for longer than 6 years. It forces great people, and real leaders, to leave after serving. The Dems have unlimited terms. While that has its own problems,… Continue reading

“Michigan has a smart idea for fixing gerrymandering. Conservatives want to crush it.”

September 9, 2019, 8:24 amredistrictingRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Vox. It begins: Reformers hoping to rein in partisan gerrymandering have a big idea that’s caught on in several states: handing the redistricting power over to an independent commission, rather than politicians in the… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

September 9, 2019, 8:20 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

“Restricting voter registration drives in order to try to preserve election commission resources is like poisoning the soil in order to have an easier harvest.” —Federal district court judge Aleta Trauger, in order denying Tennessee’s motion to dismiss lawsuit over… Continue reading

“How Elizabeth Warren Raised Big Money Before She Denounced Big Money”

September 9, 2019, 8:14 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“The Cybersecurity 202: Here’s why Mitch McConnell is blocking election security bills”

September 9, 2019, 8:13 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: As Congress returns this week, Mitch McConnell remains the one-man roadblock for Democrats’ election security bills. He’s still refusing to allow a vote, even as Democrats deride him as “Moscow Mitch” and accuse him of inviting … Continue reading

“Israel election: Netanyahu fails to pass ‘racist’ bill allowing cameras at polling stations”

September 9, 2019, 8:07 amchicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

The Independent: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed in a bid to allow cameras at polling stations during national elections, a move critics suggested was aimed at lowering Arab turnout. The legislation, put forward by Netanyahu’s Likud party… Continue reading

“Russia Accuses Facebook And Google Of Illegal Election Interference”

September 9, 2019, 7:46 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Forbes: The irony will not be lost on anyone—Russia has just accused both Facebook and Google of “illegal” and “unacceptable” election interference during a poll in the country. And, no, you didn’t read that wrong.The “facts,” the country’s communications… Continue reading

“Minority Success in Non-Majority Minority Districts: Finding the ‘Sweet Spot'”

September 9, 2019, 7:42 amredistrictingRick Hasen

David Lublin, Lisa Handley, Tom Brunell, and Bernie Grofman have written this article for the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. Here is the abstract: Though African-American and Latino electoral success in state legislative and congressional elections continues to occur… Continue reading

Lots of Election Law/Non-Profit Tax Law Issues Raised in Major Jerry Falwell Jr. Expose in Politico

September 9, 2019, 7:37 amcampaign finance, campaigns, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Quite a read. In January, the Wall Street Journal reported that in 2014 and 2015, Michael Cohen hired Gauger’s side business, RedFinch LLC, to rig online polls in Donald Trump’s favor while he considered a run for the presidency. Gauger’s… Continue reading

“Racial Disparities in Voting Wait Times: Evidence from Smartphone Data”

September 8, 2019, 5:00 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

M. Keith Chen, Kareem Haggag, Devin G. Pope, and Ryne Rohla have posted this draft. Here is the abstract: Equal access to voting is a core feature of democratic government. Using data from millions of smartphone users, we quantify… Continue reading