Monthly Archives: November 2019

“Trial begins in challenge to congressional district map”

November 3, 2019, 5:57 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

AP: African Americans make up more than a quarter of Alabama’s voting age population.But only one of the state’s seven congressional districts is majority black.A federal judge on Monday will begin a trial in a lawsuit that contends Alabama should… Continue reading

Bob Stern 2020 Election Preview, Based on His UCLA Extension Class, in a Podcast Series

November 3, 2019, 5:54 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

This should be good: Kathay Feng of Common Cause, who discusses redistricting; https://soundcloud.com/ucla-extension/2020-election-preview-from-presidential-candidates-to-californias-ballot-measure-elections California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, speaking about election security:https://soundcloud.com/ucla-extension/week-2-osher-presents-2020-election-preview-with-alex-padilla Bob Naylor, former California Assembly Republican leader, who discusses the future of the Republican Party in… Continue reading

“Eastpointe to make Michigan history with ranked-choice voting”

November 3, 2019, 5:52 pmalternative voting systemsRick Hasen

AP reports.

Gates: RNC Had Advanced Notice of Wikileaks’ Release of Democrats’ Emails During 2016 Election

November 2, 2019, 3:13 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

BuzzFeed: President Donald Trump’s team was “very happy” that Wikileaks released emails hacked from the Democratic party during the 2016 race, a former campaign official told investigators from the special counsel’s office.Rick Gates, who served as Trump’s deputy campaign chair,… Continue reading

“Judge orders Fairfax to allow GMU students to vote after their registrations were rejected”

November 2, 2019, 12:49 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: A federal judge ruled Friday that Fairfax County must allow 171 George Mason University students to vote next week after their voter registration applications were rejected for providing a generic university address.U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. ordered… Continue reading

FEC Chair Weintraub: “Don’t abolish political ads on social media. Stop microtargeting.”

November 2, 2019, 12:43 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Ellen Weintraub WaPo oped. She has also posted this State of the Commission report, as the FEC continues without a quorum.

Alabama: “Judge blocks Democrats from holding election for chair Saturday”

November 1, 2019, 3:53 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Al.com: Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin issued a temporary restraining order today blocking a faction of the state Democratic party from holding elections for party chair and first vice chair on Saturday.An attorney representing the party members who planned… Continue reading

“Plaintiffs in Common Cause v. Lewis file appeal asking NC Supreme Court to review eight NC House districts that remain partisan gerrymanders”

November 1, 2019, 2:11 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Release: Plaintiffs in the case of Common Cause v. Lewis on Friday filed a petition with the NC Supreme Court asking the justices to immediately review the Superior Court’s approval of eight NC House districts that remain extreme partisan gerrymanders… Continue reading

Divided En Banc 8th Circuit Strikes Down Application of Lobbying Law to Lobbyist Who Was Uncompensated and Engaged in No Spending; But Decision Ominous for Constitutionality of Lobbying Disclosure Laws Generally

November 1, 2019, 12:46 pmlobbyingRick Hasen

If I had more time, I’d write this up, but for now I will leave you with just the link to Calzone v. Summers.

“Democrats sue three battleground states over law that GOP candidates’ names be listed first on ballot”

November 1, 2019, 12:00 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: Democratic organizations filed lawsuits in Georgia, Arizona and Texas on Friday saying Republicans are given an unfair advantage by being listed first on those states’ general election ballots.The traditionally red states Democrats hope to make competitive in 2020 have… Continue reading

Federal Court Holds Mississippi Vote Counting Rule (Which Could Affect Upcoming Election) is Likely Unconstitutional; It Denies Preliminary Injunction But Leaves Open Relief If Vote Counting Rule Affects Upcoming Election

November 1, 2019, 9:59 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can find the court’s order at this link. “In their Complaint, Plaintiffs contend that three provisions of the Mississippi Constitution impair that choice. The provisions provide that successful candidates for state-level, statewide office must receive both the majority of… Continue reading

“Halloween’s Over. The FEC? Still a Zombie”

November 1, 2019, 9:47 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

CPI: These are dark times at the Federal Election Commission, which has now gone two months without enough commissioners to enforce federal campaign finance laws. That’s because U.S. senators and President Donald Trump have failed to strike an agreement to… Continue reading

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