Monthly Archives: December 2019

Must-Read: “Precinct closures harm voter turnout in Georgia, AJC analysis finds”

December 13, 2019, 7:11 pmelection administration, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

AJC: Amid widespread voter distrust of government oversight of elections and questions about ballot access, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted a unique statistical analysis to learn how precinct closures and distance to the polls impact voting.The AJC mapped Georgia’s 7 million… Continue reading

“The Loch Ness Monster, Haggis, and a Lower Voting Age: What America Can Learn from Scotland”

December 13, 2019, 7:09 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Josh Douglas has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This article, prepared for an American University Law Review symposium, explores what the United States can learn from the Scottish experience in lowering the voting age to sixteen.… Continue reading

“Hundreds of California voters are being registered with the wrong party. Is DMV to blame?”

December 13, 2019, 7:03 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

SacBee: At least 600 Californians, including lifelong Republicans and Democrats, have had their voter registration unexpectedly changed, and several county elections officials are pinning much of the blame on the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.Among those affected: the daughter of… Continue reading

Wisconsin: “Voter-roll purge would hit Democrat-leaning areas hardest”

December 12, 2019, 7:59 pmThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ten percent or more of registered voters in dozens of communities could be removed from the voter rolls if a lawsuit against the state succeeds.Some of the highest dropoff would occur in Wisconsin’s two largest cities and… Continue reading

“How to Ensure Fair Voting Maps for the Next Decade and Beyond”

December 12, 2019, 7:47 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Brennan Center: The Brennan Center has studied best practices and developed a guide and model language for creating commissions that put community interests above partisan considerations, promote transparency, and bolster public accountability. We incorporated feedback from our partners that represent… Continue reading

“Fraudsters Use Political Action Committees to Rip Off Older Americans”

December 12, 2019, 7:44 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

AARP: Five Tips to Avoid Scam Political Action Committees 1. Visit the Federal Election Commission’s website, fec.gov, to check out a PAC and how it spends its money. The Center for Responsive Politics also has information about PACs, at … Continue reading

“House asks Supreme Court not to delay access to Trump’s financial records, citing threat to 2020 elections”

December 11, 2019, 6:50 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: Lawyers for Congress urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday not to delay House committees’ access to President Trump’s financial records, saying the information could be crucial to investigating foreign involvement in American politics and legislative protections for next year’s… Continue reading

“Giuliani Associate Parnas Got $1 Million From Russia, U.S. Says”

December 11, 2019, 4:19 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Bloomberg: Rudy Giuliani’s associate Lev Parnas got $1 million from Russia in September, a month before he was charged with conspiring to funnel foreign money into U.S. political campaigns, according to U.S. prosecutors who asked a judge to jail him… Continue reading

“State GOP Suing Cuomo To Force NY-27 Special Election ASAP”

December 11, 2019, 3:52 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NY State of Politics reports.

A Guide to Election Year Activities of Section 501(c)(3) Organizations

December 11, 2019, 3:28 pmtax law and election lawRick Hasen

Steven Sholk: I am pleased to announce that an updated version of my article, A Guide to Election Year Activities of Section 501(c)(3) Organizations, has been published by Practising Law Institute as part of its 2019 Course Handbook for the… Continue reading

PILF Sues Detroit Over Voter List Maintenance

December 11, 2019, 3:26 pmfraudulent fraud squad, NVRA (motor voter)Rick Hasen

Detroit Free Press: A public interest group has sued the city of Detroit in federal court, claiming it has thousands of dead people on its voter lists and even more duplicate names of registered voters — problems the group fears … Continue reading

Kentucky: “Beshear says he will sign order Thursday restoring voting rights of 100,000+ felons”

December 11, 2019, 9:38 amfelon votingRick Hasen

Lexington Herald-Leader: In his inaugural address, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he will file an executive order this week restoring the voting rights of many convicted felons who are currently disenfranchised under state law.“My faith teaches me to treat others… Continue reading