Monthly Archives: July 2020
“Honor John Lewis with a Senate vote on the voting rights he fought for his whole life”
Kristen Clarke oped for USA Today.
“‘Everybody Is Suing’: Trump-Biden Election Sets Up Legal Logjam”
Bloomberg:
The 2020 election between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden is shaping up to be the most litigated in U.S. history, as changes to balloting prompted by the coronavirus pandemic spur lawsuits that could leave the outcome in… Continue reading
“Watson asking attorney general whether Mississippi Legislature made it harder to vote in pandemic”
Mississippi Today:
Secretary of State Michael Watson is asking for an official opinion from Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office about whether a bill passed by the state Legislature will make it more difficult for Mississippians to vote if COVID-19… Continue reading
“National Security Leaders Urge Congress to Provide Election Officials with Additional Funds”
Brennan Center:
Early this morning, 34 national security leaders — including Madeline Albright, Chuck Hagel, Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, Susan Rice, John Kerry, Leon Panetta, James Clapper, and Janet Napolitano — sent the letter here (full text and signers below)… Continue reading
“Election lawsuits set record pace amid COVID-19 pandemic as results decide who votes and how Nov. 3”
Bart Jansen deep dive for USA Today:
Requiring an excuse for absentee voting. Paying for postage for mail-in ballots. Purging names from voter registration lists. Placing the names on ballots to provide an advantage in so-called “donkey votes.”These are… Continue reading
“Voting Rights Leaders Call for Universal Voting in the U.S.”
Release via email:
In a new report released today, a diverse group of 25 experts in U.S. politics, elections, and civil rights make the case for universal civic duty voting—that is, mandatory participation in elections—in the United States. “Lift … Continue reading
President Trump, in Fox News Interview, Suggests without Evidence that Mail-In Balloting with “Rig” the Election, Refuses to Say He Would Accept the Results of the 2020 Election
Transcript of interview with Chris Wallace:
WALLACE: Two–TRUMP: That’s going to happen here–WALLACE: Two final questions—TRUMP: If he wins–WALLACE: In general, not talking about November, are you a good loser?TRUMP: I’m not a good loser. I don’t like to lose.… Continue reading
“How Congress can stop gerrymandering: Deny seats to states that do it.”
Lee Hamilton, William Cohen and Alton Frye WaPo oped.
“Settlement reached in Florida vote-by-mail battle”
News Service of Florida:
On the eve of a trial slated to begin Monday, lawyers representing the state and plaintiffs in a legal battle over Florida’s vote-by-mail procedures have reached a settlement.Priorities USA, Dream Defenders and other plaintiffs have been… Continue reading
“Kobach downplays charges against Watkins despite similarity to voter cases he pursued”
KC Star:
Kris Kobach charged 15 people with election crimes during his tenure as Kansas’ top election official. Many of the cases involved allegations similar to those now facing Kansas Republican Rep. Steve Watkins, who Kobach campaigned with 2018.But… Continue reading
“Do Not Call John Lewis a ‘Hero’ if You Stood in His Way Republicans like Mitch McConnell and Brian Kemp are the reason the civil rights icon had to keep fighting until his dying breath.”
Joel Anderson for Slate.
The Rise of Outside Money and Congressional Dysfunction
As Rick Hasen noted, I have a forthcoming article in The Election Law Journal, with Mike Norton, which empirically shows that the rise of outside money in elections has made governing more difficult. When outside groups become bigger players,… Continue reading
“John Lewis’ Legacy Is the Right to Vote. And It’s Under Attack. A bill to restore the Voting Rights Act he championed has been sitting on Mitch McConnell’s desk for 225 days.”
Ari Berman:
On March 1, as he was battling stage 4 cancer, John Lewis returned to Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march, when he was brutally beaten marching for voting rights. “We… Continue reading