Monthly Archives: October 2020

“Why Conservatives Should Back State Voting Rights Acts”

October 23, 2020, 10:31 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Chris Elmendorf at City Journal: Now comes a new threat, or so it may seem: the state VRA. Much as states in the 1970s copied and extended federal environmental laws, left-leaning states such as California, Washington, and … Continue reading

Federal District Court Dismisses Trump Campaign Attack on New Jersey Mail In Voting, Finding Alleged Injuries Too Speculative

October 23, 2020, 5:44 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Read it here. Among the arguments rejected by the court were those based upon recent fraud allegations in Paterson.

Should We Be Worried About Russian Interference in the 2020 Elections? Reasons for Comfort, Reasons for Concern, and BIG Reasons for More Early Voting

October 22, 2020, 3:57 pmchicanery, voting technologyRick Hasen

By Richard L. Hasen The latest murky revelations from U.S. intelligence officials that Russian government operatives are probing state voter registration databases as they did in 2016 raises the question: is this all they’ve got? Why aren’t the Russians doing… Continue reading

“Voting-rights’ groups end federal fight over drop boxes in Ohio’s presidential election”

October 22, 2020, 3:55 pmabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

Cleveland.com: A legal fight to add more drop boxes in Ohio counties before Election Day ended Thursday, as voting-rights’ advocates dismissed their federal lawsuit against Secretary of State Frank LaRose.The NAACP of Ohio, the League of Women Voters and… Continue reading

Video Interview at Reuters: “How COVID-19 exposes U.S. election ‘pathologies’: Rick Hasen”

October 22, 2020, 3:43 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can watch here.

“Trump campaign, North Carolina Republicans ask justices to stop extension of absentee-ballot deadline”

October 22, 2020, 2:32 pmabsentee ballots, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Amy Howe for SCOTUSBlog: Two days after three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit urged them to “take this case up to the Supreme Court immediately,” the Trump campaign and North Carolina Republicans did exactly… Continue reading

“Trump Campaign Draws Rebuke for Surveilling Philadelphia Voters”

October 22, 2020, 2:30 pmchicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

NYT: The Trump campaign has been videotaping Philadelphia voters while they deposit their ballots in drop boxes, leading Pennsylvania’s attorney general to warn this week that the campaign’s actions fall outside of permitted poll watching practices and could amount to… Continue reading

“Open carry ban at polls prompts lawsuits against Michigan Secretary of State”

October 22, 2020, 2:26 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

The Detroit Free Press reports.

“‘A lot of chaos’: Trump’s rhetoric, a global pandemic and a tsunami of lawsuits complicate 2020 election”

October 22, 2020, 2:22 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

USA Today reports.

Texas Supreme Court, Over One Dissent, Won’t Block Drive-Thru Voting in Harris County

October 22, 2020, 2:21 pmabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

Jasper Scherer: News: The Texas Supreme Court has denied @TexasGOP and @HarrisCountyRP's requests for writs of mandamus to block drive-thru voting in Harris County: https://t.co/tn7XtNWUn1 #txlege— Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) October 22, 2020 Dissent.

“How Amy Coney Barrett could be key to new lawsuit to block Pa.’s mail-in ballot extension” (and reasons for my skepticism in this particular case)

October 22, 2020, 2:05 pmabsentee ballots, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

VoteBeat: A new federal lawsuit seeks to block Pennsylvania officials from counting mail-in and absentee ballots received within three days after Election Day, an extension approved by the state’s highest court and recently allowed to stand by the U.S. Supreme… Continue reading

Bucks County, PA Hopes to Have Most Counting Done by Friday After Election Day

October 22, 2020, 1:50 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

Philly Inquirer.

Here’s One Person Who Thinks Jim Comey Handed Donald Trump the 2016 Election: Donald Trump

October 22, 2020, 1:49 pmUncategorizedRichard Pildes

In today’s Washington Post story about President Trump’s “repeated” discussions with aides about whether to fire FBI Director Christopher A. Wray after Election Day, here’s what the President’s aides reportedly say about the reasons for these repeated discussions and why… Continue reading

Sixth Circuit, on 2-1 Party Line Vote, Restores for Now Michigan’s Ban on Providing Free Transportation to People Getting to the Polls

October 22, 2020, 9:03 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can find the opinion here. I believe Michigan is the only state with such a prohibition. The pattern in these cases is clearer by the day.

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The law of politics and the politics of law