Monthly Archives: October 2020

“At behest of Trump campaign official, Minneapolis police union calls for retired officers to act as ‘eyes and ears’ on Election Day”

October 29, 2020, 7:20 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Star Tribune: The Minneapolis police union put out a call this week for retired officers to help serve as “eyes and ears” at polling sites in “problem” areas across the city on Election Day, at the request of an… Continue reading

William & Mary Law School’s State of Election Blog: Masks in Mississippi

October 29, 2020, 7:18 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Via email: Over at the State of Elections blog, on which William & Mary Law students cover state election law topics, Catrina Curtis ’22 writes about Mississippi mask requirements at polling places. It opens, “Mississippi finds itself in an… Continue reading

“Uber-backed Prop. 22 campaign allowed to keep nonprofit mail status”

October 29, 2020, 7:15 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

SF Chronicle: “The U.S. Postal Service said Wednesday that the Yes on 22 campaign can continue to use nonprofit postal rates, which are cheaper.” My earlier coverage (including my dispute with the Chronicle about updating my quote) is here.… Continue reading

Breaking and Analysis: Supreme Court, Over at Least 3 Dissents, Refuses to Roll Back North Carolina Extension Date for Receipt of Absentee Ballots [Updated headline]

October 28, 2020, 4:37 pmSupreme CourtRick Hasen

You can find the Court’s order, along with Justice Gorsuch’s dissent, at this link. Justice Alito joined Gorsuch’s dissent; Justice Thomas noted his disagreement with the majority but did not sign the dissent. Justice Barrett again did not participate.… Continue reading

“Trump announces intention to nominate two individuals to serve as FEC members”

October 28, 2020, 4:17 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

The Hill: President Trump on Wednesday announced his intent to nominate Sean Cooksey and Shana Broussard to serve as members of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The potential nominations come four months after Republican FEC Commissioner Caroline Hunter resigned, … Continue reading

“Ratcliffe went off script with Iran remarks, officials say”

October 28, 2020, 4:10 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Politico: Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe went off script when he alleged during a press conference last week that Iran was sending intimidating emails to Americans in order to “damage President Trump,” according to two senior administration officials… Continue reading

Breaking: Federal District Court Won’t Roll Back the PA Ballot Receipt Deadline, Despite Finding a (Strange) Equal Protection Violation, Because of Timing/the Purcell Principle

October 28, 2020, 3:46 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

No time for a full analysis, but this one is very strange.

Breaking and Analysis: Supreme Court (with Justice Barrett Not Participating) Refuses Again Emergency Relief in Pennsylvania Ballot Deadline Case; At Least 3 Justices See Constitutional Issues Ahead

October 28, 2020, 2:27 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

The Supreme Court (with Justice Barrett not participating) has refused to expedite consideration of the cert. petition in the Pennsylvania voting case. Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Thomas issued a separate statement saying that time was too late to review things… Continue reading

“Here’s How the 2020 U.S. Elections Resemble Those of Fragile Democracies”

October 28, 2020, 2:21 pmcomparative election lawRick Hasen

Eric Bjornlund for Foreign Policy: As the co-founder and president of Democracy International, I now see the United States exhibiting many of the same kinds of problems with elections that we in the international election monitoring community have long… Continue reading

“How the rest of the world avoided Covid election chaos”

October 28, 2020, 2:18 pmcomparative election lawRick Hasen

Kevin Johnson for The Fulcrum.

“How Likely is an Election Meltdown? The Importance of Down-Ballot Races”

October 28, 2020, 2:16 pmElection MeltdownRick Hasen

Stephen Griffin at Balkinization.

Pennsylvania Will Segregate Ballots Received After Election Day with SCOTUS Case Pending: Why This Was a Smart Move by the State, and Why This Doesn’t Solve the Reliance Problem or Standing Issue

October 28, 2020, 11:48 amabsentee ballots, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

As ELB readers well know, the Pennsylvania GOP has gone back to the Supreme Court seeking to reverse a state supreme court order which extended the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots from 8 pm on Election day until 5… Continue reading

“As Supreme Court Weighs Election Cases, a New Life for Bush v. Gore”

October 28, 2020, 10:22 amBush v. Gore reflections, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Adam Liptak in the NYT.

When Voters Request Absentee Ballots, What Percentage are Typically Actually Used?

October 28, 2020, 9:32 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

Short answer: around 80%. As we discuss the numbers that are emerging each day of absentee ballots that have been returned already in various states, I went back to look at the final tallies on this issue from 2016. From… Continue reading