Monthly Archives: January 2021

“State Capitols ‘on High Alert,’ Fearing More Violence”

January 12, 2021, 7:50 amchicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Officials in state capitals across the country are bracing for a spillover from last week’s violent assault on the U.S. Capitol, with legislatures already becoming targets for protesters in the tense days around the inauguration of the incoming… Continue reading

“Fringe Groups Splinter Online After Facebook and Twitter Bans”

January 12, 2021, 7:48 amcheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Social media has played a crucial role in the support of Mr. Trump since he announced his intention to run for president five years ago. And the rioters who attacked the Capitol last week did much of their planning… Continue reading

“He buried his son a week ago. Now Jamie Raskin is helping lead the impeachment charge.”

January 12, 2021, 7:45 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Our hearts continue to go out to fellow election law prof and Member of Congress Jamie Raskin and his family. Jamie is now deeply involved in impeachment efforts. See also this Atlantic profile as well as Jamie’s moving tribute to… Continue reading

“Several Capitol police officers suspended, more than a dozen under investigation over actions related to rally, riot”

January 12, 2021, 7:39 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: Several U.S. Capitol Police officers have been suspended and more than a dozen others are under investigation for suspected involvement with or inappropriate support for the demonstration last week that turned into a deadly riot at the Capitol, according… Continue reading

Jan. 14 Event: “Picking Up the Pieces of the 2020 Election: A Conversation among Election Law Scholars”

January 12, 2021, 7:33 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Virtual event at Ohio State: The horrendous attack on the Capitol last Wednesday, and the assault upon free and fair elections that it signifies, makes this final session of our series of roundtable discussions all the more urgent. As with… Continue reading

Sheldon Adelson, Probably the Biggest Individual Donor (with His Spouse) to Political Campaigns in American History, Has Died

January 12, 2021, 7:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

So reports the Las Vegas Review Journal. Condolences to his family. Adelson and his wife gave at least $218 million in contributions to federal candidates and committees just in the 2020 election cycle.

“‘An Epiphany Moment’ for Corporate Political Donors May Have Arrived”

January 12, 2021, 7:17 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: As companies from Coca-Cola to Amazon to Citigroup appear to be tripping over each other to declare that they are “pausing” or “reassessing” donations to Republicans who sought to overturn the election — and, in some cases, suspending giving… Continue reading

“The New Vote Dilution”

January 12, 2021, 7:14 amUncategorizedNicholas Stephanopoulos

I just posted a new article, forthcoming in the NYU Law Review, on the novel vote dilution claims that proliferated in the litigation about the 2020 election. The abstract is below: We may be witnessing the emergence of a… Continue reading

House Republicans Who Refused to Join in Objections to AZ and PA Votes Last Week Nonetheless Endorsed State Legislatures Usurping Their Voters Votes and Appointing Alternative Electors

January 12, 2021, 7:11 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

A reader highlighted this aspect of the joint statement issued by these representatives:

NY22: “700 votes were tossed in Oneida County. Officials ignored state law in latest mess up”

January 11, 2021, 10:09 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Syracuse.com: The Oneida County Board of Elections ignored a state law in the November election, a failure that meant 700 voters’ ballots weren’t counted for President and big statewide races.The mistake — Oneida County’s latest — surfaced as part of … Continue reading

“The Only Way to Save American Democracy Now”

January 11, 2021, 8:12 amElection Meltdown, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: What’s next to save American democracy?The events of the past week have left many in this country reeling and worried seriously for the fate of democratic governance in the United States.… Continue reading

“Supreme Court won’t fast-track Trump challenges to election results”

January 11, 2021, 8:03 amfraudulent fraud squad, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

WaPo: As expected, the Supreme Court refused Monday to fast-track a batch of challenges to the presidential election filed by President Trump and his allies.The rejections came without comment or noted dissent, and were formal notifications of what already… Continue reading

“ESS voting machine company sends threats”

January 11, 2021, 7:58 amvoting technologyRick Hasen

Andrew Appel: For over 15 years, election security experts and election integrity advocates have been communicating to their state and local election officials the dangers of touch-screen voting machines. The danger is simple: if fraudulent software is installed in the… Continue reading