Monthly Archives: February 2021

Tom Coleman and John Danforth: “Opinion: Congress must invoke the 14th Amendment to stop Trump from running again”

February 16, 2021, 5:20 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo oped: The Senate impeachment trial has provided further proof of what can no longer be denied: Former president Donald Trump poses an existential threat to American democracy. The harrowing evidence shows that Trump incited and supported the violent insurrection… Continue reading

“Study: How Online Propagandists Targeted The 2020 Election”

February 16, 2021, 5:17 pmcheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

Steven Rosenfeld: Partisan disinformation to undermine 2020’s presidential election shadowed every step of the voting process last year but took an unprecedented turn when the earliest false claims morphed into intricate conspiracies as Election Day passed and President Trump… Continue reading

Biden Administration Reverses Position Before Supreme Court in Arizona Voting Rights Act Case (Brnovich), But Does Not Say Plaintiffs Should Win

February 16, 2021, 5:05 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

From the letter: The Department has now concluded that, although it does not disagree with the conclusion in that brief that neither Arizona measure violates Section 2’s results test, the Department does not adhere to the framework for application… Continue reading

“Republican Efforts to Restrict Voting Risk Backfiring on Party”

February 16, 2021, 8:53 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Bloomberg: Republican lawmakers in battleground states are rushing to enact stricter voting laws that Democrats worry could dampen Black and Hispanic turnout, but the moves could end up backfiring because of the changing face of the GOP coalition.The flurry… Continue reading

“Pennsylvania G.O.P.’s Push for More Power Over Judiciary Raises Alarms”

February 16, 2021, 7:54 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

NYT: G.O.P. legislators, dozens of whom supported overturning the state’s election results to aid former President Donald J. Trump, are moving to change the entire way that judges are selected in Pennsylvania, in a gambit that could tip the scales… Continue reading

“N.A.A.C.P. Sues Trump and Giuliani Over Election Fight and Jan. 6 Riot”

February 16, 2021, 7:50 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: The N.A.A.C.P. on Tuesday morning filed a federal lawsuit against former President Donald J. Trump and his personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, claiming that they violated a 19th century statute when they tried to prevent the certification of … Continue reading

“As redistricting looms, Democrats jockey to counter GOP edge”

February 16, 2021, 7:49 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Nicholas Riccardi for AP: In the name of fairness, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his Democratic allies once welcomed the creation of a nonpartisan redistricting commission that would redraw congressional maps free of political influence and avoid contorted gerrymandering.But… Continue reading

“Lives in the Law | A Post-Mortem on the 2020 Elections and the Way Forward”

February 15, 2021, 3:58 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Looking forward to doing this Zoom event with Ron Collins on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 5 pm ET/2 pm PT. RSVP required

“A GOP donor gave $2.5 million for a voter fraud investigation. Now he wants his money back.”

February 15, 2021, 12:05 pmchicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

WaPo offers another True the Vote/Jim Bopp/Eshelman lawsuit dive.

“Opinion: Election integrity or suppression? Gov. Abbott is taking aim at voting rights.”

February 14, 2021, 4:03 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Stephanie Gomez oped in the Houston Chronicle: Gov. Greg Abbott revealed his priorities for the 2021 Texas Legislative session, designating “election integrity” as an emergency item that lawmakers can vote on within the first 60 days of session, potentially bypassing… Continue reading

“Graham’s post-election call with Raffensperger will be scrutinized in Georgia probe, person familiar with inquiry says”

February 14, 2021, 1:37 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

Ned Foley: The Election Law Implications of Trump’s Acquittal

February 13, 2021, 2:32 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

The following is a guest post from Ned Foley: What are the consequences of the Senate acquitting Trump from an election law perspective—the perspective, in other words, of protecting the electoral process in the future? It depends, most basically, on… Continue reading

“Are Douglass Mackey’s Memes Illegal?”

February 12, 2021, 5:10 pmcampaigns, cheap speechRick Hasen

Eugene Volokh in Tablet Mag: In 2016, a Florida man named Douglass Mackey (using the online alias “Ricky Vaughn”) allegedly conspired to distribute a meme aimed at deceiving pro-Hillary voters.Four years later, Mackey is now being prosecuted (as to this… Continue reading

Michigan: “Secretary of State Benson: Statewide audit affirms election outcome”

February 12, 2021, 3:59 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Detroit News: A statewide election audit has affirmed Michigan’s vote-counting machines are accurate and President Joe Biden won the state’s election, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Friday.Hundreds of municipal and county clerks from more than 1,300 jurisdictions took part… Continue reading