Presidential Elections, “Survivor”-style

January 31, 2024, 6:46 amUncategorizedNed Foley

As we watch this year’s presidential election develop, which is heading to the Biden-Trump rematch that most Americans don’t want, we should be thinking imaginatively of better ways to elect a president–ones that would let voters elect the candidate a… Continue reading

“Some Minnesota corporations quietly resume donations to election disputers”

January 30, 2024, 3:00 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Star Tribune: In the aftermath of the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, many of Minnesota’s largest corporations publicly announced they were pausing campaign donations to all members of Congress, including those who joined Donald Trump’s push to block the certification… Continue reading

“Trump’s PACs Spent Roughly $50 Million on Legal Expenses in 2023”

January 30, 2024, 2:59 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Donald J. Trump piled up legal expenses in 2023 as he was indicted four times, spending approximately $50 million in donor money on legal bills and investigation-related expenses last year, according to two people briefed on the figure. It… Continue reading

Full Eighth Circuit, Over 3 Dissenting Judges, Won’t Rehear Case That Would End Most Cases Brought Under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

January 30, 2024, 10:13 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

The court’s decision not to grant rehearing en banc, a concurrence by Judge Stras, and a dissent by Judge Colloton, is here. The original panel decision held that Section 2 of the VRA contains no private right of action, which… Continue reading

“‘Serious consequences’: Company warns Johnson County sheriff over election investigation”

January 30, 2024, 7:36 amfraudulent fraud squad, voting technologyRick Hasen

KC Star: The election software company at the center of Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden’s long-running elections investigation hit back on Monday, warning the sheriff that a baseless investigation results in “serious consequences.” “I fully recognize that Sheriff Hayden… Continue reading

Feb. 6 Safeguarding Democracy Project Webinar: “What Can We Do to Have a Fair and Safe Election in 2024?”

January 30, 2024, 7:18 amelection administration, election subversion riskRick Hasen

I’m very much looking forward to this event (free registration required): February 6, 12pm – 1pm What Can We Do to Have a Fair and Safe Election in 2024? Webinar Register here Renee DiResta (Stanford Internet Observatory),… Continue reading

“Biden Super PAC Plans a Historic $250 Million Ad Blitz”

January 30, 2024, 7:09 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: The main Democratic super PAC supporting President Biden’s re-election bid, Future Forward, is beginning this week to reserve $250 million in advertising across the most important battleground states, a blitz that it says is the largest single purchase of… Continue reading

“5th Circuit will rehear case that created Louisiana’s only Black supreme court seat”

January 30, 2024, 6:59 amjudicial elections, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Louisiana Illuminator: The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to rehear a decades old voting rights case that established the only majority-Black state supreme court district in Louisiana, according to the court’s docket Monday afternoon. On Monday, the… Continue reading

SCOTUS, Social Media Removal of Hate is Not “Discrimination”

January 29, 2024, 2:35 pmUncategorizedcontent moderation, Netchoice, The Big LieSpencer Overton

This is Orwellian. Texas and Florida passed state laws that effectively hinder social media platforms in removing hate, white supremacy, election denialism, and similar content. The states are currently before the U.S. Supreme Court in the NetChoice cases attempting to… Continue reading

“Voting Is Bewildering This Primary Season. That Worries Experts.”

January 29, 2024, 12:13 pmvotingRick Hasen

NYT: Democracy is messy, but usually not this messy. Take, for example, New Hampshire, where President Biden boycotted the primary election last Tuesday, after the state jumped the line in the Democratic Party’s new schedule to keep its first-in-the-nation primary… Continue reading

My New One at Slate: “Trump’s Lawyers Made Some Very Odd Strategic Choices in the Supreme Court Ballot Case”

January 29, 2024, 7:29 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. it begins: When the Supreme Court hears oral argument on Feb. 8 over Colorado’s decision to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 ballot on grounds that he engaged in insurrection and… Continue reading

American Law Institute: “Bipartisan Working Group Issues Ethical Standards for Election Administration”

January 29, 2024, 7:27 amelection administrationRick Hasen

I was very happy to see this work under the auspices of the American Law Institute with a stellar connection of participants, not only because I think these standards will produce useful rubrics by which election administrators can judge the… Continue reading

“Republican legislatures in some states are trying to keep abortion off the ballot”

January 29, 2024, 7:20 amdirect democracyRick Hasen

AP: Legislative efforts in Missouri and Mississippi are attempting to prevent voters from having a say over abortion rights, building on anti-abortion strategies seen in other states, including last year in Ohio. Democrats and abortion rights advocates say the… Continue reading

“Illinois Hearing Officer, Ex-G.O.P. Judge, Says Trump Engaged in Insurrection”

January 28, 2024, 9:30 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: A former Republican judge appointed to hear arguments on whether to disqualify former President Donald J. Trump from the Illinois primary ballot said on Sunday that he believed Mr. Trump engaged in insurrection by attempting to remain in office… Continue reading