“Kansas recount confirms landslide win for abortion rights, but highlights risk to democracy”

August 22, 2022, 4:09 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

KC Star: Kansas reaffirmed its landslide vote to uphold abortion rights after election officials on Sunday finished a recount that never had any chance of changing the outcome but was sought by an election denier and anti-abortion activist advancing… Continue reading

“An Unusual $1.6 Billion Donation Bolsters Conservatives”

August 22, 2022, 4:03 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: A new conservative nonprofit group scored a $1.6 billion windfall last year via a little-known donor — an extraordinary sum that could give Republicans and their causes a huge financial boost ahead of the midterms, and for years to… Continue reading

“Meet the First Election Denier Poised to Win for Secretary of State This Year”

August 21, 2022, 2:58 pmelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Bolts: Measured by the intensity of the media glare, Tuesday night unquestionably belonged to Liz Cheney’s bid for political survival, as the conservative Republican with the dynastic name fell in a race defined by her vote to impeach Donald Trump… Continue reading

“There’s a Huge Divide Among Democrats Over How Hard to Campaign for Democracy”

August 21, 2022, 2:20 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Politico: Of the more than $300 million spent by Democrats on broadcast advertisements this year throughout the country, ads that mentioned Jan. 6, the insurrection, democracy or stolen elections accounted for less than 4 percent of all spending, according to… Continue reading

Florida: “DeSantis touted their arrest. But ex-felons say they weren’t told they couldn’t vote”

August 20, 2022, 9:45 amfelon votingRick Hasen

Tampa Bay Times: When Romona Oliver registered to vote in early 2020 at the Hillsborough Tax Collector’s office, she was asked if she had a felony conviction. She said yes.The women helping her with the form submitted it, Oliver… Continue reading

Injunctive relief granted, mandamus denied in Pennsylvania county certification dispute

August 20, 2022, 7:53 amelection administrationDerek Muller

About six weeks ago, I highlighted the dispute in Pennsylvania over whether to include some absentee ballots that lacked a date in the county’s certified results. I noted that mandamus struck me as inappropriate and that media or commentary comparisons… Continue reading

NC Supreme Court Holds That Legislatures Elected From (Some) Unconstitutional Districts Might Not be Able to Exercise Full Normal Powers of the Legislature

August 19, 2022, 4:19 pmUncategorizedRichard Pildes

Fascinating decision of NC Supreme Court that requires a bit of unpacking: federal courts held that 28 NC legislators were elected from unconstitutional, racially-gerrrymandered districts. Courts permitted them to retain their seats until the next election. The NC legislature can… Continue reading

Breaking: Georgia Gives Up Seeking Emergency Relief after Supreme Court Loss, Will Run Elections for Public Service Commissions Using Districts to Remedy Likely Voting Rights Act Violation

August 19, 2022, 2:44 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Following up on this post, Georgia has raised the white flag, at least for this election. That’s even after the 11th Circuit set a lightning fast briefing schedule to consider a stay on remand from the Supreme Court.

Mitch McConnell and Alaska’s new RCV system

August 19, 2022, 12:51 pmUncategorizedNed Foley

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post about Henry Olsen’s column on the potential effects of Alaska’s new electoral system (and how it can help non-MAGA Republicans like Lisa Murkowski), there’s new reporting on how dissatisfied Senator Mitch McConnell is with… Continue reading

“Broadening Donor Participation in Local Elections: Results from the Seattle Democracy Voucher Program in 2021”

August 19, 2022, 9:10 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

New report from Jennifer Heerwig and Brian McCabe. Executive Summary: The Democracy Voucher program in Seattle completed itsthird election in 2021. The 2021 cycle featured an open seatmayoral race, two at-large city council contests, and the racefor city attorney. Six… Continue reading

Breaking: Supreme Court Reverses Eleventh Circuit in Georgia Voting Rights Suit Finding Georgia Secretary of State Conceded Purcell Principle Could Not Apply; Remands for Further Proceedings (No Noted Dissents) [Updated 11th Circuit Order on Remand]

August 19, 2022, 8:45 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Georgia’s failure to use districts for electing certain statewide officials was found to violate the Voting Rights Act, and the district court required the use of districts in an upcoming election. The Eleventh Circuit put that ruling on hold, apply… Continue reading

“Outside Money Floods New York Congressional Races”

August 19, 2022, 7:32 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: A rising tide of lightly regulated outside money is pouring into New York State: As of Thursday, with the Aug. 23 primary date looming, outside entities have spent about $9 million in state congressional primaries, according to data maintained… Continue reading

“What to know about Ron DeSantis’s political ‘election fraud’ arrests”

August 19, 2022, 7:20 amfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Philip Bump for WaPo: It’s critically important to put this into context. Attendance at DeSantis’s announcement was restricted, with “a woman who identified herself as a volunteer with the Palm Beach County Republican Party” monitoring who was allowed to enter… Continue reading