“Judge orders new trial for US woman sentenced to six years for trying to register to vote”

February 25, 2022, 12:44 pmfelon votingRick Hasen

Sam Levine: A Memphis judge ordered a new trial for Pamela Moses, a woman who was sentenced to six years in prison for trying to register to vote.The case attracted national attention in recent weeks because of the severity of… Continue reading

“Why Are Republicans Suddenly Interested in Reforming an Election-Related Law?”

February 25, 2022, 12:17 pmelection subversion risk, electoral collegeRick Hasen

Sue Halpern for the New Yorker: In a Times opinion piece published last week, arguing that E.C.A. reform is necessary to insure the peaceful transfer of power, Susan Collins noted that a bipartisan group of legislators is currently working… Continue reading

What happens to election law after the Anderson-Burdick framework is (probably) overturned?

February 25, 2022, 10:15 amelection administration, Supreme CourtDerek Muller

If I had to predict, I’d guess that the Anderson-Burdick framework for federal review election laws will be overturned in the next decade. What does election law litigation look like after that? Is that a grim thought for election law… Continue reading

“When vacancies happen” and the Oklahoma Senate special election

February 25, 2022, 7:35 amelection administrationDerek Muller

The Seventeenth Amendment provides, in part, “When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State… Continue reading

“Ohio Redistricting Commission approves 3rd set of 4-year legislative maps, see them here”

February 25, 2022, 7:26 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Columbus Dispatch: With the threat of a delayed primary and penalties from the Ohio Supreme Court, four Republicans approved a third set of state House and Senate maps over the objections of Democrats and GOP Auditor Keith Faber.Because… Continue reading

“U.S. judges are narrowing voting protections. Some fear lasting damage”

February 25, 2022, 7:09 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Carrie Johnson for NPR: The nation’s premier tool to protect voting rights is in mortal danger, threatened on multiple fronts by the Supreme Court and lower-ranking federal judges, scholars and civil rights advocates say.The latest blow to the landmark… Continue reading

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden’s Expected Nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Has Apparently Decided No Significant Election Law Cases

February 25, 2022, 7:06 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

With news that President Biden is about to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill Justice Breyer’s seat on the Supreme Court at the end of this term, I took a look at Adam Feldman’s very useful database… Continue reading

“The Federal Election Commission let Trump off the hook for allegedly using $2.8 million in charitable donations to veterans for political purposes”

February 24, 2022, 1:53 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Insider: The Federal Election Commission is letting former President Donald Trump off the hook even after the body’s legal counsel said he violated federal campaign finance laws with a fundraiser for Iowa veterans in 2016, according to documents … Continue reading

“Georgia election official on Trump’s enemies list takes his case to MAGA media”

February 24, 2022, 10:40 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Zach Montellaro for Politico: Georgia’s chief elections officer has stacked up appearances on conservative radio and other media in recent months — taking lumps over his break with Donald Trump in an effort to rebuild his standing in the… Continue reading

“Text and History Demonstrate Cawthorn Can’t Evade Accountability for January 6”

February 24, 2022, 8:21 amchicaneryRick Hasen

CAC: On January 6, 2021, a crowd of thousands violently breached the U.S. Capitol in a bid to disrupt congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results. This unprecedented attack resulted in five deaths, at least 140 assaults,… Continue reading

“New evidence undermines case against Black US woman jailed for voting error”

February 24, 2022, 7:55 amfelon votingRick Hasen

Sam Levine in The Guardian: I have an update in my reporting on the case of Pamela Moses, the 44-year-old Black Lives Matter Activist in Memphis who was sentenced to six years in prison for trying to register to vote.… Continue reading

“Texas’s Primaries are Happening on a Legally Disputed Congressional Map”

February 24, 2022, 7:05 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WaPo interactive on growing Latino voting power.

“Pushing falsehoods about Biden’s election is a plus for Republicans vying to be Texas’ top lawyer”

February 24, 2022, 6:59 amelection subversion risk, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: Baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and rallying cries for “election integrity” have become recurring themes in the Republican primary for Texas attorney general — a job from which the state’s current top lawyer has sought to… Continue reading

“North Carolina Court Imposes New District Map, Eliminating G.O.P. Edge”

February 24, 2022, 6:56 amredistrictingRick Hasen

NYT: A North Carolina court rejected a Republican-drawn map of the state’s 14 congressional districts on Wednesday and substituted its own version, the second time in less than two weeks that a court in the state has invalidated a… Continue reading

Election Law Blog

The law of politics and the politics of law