Democratic Party, in Marc Elias Brief, Seeks to Intervene in NRSC Case at Supreme Court to Defend Limits on Coordinated Spending by Parties

May 30, 2025, 11:07 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Well this is a very interesting development in the case I’ve been tracking closely and expect the Supreme Court to hear, especially given that Marc Elias has not been one to generally defend campaign finance limits applied to political parties.… Continue reading

“Watchdog links Florida Dem to more potential House rules violations”

May 30, 2025, 11:06 amcampaign finance, ethics investigationsJustin Levitt

From Politico: A congressional watchdog office has found reason to believe that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding, also known as earmarks, on behalf of a for-profit entity — a potential violation of House rules. The findings of… Continue reading

“’Calm anger’: After 17 years, Shasta elections official suddenly fired”

May 30, 2025, 11:05 amelection administration, election law bizJustin Levitt

Further turmoil in Shasta County, which has been a hotbed of conspiracy theory over the past few years.

“Proposed budget would kill independent elections commission”

May 30, 2025, 11:05 amcampaign finance, political partiesJustin Levitt

The Blade reports on a proposed Ohio state budget to eliminate the bipartisan commission enforcing state campaign finance law, which would leave the secretary of state’s office with statewide enforcement authority and the ability to break ties on county enforcement… Continue reading

The Timing of Multiple-Round Elections

May 30, 2025, 11:04 amalternative voting systems, election administration, primariesinstant runoff votingJustin Levitt

In his most recent Substack, Rob Richie offers some (exceedingly respectful) pushback on my post here about this New Bedford decision to hold a primary on October 7 before a general election November 4. He makes “the case for… Continue reading

“Carrie Levine is named editor-in-chief of Votebeat”

May 30, 2025, 7:12 amelection law bizRick Hasen

So well deserved: Civic News Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Carrie Levine as the new editor-in-chief of Votebeat, its nonprofit newsroom dedicated to election administration coverage. Levine, who has been serving as interim editor-in-chief and previously as… Continue reading

“Man who blamed exposure to far-right content gets 3 years for threatening election officials”

May 29, 2025, 12:53 pmelection administration, election subversion riskJanuary 6, The Big Lie, threats to democracyJustin Levitt

The AP reports on a 3-year sentence for Teak Brockbank’s appalling threats to kill Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs over their handling of the elections (and similarly appalling threats against state judges… Continue reading

“Alabama may pause redistricting efforts until 2030 to avoid federal oversight”

May 29, 2025, 12:52 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActpreclearanceJustin Levitt

That’s the headline of a States Newsroom piece about a Wednesday filing in Alabama’s congressional redistricting litigation. But I can’t understand why it’s warranted. It’s true that after a three-judge court’s 571-page opinion (not a typo) a few weeks ago… Continue reading

“Trump’s 2024 win may boost the popular vote movement”

May 29, 2025, 12:51 pmelectoral collegenational popular voteJustin Levitt

That’s the lead analysis of this morning’s WaPo Early Brief. But see, e.g., this piece from the Daily Signal: “Maine Poised to Become First State to Withdraw From Popular Vote Compact”

Important laches election case from the Georgia Supreme Court

May 29, 2025, 12:50 pmelection subversion risklachesJustin Levitt

In Dean v. Georgia, the state Supreme Court rejected a (bold) claim by a losing candidate in the Georgia Labor Commissioner primary that all other candidates in both Democratic and Republican primaries lacked the proper qualifications. The dismissal was… Continue reading

Reporters keep buying the claim that DOGE is looking for voter fraud, at face value and without further questions

May 29, 2025, 12:49 pmfraudulent fraud squad, voter registrationprivacy actJustin Levitt

Buried in this NYT profile of Elon Musk’s latest PR offensive is the following paragraph: It is unclear how many of Mr. Musk’s most prominent deputies will stay ensconced in their new government roles. Antonio Gracias, the billionaire investor, has… Continue reading

Cuts at Census Bureau have an impact

May 29, 2025, 12:47 pmUncategorizedcensusJustin Levitt

Hansi Lo Wang, over at Bluesky, with a thread that starts: NEW: Census Bureau lost over 1,000 employees through early retirement and voluntary separation offers in recent months and plans to cut some statistical work, acting Director Ron Jarmin… Continue reading

“Maryland’s primary elections are unconstitutional, lawsuit alleges”

May 29, 2025, 12:46 pmelection law and constitutional law, legislation and legislatures, political parties, primariesstate constitutionsJustin Levitt

The WaPo has a story on independent voters claiming a right to participate in primary elections under the state constitution. The complaint is here. Existing Supreme Court precedent on the primary process and the First Amendment mostly gives the… Continue reading

“Trump pardons ‘humbled’ John G. Rowland, former CT governor”

May 29, 2025, 12:45 pmcampaign finance, ethics investigationspardons, Pay-to-Play, political corruption, public corruptionJustin Levitt

An excerpt from the CT Mirror about a governor convicted of corruption and campaign finance charges: John G. Rowland, the thrice-elected and twice-convicted former Republican governor of Connecticut, said he was “humbled and appreciative” Wednesday after learning he was the… Continue reading