Penn Law Review Multiracial Democracy Symposium Today & Tomorrow

October 23, 2025, 7:59 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Attend virtually or in-person by clicking here. We’ll hear from leading thinkers on voting rights, including Guy-Uriel Charles, Torey Dolan, Tabatha Abu El-Haj, Nathan Fleming, Damon Hewitt, Ellen Katz, and Michael Morse. We’ll also hear from many top scholars… Continue reading

“A Ballot Measure Targets Mail Voting in Maine”

October 23, 2025, 7:54 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

From a bit back, but worth posting now from BOLTS: Sarah Trites, who is approaching her 60th birthday, has made a point to vote in every federal election since she turned 18. She worries her streak will end soon.… Continue reading

“Indiana Republicans don’t have votes to back Trump’s redistricting, Senate leader spox says”

October 23, 2025, 7:53 amUncategorizedgerrymandering, redistrictingSpencer Overton

POLITICO: Indiana Senate Republicans say they do not have votes to pass mid-cycle redistricting despite a pressure campaign from the White House, according to a spokesperson for Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray – but President Donald Trump’s allies… Continue reading

“The latest redistricting salvo: North Carolina gerrymanders out House Democrat”

October 23, 2025, 7:52 amUncategorizedgerrymandering, redistrictingSpencer Overton

POLITICO: North Carolina Republicans passed a new congressional map Wednesday that will likely give the GOP one more red-leaning seat in next year’s midterms, the latest in a string of White House-backed redistricting efforts…. The new map primarily affects Rep.… Continue reading

“’Democracy is worth fighting for’: Obama rallies California redistricting supporters”

October 23, 2025, 7:52 amUncategorizedgerrymandering, redistrictingSpencer Overton

POLITICO: SACRAMENTO, California — Barack Obama joined Gavin Newsom to rally supporters of California Democrats’ congressional redistricting ballot measure as the Nov. 4 special election nears. The former president during a Wednesday call with volunteers painted Proposition 50 —… Continue reading

“Former Biden and Senate Counsel to Lead Progressive Legal Group”

October 23, 2025, 7:51 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

NYT: Phil Brest, a veteran of the judicial confirmation battles, was named on Wednesday as the new president of the American Constitution Society, a leading progressive organization active on legal issues nationwide. Mr. Brest, 38, was a senior White… Continue reading

How Today’s Campaign Finance System Contributes to Legislative Dysfunction

October 23, 2025, 5:30 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

At the NYU Democracy Project today, Jonathan Adler’s essay, titled Help Legislators Legislate Again, argues that current campaign finance laws contribute to Congress’ increasing inability to generate legislation: Federal campaign finance laws require legislators to fill their war chests… Continue reading

“Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances”

October 22, 2025, 7:55 amUncategorizedElection Deniers, The Big LieSpencer Overton

NYT: Election officials from nearly all 50 states gathered on a call last month with the Homeland Security Department’s point person on “election integrity,” eager to hear how the woman filling a newly created Trump administration position might help… Continue reading

“Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases”

October 22, 2025, 7:54 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

NYT: President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him about $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him, according to people familiar with the matter, who added that any settlement might ultimately be approved by… Continue reading

“Ingrassia withdraws nomination after racist texts”

October 22, 2025, 7:54 amUncategorizedCivil Service Reform Act, Hatch Act, Office of Special Counsel, Whistleblower Protection ActSpencer Overton

POLITICO: Paul Ingrassia withdrew his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel, a day after POLITICO reported a slew of inflammatory texts he made to fellow Republicans in a group chat, according to the messages. Ingrassia was set… Continue reading

“Voter Participation And Registration: Making Voting Easier”

October 22, 2025, 7:53 amUncategorizedvoter registrationSpencer Overton

FORBES: The United States is ranked 31st in the world in the percentage of eligible voters who participate in national elections. Many reasons are listed by experts and in the media for why this is: too few voting centers,… Continue reading

“Election Administration Legislative Action Bulletin”

October 22, 2025, 7:53 amUncategorizedelection administration legislationSpencer Overton

NCSL: Each month, NCSL’s elections team compiles an overview of legislative action on election administration-related bills in state legislatures, providing insight on the election landscape and emerging trends. Each tab below contains the legislative bulletin for a given month.… Continue reading

“Suspended voter registrations in Arizona’s Pinal County top 1,100 after state error”

October 22, 2025, 7:52 amUncategorizedvoter registrationSpencer Overton

VOTEBEAT: Thousands of voters in Maricopa County caught up in a state record-keeping error won’t yet lose their voting rights for not providing proof of citizenship, county officials now say. But Pinal County has suspended more than a thousand… Continue reading

Steve Skowronek, on “Authoritarianism Then and Now,” at the NYU Democracy Project

October 22, 2025, 7:19 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

Yale’s Steve Skowronek is one of the leading scholars on the American presidency. His recent book is The Adaptability Paradox: Political Inclusion and Constitutional Resilience (2025); other books include Phantoms of a Beleaguered Republic: The Deep State and the Unitary… Continue reading