Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upholds AG’s ruling striking campaign finance ballot question

May 17, 2023, 5:11 amcampaign finance, voter initiativesDerek Muller

From the Eagle-Tribune: The state’s highest court upheld a decision by the Attorney General’s office to reject a ballot question calling for limits on campaign spending by political action committees. In ruling issued Tuesday, the state Supreme Judicial Court… Continue reading

“Former Giuliani employee alleges sexual assault and harassment in $10 million lawsuit” (and includes details about 2020 election litigation)

May 17, 2023, 5:09 amfraudulent fraud squadDerek Muller

Politico has the background on the sexual harassment lawsuit. But the complaint also includes a couple of specific allegations about the 2020 election and litigation strategies around it. 124. On February 7, 2019, Giuliani told Ms. Dunphy to take a… Continue reading

“Wisconsin judge rejects request to break up lawsuit targeting false Trump electors”

May 17, 2023, 5:08 amelectoral collegeDerek Muller

WisPolitics has the order here.

“Michigan Democrats’ early campaign finance bills bolster union influence”

May 16, 2023, 2:53 pmcampaign financeDerek Muller

Craig Mauger for the Detroit News: A committee within the Democrat-controlled Michigan House advanced bills Tuesday that would help labor unions, which frequently support Democratic lawmakers’ campaigns, raise money for political contributions. Democrats won control of both the state… Continue reading

“Alaska Redistricting Board adopts final political map after landmark gerrymandering ruling”

May 16, 2023, 2:53 pmredistrictingDerek Muller

Anchorage Daily News: The Alaska Redistricting Board unanimously approved the state’s final political map Monday after twice being found engaging in unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering. In a landmark decision in April, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled explicitly for the first… Continue reading

If computer security experts discover flaws in voting machines, should they be publicly disclosed?

May 16, 2023, 2:53 pmvoting technologyDerek Muller

Over at Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy “Freedom to Tinker,” some thoughts on expert reports in the courts identifying security flaws in voting machines and why those reports should not remain under seal.

Primary Turnout is the Real Philadelphia Story

May 16, 2023, 12:45 pmprimariesranked choice voting, voter turnoutTabatha Abu El-Haj

As reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the most encouraging estimates are that turnout in Philadelphia’s mayoral race will be in the “200,000s or low 300,000s.” Based on competitiveness and Democratic registration advantage in the city, we can assume… Continue reading

“Wisconsin Supreme Court rules Marsy’s Law was properly enacted into law”

May 16, 2023, 9:14 amvoter initiativesDerek Muller

Molly Beck in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law aimed at expanding and strengthening the rights of crime victims. The 6-1 decision released Tuesday by… Continue reading

“Kari Lake’s latest election challenge on ballot envelope signatures is headed to trial”

May 16, 2023, 9:13 amabsentee ballotsDerek Muller

Arizona Republic: Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is headed for a second trial in her election challenge, a case that has lasted nearly seven months beyond her loss to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in November. In a ruling… Continue reading

“In Black-led Compton, a Latino majority fights for political power”

May 16, 2023, 9:13 amredistrictingDerek Muller

Washington Post.

Cleta Mitchell’s Fear of Democracy

May 16, 2023, 7:11 amelection subversion risk, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

The New York Times reported last week on an under-the-radar effort pushed by a bunch of Republican-backed dark money groups to enact new voting restrictions in time for the 2024 elections. As the group Documented has shown, in the center… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Steve Vladeck: “Purcell and the Partisan Valence of the Supreme Court’s 2020 Election Cases”

May 16, 2023, 7:00 amELB Book Corner, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome to ELB Book Corner Steve Vladeck, author of the new book, The Shadow Docket. Here is the second of three posts: Yesterday’s post introduced the discussion of election cases in my new book… Continue reading

Media roundup of the appeal in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

May 16, 2023, 4:42 amredistricting, Supreme CourtDerek Muller

Bloomberg CNN New York Times Politico SCOTUSblog Washington Post

“3 senators apparently barred from reelection as Republican boycott of Oregon Senate continues”

May 16, 2023, 4:41 amlegislation and legislaturesDerek Muller

The Oregonian: Republicans continued their boycott of the state Capitol for a 10th day Monday, leading to the apparent disqualification of two Republicans and one Independent from reelection due to a new, voter-approved law. No Republicans nor Sen. Brian… Continue reading

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The law of politics and the politics of law