“If Biden Drops Out, What Happens to His Money?”

July 9, 2024, 12:45 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

NYT: [T]he most important money is in the accounts held by the Biden-Harris campaign committee: $91 million as of May 30. . . . That money has been raised by the Biden-Harris ticket, and belongs to the Biden-Harris ticket.… Continue reading

“Hey, Governor Shapiro: Time to Declare a Democracy Emergency”

July 9, 2024, 12:30 pmvoter registrationDan Tokaji

From Laura Brill at the Civics Center, noting Pennsylvania’s low 18-year-old voter registration rate compared to Michigan’s.

ACLU Report: “Trump on Voting Rights”

July 9, 2024, 12:20 pmelection subversion riskDan Tokaji

Available here, arguing: “A second Trump administration will renew efforts to erode constitutional foundations of our democracy, make it harder for Americans to vote — particularly voters of color, voters with limited English proficiency, voters with disabilities, older voters,… Continue reading

“This House race reflects how the Supreme Court has narrowed options for Black voters”

July 9, 2024, 9:02 amredistricting, Supreme CourtDan Tokaji

Patrick Marley of WaPo has this piece on South Carolina’s 1st CD. An excerpt: This spring, the Supreme Court signed off on district lines in South Carolina that Republican state lawmakers said they had designed to benefit their party. The… Continue reading

DC Circuit finds FEC improperly dismissed complaint that alleged coordination between Clinton, PAC in 2016

July 9, 2024, 8:57 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

Campaign Legal Center v. FEC, opinion by Judge Pillard, joined by Judges Childs and Edwards: Leaning heavily on that internet exemption, political action committee Correct the Record set out to engage in a wide range of coordinated activities to… Continue reading

ABA Unsung Heroes of Democracy Awards

July 9, 2024, 8:47 amelection law bizDan Tokaji

The ABA’s Task Force for American Democracy has this announcement, on 22 individuals and organizations receiving the award this year. They include Bob Bauer, Ben Ginsburg, and Meaghan Wolf. In related news, the ABA Task Force is hosting this … Continue reading

AEI “Ballot Battles” Book Event with Ned Foley

July 9, 2024, 8:41 amelection law bizDan Tokaji

This Monday, July 15 at 10 ET, on the revised and expanded version of Ned’s book, with live and virtual options.

Political Fragmentation: The French and UK Elections

July 9, 2024, 7:38 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

I’ve been writing now for several years about the political fragmentation of democratic politics. The most recent French and UK elections drive home this thesis with unmistakable clarity. France, in particular, illustrates the perversity of how political fragmentation works. On… Continue reading

“Immunity Ruling Leaves Judge Facing Tough Calls on Trump’s Election Indictment”

July 9, 2024, 4:41 amelection subversion risk, Supreme CourtDan Tokaji

NYT: Judge Chutkan will have to sort through the 45-page indictment, making decisions about which of its many allegations can move forward and which will have to be tossed out. The Supreme Court has held that former presidents are… Continue reading

“Biden Has 100 Million Reasons to Stay In”

July 9, 2024, 4:33 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Charlie Spies in WSJ Opinion: “Campaign finance rules create an incentive for Mr. Biden to stay in the race through the Democratic National Convention in August. At that point, but not before, Mr. Biden would be able to transfer… Continue reading

“House Democrat joins donor discussion about replacing Biden on ballot”

July 9, 2024, 4:20 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Washington Post: Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) joined a Zoom call Sunday with more than 100 wealthy Democratic donors for a legal briefing about the process for replacing President Biden on the ballot, according to multiple people who joined the… Continue reading

“How a Last-Ditch Effort to Save Menendez From Prosecution Backfired”

July 9, 2024, 4:16 ambriberyDan Tokaji

NYT reports on the backstory behind the trial, in which closing arguments continue today: Last September, a prominent white-collar defense lawyer met with federal prosecutors in Manhattan in a last-ditch effort to stave off an indictment against his client.… Continue reading

Congratulations to Election Law Profs Justin Levitt, Carolyn Shapiro, and Kate Shaw, Elected to the American Law Institute

July 8, 2024, 1:35 pmelection law bizRick Hasen

They are among the great choices announced today who write (at least partially) in the area of election law.

Eric Segall Contrasts the Speed of the Trump Disqualification Case with the Slow Walk of the Trump Immunity Case at the Supreme Court

July 8, 2024, 1:33 pmSupreme CourtRick Hasen

Eric writes: There is simply no doubt that the Court’s fast-tracking of the disqualification case way back in February combined with the slow-walking of the immunity case and its eventual holding (the last case of the term) had the… Continue reading