“The federal agency dedicated to elections is, once again, in turmoil ahead of the 2024 elections”

January 19, 2024, 2:16 pmelection administration, Election Assistance CommissionRick Hasen

Jessica Huseman for VoteBeat: Some news: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has fired its executive director, Steven Frid, who held the job for less than a year. Frid was the agency’s third executive director in as many years. The agency… Continue reading

“The Authoritarian Playbook for 2025”

January 19, 2024, 2:10 pmauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

New report from Protect Democracy.

Trump Abandons Key Argument He Raised in His Cert Petition That the Question of Disqualification is a Nonjusticiable Political Question Reserved for Congress–Likely for a Political Reason

January 19, 2024, 5:42 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

In his cert. petition in the disqualification case, Donald Trump argued: “Congress—not a state court—is the proper body to resolve questions concerning a presidential candidate’s eligibility….There is no similar commitment of questions concerning presidential eligibility tostate courts, particularly in the… Continue reading

No Labels Asks DOJ to Investigate Its Political Opponents for, Among Other Things, Extortion and Violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act, for Opposing Group’s Ballot Access for 2024 Presidential Candidate

January 19, 2024, 5:13 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

This is quite a letter, making the claim that these political activities cross the line from First Amendment speech to illegal intimidation. Meanwhile, Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, another organization actively working to prevent No Labels from exercising… Continue reading

Wisconsin: “Republican rift over impeaching elections chief Meagan Wolfe boils over in Assembly”

January 18, 2024, 2:24 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Divisions among Wisconsin Republican lawmakers over an effort to oust the state’s top election official spilled onto the Assembly floor this week as GOP leaders continued to block efforts by a small faction to impeach the leader of… Continue reading

“McConnell, Republican lawmakers sign Supreme Court brief that supports Trump remaining on 2024 ballot”

January 18, 2024, 1:38 pmelection subversion risk, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

WaPo: Nearly 180 congressional Republicans signed onto an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Donald Trump’s legal battle to remain on the primary election ballot in Colorado. The long list of signatories to the brief includes… Continue reading

“Judge hints at delay for Trump’s March trial date in federal election case”

January 18, 2024, 1:25 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Politico: The judge overseeing the federal criminal case against Donald Trump for attempting to subvert the 2020 presidential election indicated Thursday that the March 4 trial date is unlikely to hold. In a six-page order, U.S. District Judge Tanya… Continue reading

“The ‘Sleeping Giant’ Case that Could Upend Jack Smith’s Prosecution of Trump”

January 18, 2024, 1:22 pmelection subversion risk, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Kimberly Wehle in Politico: There’s been a lot of attention paid to the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on Donald Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution for actions taken while president, a judgment that will have big implications for the 2024… Continue reading

“Explainer: Shaping Democracy: 2023’s Statewide Ballot Measures and What Lies Ahead in 2024”

January 18, 2024, 1:19 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Derek Clinger: The past year saw a continued trend of increased interest in direct democracy, with the highest number of statewide ballot measures for an odd-numbered election year in over 15 years. These measures, which came from both state legislatures… Continue reading

“Auditors find no fraud in SC election process, but make some clean-up suggestions”

January 18, 2024, 1:18 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

South Carolina Daily Gazette: A review of South Carolina’s election process found no fraud that could have swayed results, but auditors do recommend cleaning up the voter rolls more often. Findings include a few instances of ballots cast by voters… Continue reading

Ned Foley-Ben Ginsberg-Rick Hasen Amicus Brief Warns SCOTUS of Political Instability, Potential Violence, and Voter Disenfranchisement If It Avoids Deciding Merits in Trump Disqualification Case

January 18, 2024, 11:30 ampolitical polarization, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Thanks to the excellent work of Michael Kimberly and Charles Seidell of the McDermott Firm, Ned Foley, Ben Ginsberg and I have filed this amicus brief supporting neither party in the Trump disqualification case at the Supreme Court. Below is… Continue reading

“Congressional map with Gov. Jeff Landry’s backing clears Louisiana Senate”

January 18, 2024, 7:42 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Louisiana Illuminator: The Louisiana Senate gave its approval Wednesday to a congressional redistricting proposal that increases the number of majority-Black districts to two out of six. Gov. Jeff Landry backs the legislation that faces an end-of-month deadline for approval. Senate … Continue reading

“Voting Laws Roundup: 2023 in Review”

January 18, 2024, 7:37 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Brennan Center: This roundup looks back on voting laws enacted in 2023 and looks forward to the voting landscape in 2024 based on legislation already pending. In 2023, we once again saw an unprecedented volume of state legislation changing the… Continue reading

“Maine judge delays Trump ballot decision until Supreme Court ruling”

January 17, 2024, 8:07 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: A Maine judge on Wednesday put off deciding whether Donald Trump’s name can appear on that state’s primary ballot, saying the Supreme Court needs to rule on the issue first in a similar case out of Colorado. The ruling… Continue reading