“Ohio’s Phantom Menace”

July 20, 2024, 5:07 amballot access, political partiesDan Tokaji

Politico reports that the DNC is forging ahead with its plan for a pre-convention virtual roll call, originally planned to address the since-resolved Ohio ballot access problem: “The Democratic National Convention Rules Committee met virtually on Friday to outline plans… Continue reading

“Biden and Trump Have Succeeded in Breaking Reality”

July 20, 2024, 4:38 amauthoritarian threats in US, campaigns, political partiesDan Tokaji

From M. Gessen in NYT, an astute commentary on where we’re at: Biden and Trump represent entirely different values and policies…. Biden is right: Trump poses an existential threat to democracy. But both campaigns are creating a sense of… Continue reading

“Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or Someone Else? The Convention Rules Might Decide.”

July 20, 2024, 4:21 ampolitical partiesDan Tokaji

Jeff Greenfield’s deep dive into party rules and procedures, in Politico Magazine: Whether or not President Joe Biden drops his bid for reelection amid rising pressure from party leaders, there’s a very good chance that the Democratic convention will be… Continue reading

“Republicans say they will trust the election results as long as Trump wins”

July 20, 2024, 4:11 amelection subversion risk, political partiesDan Tokaji

From the Washington Post: Despite the brimming confidence of Trump supporters, the campaign is preparing them to question the results if things don’t go their way. Trump has preemptively questioned the outcome of the election, sowing doubt in the… Continue reading

“Jan. 6 committee members leverage Trump in pleas for Biden to step aside”

July 20, 2024, 4:06 amelection subversion risk, political partiesDan Tokaji

Politico: Democrats who played prominent roles on the House Jan. 6 committee — which concluded that Donald Trump poses a unique danger to democracy — are at the forefront of the latest push by members of Congress to call… Continue reading

Unfortunate use of the word “coup”

July 19, 2024, 11:25 amUncategorizedNed Foley

The New Yorker writer Susan Glasser, a journalist whom I greatly admire (and read regularly), in her most recent column uses the word “coup” to describe the current effort within the Democratic Party to persuade Joe Biden to step aside… Continue reading

Kleinfeld & Sachs, “Give Parents the Vote”

July 19, 2024, 10:58 ampolitical equalityDan Tokaji

Joshua Kleinfeld and Stephen Sachs have posted this paper, forthcoming in Notre Dame Law Reivew, on SSRN. Here’s the abstract: Many of America’s most significant policy problems, from failing schools to the aftershocks of COVID shutdowns to national debt… Continue reading

“North Carolina is quickly losing local elections directors”

July 19, 2024, 10:49 amelection administrationDan Tokaji

From WFAE in Charlotte: “With Election Day approaching, North Carolina has a problem. The state is rapidly losing county elections directors. In the past five years, the state says North Carolina’s 100 counties have seen 61 election director changes.… Continue reading

“Election denialism front and center at Republican national convention”

July 19, 2024, 10:43 amelection subversion riskDan Tokaji

The Guardian: “At the convention, there was little doubt that the next election could be rigged. The struggle of the Biden campaign and Trump’s strong standing in the polls only increased the belief that any Democratic victory would be… Continue reading

Thanks to Dan Tokaji; Spencer Overton Blogging Weeks of July 22 and July 29; Tabatha Abu El-Haj Blogging Week of August 5

July 19, 2024, 6:59 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Great thanks to Dan for stepping in these last few weeks. Great job as always. Certainly not the lazy days of summer around here! Spencer Overton steps into the chair for two weeks, July 22-August 4. Then Tabatha Abu El-Haj … Continue reading

“Mississippi can wait to reset legislative districts that dilute Black voting strength, judges say”

July 19, 2024, 6:12 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

AP, on yesterday’s order in Mississippi State Conference of NAACP v. State Board of Election Commissioners: Mississippi can wait until next year to redraw some of its legislative districts to replace ones where Black voting power is currently … Continue reading

“Democratic donors begin mobilizing to raise money for Harris if she’s the nominee”

July 19, 2024, 5:50 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Politico: Allies of Vice President Kamala Harris have begun courting Democratic donors to provide financial support for her if President Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race. One Democratic donor adviser has begun collecting pledges from female Democratic… Continue reading

“In Arizona, a court ruling narrows the path for registering to vote without proof of citizenship”

July 19, 2024, 5:43 amUncategorizedDan Tokaji

Votebeat explains: Arizona residents who try to register to vote with the widely used state form will have their registration rejected unless they provide proof of U.S. citizenship, under a temporary ruling Thursday from a federal appeals court. Previously,… Continue reading

What Happens to Biden’s Money If He Steps Aside?

July 18, 2024, 4:46 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

WaPo’s answer, amid growing whispers that the President may be coming to terms with reality: If Biden withdraws from the race, the dollars in his campaign account are considered “excess campaign funds” that can be contributed to the Democratic… Continue reading