“Conservative activists find errors in software they hoped would root out voter fraud”

July 15, 2024, 4:28 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

NBC News: Last year, [conservative] activists excitedly embraced EagleAI and similar programs that promised to help them look through voter rolls across the country in search of outdated or fraudulent voter registrations, even as experts warned about the programs’… Continue reading

The Assassination Attempt Against Former President Trump

July 14, 2024, 6:28 amUncategorizedDan Tokaji

Yesterday’s horrifying attack injured former President Trump (though thankfully, he’s said to be okay), killed one rally attendee, and left at least two people critically injured. As the NYT editorializes: “Violence is antithetical to democracy. Ballots, not bullets, should… Continue reading

Brad Smith’s Testimony on Trump Hush Money Case

July 14, 2024, 6:26 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Brad’s testimony to the House Judiciary Committee is definitely worth reading, for those interested in a deep dive into the alleged federal campaign finance violations supporting the felony conviction of former President Trump. Brad explains why he thinks the jury… Continue reading

“Two key states to see massive GOP voter registration operation”

July 14, 2024, 6:15 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

Fox News: “Starting Monday, Heritage Action for America, a right-wing nonprofit, will unveil a new, multi-million-dollar initiative to ‘give conservative candidates the electoral edge’ in Georgia and Arizona, where officials with Heritage Action said there have long been other organizational… Continue reading

Republican Plans for Election 2024

July 14, 2024, 6:10 amelection subversion riskDan Tokaji

NYT has this lengthy story on pre-election and post-election strategy. It begins: “The Republican Party and its conservative allies are engaged in an unprecedented legal campaign targeting the American voting system. Their wide-ranging and methodical effort is laying the groundwork… Continue reading

“Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country”

July 14, 2024, 6:00 amcampaign finance, voter registrationDan Tokaji

From ProPublica: A network of ultrawealthy Christian donors is spending nearly $12 million to mobilize Republican-leaning voters and purge more than a million people from the rolls in key swing states, aiming to tilt the 2024 election in favor… Continue reading

The Despicable Violence Against Former President Trump

July 13, 2024, 7:48 pmauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Political violence has no place in our society. The attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump is despicable and deserves our condemnation. No ifs, ands, or buts. Political competition must respect the rule of law and peaceful competition for power.… Continue reading

“‘It was horrifying’: Chutkan warns against complacency about Jan. 6”

July 13, 2024, 5:50 amelection subversion risk, Supreme CourtDan Tokaji

Politico: “The effects of that day are still being felt,” [U.S. District Judge Tanya] Chutkan said before sentencing defendant Spencer Offman to 30 days in prison for breaching the building during the riot. Chutkan used Friday’s sentencing in the… Continue reading

“Donors to Pro-Biden Super PAC Are Said to Withhold Roughly $90 Million”

July 13, 2024, 5:42 amcampaign finance, political partiesDan Tokaji

NYT : Some major Democratic donors have told the largest pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, that pledges worth roughly $90 million are now on hold if President Biden remains atop the ticket, according to two people who have been briefed… Continue reading

“Appeals court makes it harder to disqualify absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin”

July 13, 2024, 5:34 amabsentee ballotsDan Tokaji

AP: Absentee ballots still count in Wisconsin even if voters’ witnesses fail to give election clerks their full address, a state appeals court has ruled. The decision Thursday by the 4th District Court of Appeals is expected to expand… Continue reading

“Wisconsin election officials tell clerks best ways to operate absentee ballot drop boxes”

July 13, 2024, 5:29 amelection administrationDan Tokaji

AP reports on the bipartisan Wisconsin Election Commission’s guidance to local election officials. This follows last Friday’s 4-3 decision from the Wisconsin Supreme Court allowing drop boxes and overruling its prior decision to the contrary. According to AP: “The commission… Continue reading

“Meta removes Trump account restrictions ahead of 2024 election”

July 13, 2024, 5:02 amcheap speechDan Tokaji

Axios: “Meta on Friday said it would soon roll back restrictions it placed on former President Donald Trump’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.”

“Advocates concerned with Ohio’s mass voter purge set to remove 500 people experiencing homelessness”

July 13, 2024, 4:59 amvoter registrationDan Tokaji

Ohio Capital Journal on the coming removal of around 160,000 people from Ohio’s rolls, through a practice the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute (I was co-counsel for plaintiffs in that case): Advocates for individuals… Continue reading

“Why There is No Ballot Access Problem for the Ohio Democratic Party Presidential Ticket”

July 12, 2024, 1:10 pmballot access, political partiesDan Tokaji

Richard Winger of BAN reviews the caselaw and concludes: “Even though they are no precedents from Ohio, this uncontradicted list of precedents from other states is convincing evidence that when a ballot access law is eased, but the new law… Continue reading