“Keep Condorcet in Consideration as an Electoral Reform Option”

January 26, 2025, 7:36 amUncategorizedNed Foley

On Thursday, Rick linked to a DemocracySoS essay by Greg Dennis arguing that Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is categorically “superior to Condorcet Voting as a tool for political depolarization.” To support his position, Dennis offers two arguments, neither of which… Continue reading

NYT On the Decline of Competitive Congressional Districts

January 26, 2025, 3:36 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

The NYT has a long story by @miwine and @NYTnickc about the decline of competitive districts in the 2024 elections. A key point from an experienced member of Congress comes at the end of the story: “As competitive districts dwindle,… Continue reading

“Trump ousts at least 14 independent inspectors general in late-night purge”

January 25, 2025, 9:00 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

WaPo: The White House late Friday fired the independent inspectors general of at least 14 major federal agencies in a purge that could clear the way for President Donald Trump to install loyalists in the crucial role of identifying fraud,… Continue reading

“Trump third-term amendment ‘impossibly difficult’ to pass, Harvard Law professor says”

January 24, 2025, 2:58 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

CNBC: A newly introduced constitutional amendment that would allow President Donald Trump to be elected to a third term in the White House faces very long odds — at best — of getting approved, a Harvard Law School professor said… Continue reading

“Louisiana argues parts of Voting Rights Act are unconstitutional in redistricting case”

January 24, 2025, 2:17 pmDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

When I heard the news of the DOJ backing away from its position in the Callais redistricting case out of Louisiana before the Supreme Court, I realized that I had failed to link to this important story from Jan. 7… Continue reading

“Trump Seeks Pause of Supreme Court Cases, Disavows DOJ Stance on Voting Rights Act “

January 24, 2025, 2:14 pmDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Jimmy Hoover for the NLJ: In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court will soon hear appeals to uphold the remedial map by an unlikely alliance of the state of Louisiana and the NAACP Louisiana State Conference and other supporters of… Continue reading

Scholars of Democratic Backsliding File Amicus Brief in 4th Circuit Warning About Judge Griffin’s Attempt to Overturn the Results of the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court Election

January 24, 2025, 11:45 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

From the introduction to this brief: Democracies do not necessarily live forever. Sometimes, they die. Amici’s scholarship shows that they often erode from within, through the degradation of free and fair elections and the capture of independent courts or electoral… Continue reading

Trump Floats Disgusting Idea of Tying Disaster Aid for Los Angeles Wild Fires to California Adopting a Strict Form of Voter Identification

January 24, 2025, 10:47 amchicanery, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

This one really hits home. I have friends and family who have lost their homes or otherwise been displaced by the awful recent wildfires. The tradition has been to give disaster aid where it is needed —whether that is Florida,… Continue reading

“Many Jan. 6 Rioters Pardoned by Trump Attacked Police, Videos Show”

January 24, 2025, 7:13 amauthoritarian threats in US, election subversion riskRick Hasen

NYT: After Daniel Rodriguez pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer during the attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021, he was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison by a federal judge who… Continue reading

“Texas State Bar seeks to dismiss its lawsuit against Ken Paxton for challenging 2020 presidential election”

January 24, 2025, 7:04 amchicanery, election law bizRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: The State Bar of Texas on Wednesday moved to drop its lawsuit against Attorney General Ken Paxton for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, extending a cascade of legal and political wins… Continue reading

“Trump’s White House Press Secretary Reveals Her Failed Campaign Spent $200K in Illicit Contributions”

January 24, 2025, 6:54 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NOTUS: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed in amended campaign filings on Thursday that her unsuccessful 2022 congressional campaign owes more than $300,000 in unpaid debts, with Leavitt failing to disclose for years that her campaign took in… Continue reading

“Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office taking over voter registration fraud investigation in Lancaster County”

January 23, 2025, 2:35 pmchicanery, voter registrationRick Hasen

WGAL: The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office provided the following breakdown of ballots that were reviewed. Detectives from the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office reviewed 1,203 applications. Applications were provided by the Lancaster County Voter Registration Office. 367 applications were… Continue reading

“The Magnet and the Merry-Go-Round; Why Ranked Choice Voting is superior to Condorcet Voting as a tool for political depolarization”

January 23, 2025, 11:24 amalternative voting systemsRick Hasen

Greg Dennis blogs.

“Justice Department Orders a Halt to Civil Rights Work”

January 23, 2025, 7:56 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

NY Times: The Justice Department has ordered an immediate halt to all new civil rights cases or investigations — and signaled that it might back out of Biden-era agreements with police departments that engaged in discrimination or violence, according to… Continue reading

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The law of politics and the politics of law