“The People Onscreen Are Fake. The Disinformation Is Real.”

February 7, 2023, 12:50 pmcheap speechRick Hasen

NYT: In one video, a news anchor with perfectly combed dark hair and a stubbly beard outlined what he saw as the United States’ shameful lack of action against gun violence. In another video, a female news anchor heralded China’s… Continue reading

“Georgia panel: Reforms, resources needed for election review”

February 7, 2023, 12:48 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

AP: A process recently implemented by Georgia state lawmakers to examine how county officials handle elections is likely unsustainable without more resources or reforms, according to the panel that did the first review under the law. The provision in a … Continue reading

Eighth Circuit refuses to bar Minnesota Attorney General’s subpoenas against WinRed

February 7, 2023, 8:42 amcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

An opinion in WinRed Inc. v. Ellison written by Judge Benton, joined by Chief Judge Smith (with some excerpts, below, lightly edited). (Judge Shepherd, “writing separately,” argues the case is not ripe for review and the court lacks jurisdiction.)

“Santos’ unusual $199.99 campaign expenses are putting scrutiny on his longtime treasurer”

February 7, 2023, 8:37 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

CNN: In the fall of 2020, then-New York Rep. Lee Zeldin’s campaign submitted a report to federal regulators with a series of unusual expenses: 21 payments on a single day of exactly $199.99 each. The outlays – each just one… Continue reading

“Who benefits from voter identification laws?”

February 7, 2023, 7:28 amvoter idRick Hasen

Jeffrey J. Harden and Alejandra Campos in PNAS. Abstract: In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, many American state governments implemented voter identification (ID) laws for elections held in their states. These laws, which commonly mandate photo… Continue reading

“Trump Charges in Georgia Over 2020 Could Lead to Bigger Fed Case”

February 7, 2023, 7:23 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Bloomberg: The first major criminal charges that Donald Trump could face for interfering in the 2020 election might come from Atlanta — and what happens in Georgia isn’t expected to stay in Georgia. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said… Continue reading

Mikhail on James Wilson on ISLT

February 7, 2023, 7:18 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

John Mikhail has some interesting analysis in a post on James Wilson over at Balkinization: The Independent State Legislature Theory In light of current events, another pertinent topic is the Elections Clause. Its crucial word, generating the challenge in Moore v.… Continue reading

#ELB20th: Coming Soon: Reflections on ELB’s 20th Anniversary

February 7, 2023, 6:28 am#ELB20thRick Hasen

Anyone remember this? Twenty years is a long time for anything, especially a blog. The first post appeared on February 18, 2003, and it looked like this: Starting in the middle of this month, ELB contributors and friends of… Continue reading

A practical reason for the North Carolina Supreme Court to expedite rehearing of its partisan gerrymandering decision

February 6, 2023, 10:35 amlegislation and legislatures, Supreme CourtDerek Muller

I appreciate Rick H.’s perspective on the issue of potential mootness in Moore v. Harper. Indeed, I think if the North Carolina Supreme Court reverses its partisan gerrymandering decision, it’s hard to think that even a malleable doctrine like “capable… Continue reading

My New one @Slate: “Unfortunately, the Biggest Election Case of the Supreme Court Term Could Be Moot”

February 6, 2023, 7:36 amlegislation and legislatures, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: Will a power grab by the new Republican majority on North Carolina’s Supreme Court—ostensibly to reverse a power grab by the earlier Democratic majority on North Carolina’s Supreme Court—deprive conservatives on… Continue reading

“Inside Harvard’s misinformation meltdown”

February 6, 2023, 7:33 amcheap speechRick Hasen

Ben Smith and Louise Matsakis for Semafor: Joan Donovan, Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, is a defining and combative voice in the study of how false information travels on the internet. She became… Continue reading

“Election skeptics slow to get sweeping changes in GOP states”

February 6, 2023, 7:29 amfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

AP: Republicans in some heavily conservative states won their campaigns for secretary of state last year after claiming they would make sweeping changes aimed at keeping fraud out of elections. So far, their efforts to make good on their promises… Continue reading

“As G.O.P. Rails Against Federal Spending, Its Appetite for Earmarks Grows”

February 6, 2023, 7:22 amlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

NYT: Even as Republicans, newly empowered after taking control of the House, call for deep government spending cuts and accuse Democrats of profligacy with taxpayer dollars, a growing number of them have joined Democrats in helping themselves to larger amounts… Continue reading

“Kari Lake, Still Refusing to Accept Defeat in One Race, Teases Arizona Senate Run”

February 5, 2023, 4:42 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

NYT: Kari Lake, the fiery former news anchor who narrowly lost a race for governor of Arizona last year, said in an interview that she is considering a Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate in Arizona next year. She has… Continue reading