“Appeals court wipes conviction for ex-congressman”

December 27, 2023, 7:43 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

The 9th Circuit’s opinion. The Hill: A federal appeals court panel wiped ex-Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s (R-Neb.) conviction of lying to the FBI about an illegal campaign contribution, ruling Tuesday that he was not tried in the proper venue.… Continue reading

“Fears grow over AI’s impact on the 2024 election”

December 26, 2023, 8:00 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

The Hill: The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is raising concerns about how the technology could impact next year’s election as the start of 2024 primary voting nears. AI — advanced tech that can generate text, images and… Continue reading

“2023 Saw a Growing Pro-Democracy Movement Win Voting Access Gains”

December 26, 2023, 7:54 amUncategorizedVoting AccessSpencer Overton

From Ashleigh Maciolek of the Brennan Center: Over the past few years, states across the country have passed laws that make voting more difficult and elections more vulnerable to partisan interference, and 2023 is no exception. But it… Continue reading

“How Artificial Intelligence will shape and dominate the 2024 elections”

December 26, 2023, 7:53 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

Greater Kashmir: As the world gears up for the year 2024, the global stage is preparing for an unprecedented electoral spectacle, poised to go down in history as the largest election extravaganza ever witnessed. With over two billion individuals… Continue reading

“How Mass Mail-In Voting Changes Everything”

December 26, 2023, 7:50 amUncategorizedvote by mailSpencer Overton

I link to this commentary in The American Conservative not to give unwarranted credibility to it—but to convey the messages currently being communicated by those opposed to making voting accessible to all eligible voters. In this particular example, there is… Continue reading

“The Best and Worst of 2023”

December 26, 2023, 7:49 amUncategorizedvoting rightsSpencer Overton

From Democracy Docket: The year 2023 was up and down for voting rights and democracy. Voters scored two major wins at the U.S. Supreme Court, but saw Republicans enact restrictive voting policies throughout the country. Dangerous election administration policies… Continue reading

“Tracking Section 3 Trump Disqualification Challenges”

December 25, 2023, 7:52 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

From Lawfare: This page is intended to track which states have active Section 3 litigation to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot. . . .

“‘It’s complicated’: DC officials mark 50th anniversary of Home Rule Act, continue push for statehood”

December 25, 2023, 7:38 amUncategorizedDC StatehoodSpencer Overton

WTOP: D.C. got a unique Christmas Eve surprise from President Richard Nixon a half century ago — the right to self-governance. It came after decades of failures for the city, between 1948 and 1964, as a handful of bills… Continue reading

“‘You better pray’: Christian nationalist groups are mobilizing before the 2024 elections”

December 25, 2023, 7:37 amUncategorized2024 Election CycleSpencer Overton

The Guardian: On a cold night in November, a man named Jefferson Davis addressed a crowd of conservative activists gathered in an American Legion hall 20 miles north of Milwaukee. In his left hand, Davis brandished an unusual prop.… Continue reading

Recent research posted to SSRN

December 25, 2023, 7:35 amUncategorizeddisqualification, ranked choice votingSpencer Overton

“Section Three’s Chilling Effect on Free Speech” “Ballot Marking Errors in Ranked-Choice Voting”

“Trump Asks Appeals Court to Toss Election Case on Immunity Grounds”

December 24, 2023, 7:56 amUncategorized2020 Election Cycle, Election InterferenceSpencer Overton

Opening brief from WaPo here. NYT: Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump asked an appeals court in Washington on Saturday night to toss a federal indictment accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, arguing that he… Continue reading

“How Russian and Chinese Interference Could Affect the 2024 Election”

December 24, 2023, 7:54 amUncategorizeddisinformation, foreign interferenceSpencer Overton

More analysis on this story from NYT: ….As Washington looks ahead to the 2024 vote, U.S. intelligence agencies last week released a report on the 2022 midterm elections — a document that gives us some hints about what might… Continue reading

“Legal challenges to the Voting Rights Act continue into the new year”

December 24, 2023, 7:53 amUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Hansi Lo Wang on NPR: The landmark Voting Rights Act has had a wild year in the courts. In 2024, ongoing legal challenges are threatening to make it harder to protect the voting rights of people of color (4-minute listen).

“Reforms coming to Washington elections after three counties settle with the UCLA’s Voting Rights Project”

December 24, 2023, 7:53 amUncategorizedsignature verificationSpencer Overton

The Chronicle: Washington state’s signature-verification procedures are meant to root out exceedingly rare cases of voter fraud. But what they’ve typically done is get a lot of innocent legal votes tossed out. In 2020 alone, the state rejected more… Continue reading