The Timing of Multiple-Round Elections

May 30, 2025, 11:04 amalternative voting systems, election administration, primariesinstant runoff votingJustin Levitt

In his most recent Substack, Rob Richie offers some (exceedingly respectful) pushback on my post here about this New Bedford decision to hold a primary on October 7 before a general election November 4. He makes “the case for… Continue reading

“Carrie Levine is named editor-in-chief of Votebeat”

May 30, 2025, 7:12 amelection law bizRick Hasen

So well deserved: Civic News Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Carrie Levine as the new editor-in-chief of Votebeat, its nonprofit newsroom dedicated to election administration coverage. Levine, who has been serving as interim editor-in-chief and previously as… Continue reading

“Man who blamed exposure to far-right content gets 3 years for threatening election officials”

May 29, 2025, 12:53 pmelection administration, election subversion riskJanuary 6, The Big Lie, threats to democracyJustin Levitt

The AP reports on a 3-year sentence for Teak Brockbank’s appalling threats to kill Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs over their handling of the elections (and similarly appalling threats against state judges… Continue reading

“Alabama may pause redistricting efforts until 2030 to avoid federal oversight”

May 29, 2025, 12:52 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActpreclearanceJustin Levitt

That’s the headline of a States Newsroom piece about a Wednesday filing in Alabama’s congressional redistricting litigation. But I can’t understand why it’s warranted. It’s true that after a three-judge court’s 571-page opinion (not a typo) a few weeks ago… Continue reading

“Trump’s 2024 win may boost the popular vote movement”

May 29, 2025, 12:51 pmelectoral collegenational popular voteJustin Levitt

That’s the lead analysis of this morning’s WaPo Early Brief. But see, e.g., this piece from the Daily Signal: “Maine Poised to Become First State to Withdraw From Popular Vote Compact”

Important laches election case from the Georgia Supreme Court

May 29, 2025, 12:50 pmelection subversion risklachesJustin Levitt

In Dean v. Georgia, the state Supreme Court rejected a (bold) claim by a losing candidate in the Georgia Labor Commissioner primary that all other candidates in both Democratic and Republican primaries lacked the proper qualifications. The dismissal was… Continue reading

Reporters keep buying the claim that DOGE is looking for voter fraud, at face value and without further questions

May 29, 2025, 12:49 pmfraudulent fraud squad, voter registrationprivacy actJustin Levitt

Buried in this NYT profile of Elon Musk’s latest PR offensive is the following paragraph: It is unclear how many of Mr. Musk’s most prominent deputies will stay ensconced in their new government roles. Antonio Gracias, the billionaire investor, has… Continue reading

Cuts at Census Bureau have an impact

May 29, 2025, 12:47 pmUncategorizedcensusJustin Levitt

Hansi Lo Wang, over at Bluesky, with a thread that starts: NEW: Census Bureau lost over 1,000 employees through early retirement and voluntary separation offers in recent months and plans to cut some statistical work, acting Director Ron Jarmin… Continue reading

“Maryland’s primary elections are unconstitutional, lawsuit alleges”

May 29, 2025, 12:46 pmelection law and constitutional law, legislation and legislatures, political parties, primariesstate constitutionsJustin Levitt

The WaPo has a story on independent voters claiming a right to participate in primary elections under the state constitution. The complaint is here. Existing Supreme Court precedent on the primary process and the First Amendment mostly gives the… Continue reading

“Trump pardons ‘humbled’ John G. Rowland, former CT governor”

May 29, 2025, 12:45 pmcampaign finance, ethics investigationspardons, Pay-to-Play, political corruption, public corruptionJustin Levitt

An excerpt from the CT Mirror about a governor convicted of corruption and campaign finance charges: John G. Rowland, the thrice-elected and twice-convicted former Republican governor of Connecticut, said he was “humbled and appreciative” Wednesday after learning he was the… Continue reading

“Mayor, two other former local officials indicted in south Georgia for election interference in municipal races last year”

May 29, 2025, 12:44 pmchicanery, election administration, residencycriminalization of politics, disqualification, Election InterferenceJustin Levitt

On the same day as the 2024 general election (which was run by the county), municipal elections were scheduled in Camilla, Georgia. There was a firestorm with notable racial overtones about the eligibility of a former city councilmember, who had … Continue reading

“Trump administration ramps up push as crypto ally”

May 29, 2025, 12:42 pmethics investigationsPay-to-Play, political corruptionJustin Levitt

The WaPo piece’s subhead: The administration’s full-throated support of crypto is raising concern from ethics experts who say it overlaps with the president’s personal investments.

The Abundance Agenda Comes to the Supreme Court

May 29, 2025, 12:25 pmUncategorizedRichard Pildes

The Supreme Court issued a major decision today involving NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County Co. Here’s a slightly modified version of a thread I posted on X regarding the significance of… Continue reading

Plaintiffs seek en banc review of decision saying private parties can’t enforce the VRA

May 28, 2025, 5:35 pmstatutory interpretation, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Two weeks ago, Rick covered the latest Eighth Circuit disaster, finding that only the DOJ, and not private plaintiffs, had any ability to enforce the Voting Rights Act. (An earlier Eighth Circuit case held that private plaintiffs couldn’t sue… Continue reading