Illinois Law Review Symposium on Political Reform and Election Law
The University of Illinois has published this excellent symposium. Here’s the full listing of articles:
“Skepticism About Proportional Representation for Congress”
The published version of this article is now available, as part of a political reform symposium published at the Univ. of Illinois Law Review. Here’s the abstract:
In recent years political reform advocates and advocacy groups have proposed a form… Continue reading
“The Surprising Impact of North Carolina’s New Voter ID Law”
NY Times: 2024 is the first general election under the state’s new voter ID law. Overall, the new voter ID law did not result in many votes being rejected. That said, the current law is significantly more voter-friendly than… Continue reading
“RNC Voluntarily Dismisses Challenge to Michigan’s Expanded Voter Registration Sites”
Democracy Docket has posted an update on the RNC’s challenge to Governor Whitmer’s decision to expand voter registration sites in Michigan. The RNC had take the position that Whitmer was acting outside of her executive authority in increasing the number… Continue reading
“Beyond the Spoiler Effect: Can Ranked-Choice Voting Solve the Problem of Political Polarization?”
The published version of this article in the Illinois Law Review, co-authored with Nate Atkinson and Scott Ganz, is now available. Here’s its abstract:
Ranked-Choice Voting (“RCV”) is growing in popularity among election reformers, who have coalesced in particular… Continue reading
“The Nomination and Election of Statewide Candidates
The published version of this article in the Illinois Law Review is now available. Here’s the abstract:
The standard system of statewide elections for governor and U.S. senator, among other offices, deserves a thorough overhaul. The collection of signatures by… Continue reading
“Replacing JD Vance in the U.S. Senate sets off scramble in Ohio”
An interesting article from CBS News on the intraparty negotiations in Ohio, where Governor Mike DeWine will be filling JD Vance’s seat until the required special election. DeWine’s goal apparently is to avoid picking a weak candidate that might lead… Continue reading
New Article: “The Brave New World of Judicial Elections: What We Know and What We Don’t”
Charles Gardner Geyh (Indiana University Maurer School of Law) has posted this new article on judicial elections on SSRN:
In this essay, I begin with a discussion of established legal theory, which elucidates the difficulties created by calling upon judges… Continue reading
“Powered by Native Voters, Ranked-Choice Voting and Open Primaries Survive in Alaska”
Bolts Magazine reviews the role of Native Voters in Alaska’s ballot reform efforts, noting, among other things, that “[a]reas with large Alaska Native populations provided the winning margin against repeal. Across the state’s three majority-Native House districts, the ‘no’ vote… Continue reading
New Study: “Voting on Tribal Lands”
A New Brennan Center study on voter participation on tribal lands highlights the impact of systemic inequities on turnout. Key findings include:
“Voter participation in federal elections from 2012 to 2022 averaged 11 percentage points less on tribal lands than… Continue reading
Very Disturbing WaPo Story: “Trump plans to fire Jack Smith’s team, use DOJ to probe 2020 election”
This does not bode well at all for the rule of law:
President-elect Donald Trump plans to fire the entire team that worked with special counsel Jack Smith to pursue two federal prosecutions against the former president, including career attorneys… Continue reading
Bridgeport Candidate Who Engaged in Deliberate Election Fraud Gets a Slap on The Wrist
I was surprised to see such a light punishment for this egregious conduct, especially as this is an area that has seen an unusual amount of problematic activity:
A former city councilman, who pleaded guilty to reduced charges in connection … Continue reading
“Trump’s hush money sentencing is delayed yet again”
Politico:
“In a one-page decision, Justice Juan Merchan postponed the sentencing, which had been set for Nov. 26, in order to weigh Trump’s bid to dismiss the case entirely based on the fact that he is now president-elect.”
“Three California Minor Parties File Federal Lawsuit Against Top-Two System”
Ballot Access News: This week, three California minor parties filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the California top-two system. The parties are Peace & Freedom, Green, and Libertarian. Here is the 12-page Complaint in Peace & Freedom… Continue reading