“Shouldn’t Officials Who Oversee Their Own Elections Be Able to Recuse Themselves?”

July 25, 2024, 7:40 amUncategorizedconflict of interest, recusalSpencer Overton

Kevin Johnson in Governing: ….State and federal laws, codes of conduct, and judicial training provide substantial guidance on recusal, and court systems are ready to provide needed replacements. But what about a secretary of state overseeing his own race… Continue reading

“Trump-friendly panel shapes Georgia’s election rules at long, often chaotic meetings”

July 25, 2024, 7:39 amUncategorizedelection administrationSpencer Overton

ABC News: ATLANTA — The Georgia State Election Board, which once toiled in relative obscurity, now hosts raucous meetings where public comment spans several hours and attendees regularly heckle its members. The shift highlights how election administration has become increasingly… Continue reading

“Newbern, Alabama Will Hold First Election Since 1965”

July 25, 2024, 7:38 amUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Democracy Docket: A federal judge signed off Tuesday on the settlement agreement reached in Newbern, Alabama in Mayor Patrick Braxton’s case, officially giving him all mayoral powers and privileges after being blocked from office by the previous white town… Continue reading

I Spoke with WNYC’s “On the Media” About Why the Biden-Harris Switch is Not “Antidemocratic” and Potential Legal Issues with the Switch

July 25, 2024, 7:12 amcampaignsRick Hasen

You can listen here. Moments after President Biden withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday, GOP leaders rushed to tug at any loose threads in his withdrawal. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson threatened legal challenges to his withdrawal,… Continue reading

“Trump campaign wants FEC to block Harris from accessing Biden’s campaign money”

July 24, 2024, 7:37 amUncategorizedFEC, Federal Election CommissionSpencer Overton

ABC News: The Trump campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign cannot take over President Joe Biden’s campaign’s money, calling it a violation of campaign finance contribution limit. “Kamala… Continue reading

“State election directors fear the Postal Service can’t handle expected crush of mail-in ballots”

July 24, 2024, 7:35 amUncategorizedabsentee ballots, VBM, vote by mailSpencer Overton

AP: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — State election directors from across the country voiced serious concerns to a top U.S. Postal Service official Tuesday that the system won’t be able to handle an expected crush of mail-in ballots in the November… Continue reading

“Nebraska push for winner-take-all will wait in line after property tax relief”

July 24, 2024, 7:34 amUncategorizedThe Electoral CollegeSpencer Overton

Nebraska Examiner: LINCOLN — Nebraska Republicans who want to change how the state awards its Electoral College votes before the presidential election this fall will have to wait a little longer. Gov. Jim Pillen’s office confirmed Monday that his… Continue reading

“Election law violates rights of voters with disabilities in Ohio, judge rules”

July 24, 2024, 7:32 amUncategorizedVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

The Hill: A federal judge in Ohio struck down parts of Ohio’s 2023 election law changes, ruling on Monday the law violates the rights of voters with disabilities in the state. . . The law, which went into effect… Continue reading

“Can Robert Menendez’s Bribery Conviction Survive an Appeal?”

July 24, 2024, 7:31 amUncategorizedbribery, corruptionSpencer Overton

NYT: After Senator Robert Menendez was found guilty of bribery and corruption charges, his lawyers said they would appeal his conviction aggressively and expected that he would be vindicated. Defense lawyers make such claims routinely, but in the realm… Continue reading

“Signatures certified: Ohio anti-gerrymandering amendment on its way to November ballot”

July 24, 2024, 7:26 amUncategorizedgerrymandering, independent redistricting commissions, redistrictingSpencer Overton

Ohio Capital Journal: A proposed anti-gerrymandering amendment in Ohio that would remove politicians from the redistricting process in favor of a citizens commission has gathered enough signatures to proceed to voters on the November ballot.

“Measure aimed at repealing Alaska’s ranked voting system still qualifies for ballot, officials say”

July 24, 2024, 7:25 amUncategorizedfinal four primary, RCVSpencer Overton

Washington Post: JUNEAU, Alaska — An initiative aimed at repealing Alaska’s ranked choice voting system still has sufficient signatures to qualify for the November ballot, attorneys for the state said in court filings Tuesday, days after a judge disqualified… Continue reading

Trump Campaign Complaint About Harris Using Biden-Harris Campaign Funds Is Unlikely to Get Anywhere at the FEC or In Court, and If It Does It Will Likely Take Years

July 23, 2024, 4:12 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

The New York Times reports that the Trump campaign has filed a complaint at the FEC against Kamala Harris for using the Biden-Harris campaign funds for her own campaign following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race. Most campaign finance lawyers… Continue reading

I Spoke with Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance for Their Podcast on Legal Issues Surrounding the Biden Withdrawal

July 23, 2024, 3:57 pmballot access, campaignsRick Hasen

You can listen here. It was a great conversation.

Fusion or Super-Fusion?

July 23, 2024, 3:25 pmUncategorizedNed Foley

“What Institutional Reform Would Most Depolarize Politics?” A new Common Ground Democracy essay examines, with sympathetic skepticism, the growing interest among scholars in fusion voting, as evidenced by the recent open letter advocating it. The essay explains why, given the… Continue reading