“Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. Arkansas Board of Apportionment”

June 12, 2024, 5:37 amUncategorizedNicholas Stephanopoulos

Caroline Walker has written this comment for the Harvard Law Review on the Eighth Circuit’s decision that no private right of action exists to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The comment explores whether plaintiffs might be able… Continue reading

Hard to beat this split-screen

June 11, 2024, 5:41 pmcampaign finance, campaignsJustin Levitt

NBC News on courting older voters with phone banks and pickleball. WaPo on courting younger voters with beer and birth control. And the money quote: “‘You have to be able to drink the beer whether you voted… Continue reading

“One of the biggest changes ever proposed for Colorado elections is on a journey to this November’s ballot”

June 11, 2024, 5:25 pmalternative voting systems, primaries, voter id, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

Colorado Public Radio with more on the proposed initiative to implement a top-four primary with ranked-choice voting for the general election. Meanwhile, there’s a signature campaign in Maine to get two initiatives on the ballot: voter ID and a repeal… Continue reading

“America’s Top 100 Donors Heavily Favor Trump and the Republicans”

June 11, 2024, 5:24 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Mother Jones parses the most recent campaign finance data. Politico has thoughts (“Wall Street Titans Shake Off Qualms and Embrace Trump”), which Anthony Scaramucci echoes.

“$800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor to US Chamber raises curtain on dark money”

June 11, 2024, 5:22 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The lede in The Hill: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce received an $800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor Hank Meijer days after it endorsed his son, then-Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), in a contentious 2022 primary, according to previously unreported internal… Continue reading

“Fake Donations Helped a Candidate Get $162,000 From Taxpayers”

June 11, 2024, 5:21 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

The N.Y. Times with the report on matching funds in a state Assembly race that’s something of an outlier: The report also contrasts the state system with the city’s system: For years, government watchdogs had urged state leaders to adopt… Continue reading

“Georgia’s battleground state status spurs partisan elections board skirmishes”

June 11, 2024, 5:19 pmelection administration, The Voting WarscertificationJustin Levitt

The Georgia Recorder with a piece on the fights over control of local elections boards responsible for certifying election results.

“Advocacy group finds one-fifth of Latino voters leaning towards third-party presidential candidates”

June 11, 2024, 5:19 pmpolitical parties, third partiesJustin Levitt

Voto Latino finds a hefty amount of support for third-party options.

Top Recent Downloads in Election Law on SSRN

June 11, 2024, 12:49 pmpedagogyRick Hasen

Here: RankPaperDownloads1.Did Shelby County v. Holder Increase the Racial Turnout Gap?Kevin Morris and Michael MillerNew York University (NYU) – Brennan Center for Justice and Barnard College, Columbia UniversityDate Posted: 18 Mar 2024Last Revised: 16 May 20242212.… Continue reading

SSRN Relaunches Election Law and Voting Rights E-Journal

June 11, 2024, 12:46 pmpedagogyRick Hasen

In response in my post expressing disappointment about the loss of an SSRN journal dedicated to election law, I’m very happy to announce that the ejournal has been relaunched! You can use this link to subscribe to the ejournal (you… Continue reading

New updated edition of BALLOT BATTLES now available

June 11, 2024, 9:06 amUncategorizedNed Foley

Oxford University Press has published a revised and expanded edition of Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States. It’s also available in a Kindle version for those, like me, who prefer to read (and highlight)… Continue reading

[BREAKING] Hunter Biden guilty on federal gun charges

June 11, 2024, 8:44 amfelon votingJustin Levitt

A Delaware jury has just found Hunter Biden guilty on three federal gun charges. This was the first federal criminal trial involving the child of a sitting President. Like former President Trump, I believe that Hunter will lose his… Continue reading

“With a Democrat’s Help, the F.E.C. Goes From Deadlock to Deregulation”

June 11, 2024, 7:37 amcampaign finance, federal election commission, political polarizationJustin Levitt

There’s a lot to drive discussion in this NYT piece on the FEC and Commissioner Lindenbaum’s role in a recent series of votes. (Disclosure: I was serving at the White House when Commissioner Lindenbaum was nominated.) I haven’t had the… Continue reading

“Nevada has a plan to expand electronic voting. That concerns election security experts”

June 11, 2024, 7:31 amabsentee ballots, internet votingJustin Levitt

The AP covers the attempt to expand access for remote Tribal voters via electronic ballot delivery. FWIW, meaningfully increasing Postal Service presence in remote areas helps connect those voters to the process in a way that isn’t limited to ballots.