“A still-unresolved North Carolina court election is back before judges next week”

March 15, 2025, 8:54 amjudicial elections, recountsRick Hasen

AP: A panel from North Carolina’s intermediate-level appeals court will hear arguments next week about a still-unsettled November election for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court. The March 21 hearing by three judges on the Court of Appeals was… Continue reading

Ninth Circuit, Over Strong Dissent, Upholds Lawyer Sanctions Against Kari Lake and Mark Finchem’s Attorneys in Lawsuit over Arizona Voting System

March 15, 2025, 8:41 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

This is the first time I can remember seeing a split in this kind of litigation over baseless suits challenging the integrity of election systems.

“Trump calls his opponents ‘scum’ and lawbreakers in bellicose speech at Justice Department”

March 14, 2025, 3:36 pmauthoritarian threats in US, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

Politico: President Donald Trump on Friday walked into the Department of Justice and labeled his courtroom opponents “scum,” judges “corrupt” and the prosecutors who investigated him “deranged.” With the DOJ logo directly behind him, Trump called his political opponents lawbreakers… Continue reading

Derek Muller Blogging Next Week

March 14, 2025, 11:19 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Direct all your tips and questions to Derek.

Mar 21 Event from Issue One on CISA and Protecting Federal Elections

March 14, 2025, 11:18 amelection administrationRick Hasen

This looks important: Following unprecedented levels of foreign interference operations during the 2016 presidential election, members of Congress and President Trump’s first administration recognized the urgent need to bolster election security. That collective effort resulted in the Department of Homeland… Continue reading

“Under G.O.P., Congress Cedes Power to Trump, Eroding Its Influence”

March 14, 2025, 7:21 amauthoritarian threats in US, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

NYT: The Republican-led Congress isn’t just watching the Trump administration gobble up its constitutional powers. It is enthusiastically turning them over to the White House. G.O.P. lawmakers are doing so this week by embracing a stopgap spending bill that gives… Continue reading

“Who Is Elon Musk Helping Now? A Judicial Candidate Who’s a Big Trump Fan.”

March 14, 2025, 7:20 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

NYT: In October 2016, the day after the release of the “Access Hollywood” recording in which Donald J. Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women, Wisconsin Republicans held a rally in the small town of Elkhorn. As the state’s top Republicans… Continue reading

“Adaptation and Innovation: The Civic Space Response to AI-Infused Elections”

March 13, 2025, 12:08 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

New report from CDT. From the Introduction: AI avatars delivered independent news about Venezuela’s contested election, allowing journalists to protect their identity and avoid politically motivated arrest. Voters in the United Kingdom could cast their ballots for an AI avatar… Continue reading

HLR Case Comment on Petteway

March 13, 2025, 7:27 amUncategorizedNicholas Stephanopoulos

This Harvard Law Review recently published this case comment on the Fifth Circuit’s en banc decision in Petteway v. Galveston County, which held that Section 2 of the VRA doesn’t authorize claims by coalitions of minority voters. The Fifth Circuit’s… Continue reading

“Justice Dept. Moving to Downsize Units Investigating Fraud and Corruption”

March 13, 2025, 6:41 amchicanery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: Justice Department officials are drafting plans to broadly restructure — and significantly downsize — several key units in Washington responsible for investigating cases of fraud and public corruption, according to three people briefed on the changes. The plans, which… Continue reading

“Trump Pardons Ex-Tennessee State Senator Imprisoned for Campaign Fraud”

March 12, 2025, 5:51 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump has pardoned an imprisoned former Tennessee state senator who was two weeks into a 21-month sentence for his role in a campaign finance fraud scheme. Inmate records show that the former lawmaker, Brian Kelsey, a Republican,… Continue reading

“Judge blocks key provisions of Trump’s bid to punish Democratic-linked law firm”

March 12, 2025, 4:48 pmauthoritarian threats in US, election law bizRick Hasen

Politico: President Donald Trump’s retaliation against a prominent Democratic-linked law firm is likely unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell blocked the Trump administration from enforcing central provisions of an executive order that seeks to… Continue reading

“Utah Was a Rare Red State to Champion Mail Voting. That Era Is Likely Ending.”

March 12, 2025, 4:40 pmabsentee ballots, election administrationRick Hasen

Bolts reports.

“Privacy Violations in Election Results”

March 12, 2025, 12:24 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

New paper in Science Advances from Shiro Kuriwaki, Jeff Lewis,, and Michael Morse. Abstract: After an election, should election officials release a copy of each anonymous ballot? Some policy-makers have championed public disclosure to counter distrust, but others worry that… Continue reading