NOT “By All Means Necessary”

September 11, 2025, 8:23 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

In light of yesterday’s tragic events, I am posting an excerpt here from Randy Kennedy’s essay we published earlier this week at the NYU Democracy Project: Because proponents of democracy are constantly battling its enemies, the ethics of fighting… Continue reading

The Despicable Assassination of Charlie Kirk

September 10, 2025, 5:01 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Once again I condemn the use of political violence. It is equally repugnant when directed at liberals or conservatives, Democrats or Republicans, governors, presidents, or activists like Kirk. I have had to post sentiments like this far too often in… Continue reading

I Spoke to NPR’s Fresh Air: “An election law expert weighs in on Trump’s effort to reshape our democracy” (Link to Audio)

September 10, 2025, 10:58 amauthoritarian threats in US, election administration, election subversion riskRick Hasen

Had a great conversation with Tonya Mosley for NPR’s Fresh Air: “Before 2026’s midterms, President Trump wants to ban mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines, and change voting rules. Legal expert Richard Hasen discusses the future of free and fair… Continue reading

The 2025 Election Law Conference at Florida State University

September 10, 2025, 7:59 amelection law bizTravis Crum

This weekend, FSU will host the 2025 Election Law Conference. Jacob Eisler is the organizer, and I am serving as an informal advisor. This conference is a sequel to last year’s Election Law Conference at Washington University in St. Louis,… Continue reading

“Michigan dismissal highlights the challenges in prosecuting cases against Trump’s 2020 fake electors”

September 10, 2025, 7:43 amchicanery, election subversion risk, electoral collegeRick Hasen

AP: Before the abandoned federal attempt to prosecute Donald Trump for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, state and local prosecutors brought cases against his fake electors. The term referred to the people who, in several of the… Continue reading

Launching “The Democracy Project” at NYU

September 10, 2025, 4:27 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

I’m excited to announce we are launching The Democracy Project at NYU School of Law. Bob Bauer, Sam Issacharoff, and I will lead The Project. Here’s link to the Project’s website. Dissatisfaction with democratic government has been pervasive for the… Continue reading

“Why some longtime gerrymandering opponents are reconsidering their strategies”

September 9, 2025, 12:10 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Hansi Lo Wang for NPR.

“Trump Administration Quietly Seeks to Build National Voter Roll”

September 9, 2025, 6:50 amauthoritarian threats in US, election subversion riskRick Hasen

NYT: The Justice Department is compiling the largest set of national voter roll data it has ever collected, buttressing an effort by President Trump and his supporters to try to prove long-running, unsubstantiated claims that droves of undocumented immigrants have… Continue reading

“Democrats pick members for new GOP-led committee on Jan. 6 Capitol attack”

September 9, 2025, 6:46 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

WaPo: Democrats named the members of their caucus to serve on a new subcommittee reinvestigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — a Republican-led probe that threatens to reignite tensions over one of the most divisive… Continue reading

Season 2 of “Law and Democracy” podcast

September 9, 2025, 6:42 amUncategorizedNed Foley

It starts with an episode, “What America Can Learn from Australia” available on YouTube and Apple Podcasts, in which I discuss with the Election Law at Ohio State team my reflections from spending a month this summer on a… Continue reading

“White House may discuss mid-decade redistricting with Nebraska lawmakers this week”

September 9, 2025, 6:33 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Nebraska Examiner: A handful of Nebraska lawmakers are set to travel to Washington, D.C., this week for a “state leadership conference” at the White House’s invitation. But, if what happened with delegations from other states is an indication, another reason… Continue reading

“Missouri House Set to Vote on Map That Boosts Republicans”

September 9, 2025, 6:31 amredistrictingRick Hasen

NYT: The Missouri House of Representatives is poised to vote on Tuesday on new congressional boundaries that would create an additional Republican-leaning district, part of President Trump’s national push to redraw maps to favor his party ahead of the midterm… Continue reading

“Thune Moves to Speed Trump Nominees Past Democratic Blockade”

September 8, 2025, 8:49 pmlegislation and legislatures, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT: Republicans took the first step on Monday toward changing the Senate’s rules to speed the confirmations of Trump administration nominees being slowed by Democratic opposition, touching off the latest in a yearslong tit for tat between the two… Continue reading

Register for Free Sept. 16 Webinar from Safeguarding Democracy Project: “The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections”

September 8, 2025, 7:30 amauthoritarian threats in US, election administration, election subversion riskRick Hasen

The Risk of Federal Interference in the 2026 Midterm Elections Tuesday, September 16, 12:15pm-1:15pm PT, Webinar Register here. Ben Haiman, UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice, Liz Howard, NYU Law Brennan Center for Justice, and Stephen Richer, Ash Center for Democratic Governance… Continue reading