Race and Representation in the Battleground Counties

August 9, 2024, 6:47 amvoting2020 Election Cycle, new vote denial, race, swing states, voter turnoutTabatha Abu El-Haj

Voter turnout nationally during the 2020 Presidential Election was 66%—the highest since 1900. But a recent analysis from The Union of Concerned Scientists of voter turnout by precinct in 11 battleground counties found clear racial disparities, driven in part by… Continue reading

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith seeks delay to assess implications of SCOTUS ruling on Trump Jan. 6 case

August 9, 2024, 6:46 amUncategorizedFederal case, January 6, presidential immunityTabatha Abu El-Haj

Axios‘ article offers a summary of the implications of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s request for a two-week continuance to further analyze the Supreme Court’s immunity cases. Meanwhile, Politico provides a helpful analysis of the nuances of the Supreme Court’s… Continue reading

“Case that could keep RFK Jr. off New York’s presidential ballot ends”

August 9, 2024, 6:32 amballot access, third partiesTabatha Abu El-Haj

Michael Hill (AP) reports that the bench trial “in Albany over whether Kennedy’s New York nominating petitions should be invalidated ended Thursday without Justice Christina Ryba issuing an immediate decision. Any ruling by the trial judge is expected to be… Continue reading

Thanks to Spencer and Tabatha; Rick Pildes Blogging Next Week

August 9, 2024, 6:00 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Thanks again to Spencer and Tabatha for the great job blogging these past few weeks. Rick Pildes takes the seat on Monday, so please send any tips and comments his way. Then I’m back in the saddle as primary blogger… Continue reading

Walz–Money in Politics (Just enough less)

August 8, 2024, 7:15 pmUncategorizedmoney in politicsTabatha Abu El-Haj

A new profile of Tim Walz’ financial disclosures in the Washington Post reveals the Governor of Minnesota is a college-educated, white-collar professional, but also just upper-middle class. Of all the books and articles I have read over the years about… Continue reading

“Trump’s focus on Georgia election board raises fears for November vote”

August 8, 2024, 6:50 pmelection administration2024 Election Cycle, GeorgiaTabatha Abu El-Haj

Washington Post: Critics, including members of the state’s GOP establishment, worry about the administrative changes to Georgia’s election rules–on the election and on voters’ confidence in the count. “Since May, an unambiguously pro-Trump majority has controlled the state election… Continue reading

Are Joy and Optimism Essential to the Future of American Democracy?

August 8, 2024, 8:02 amUncategorizedTabatha Abu El-Haj

With very little actual election-law news in this 24-hour news cycle, I am thinking about the downside of emphasizing our democratic dismay. We should not ignore the many risks to our electoral system. But should we also be worried that… Continue reading

State of the Parties: Georgia

August 8, 2024, 5:47 ampolitical partiesTabatha Abu El-Haj

The Atlanta Journal Constitution provides a window into the Georgia Republican Party. In a period, when Democratic Party leaders have been doing precisely what they are supposed to do (broker internal conflicts and usher the party toward electoral success), Trump… Continue reading

Distinguished Scholarship Award–APPLY SOON!

August 7, 2024, 10:16 amUncategorizedTabatha Abu El-Haj

The AALS Section on Election Law is soliciting submissions for its annual Distinguished Scholarship Award. This year, the Section will grant two awards, one for 2023 and one for 2024. Each award will be given to a single work that… Continue reading

Voter Intimidation Made Easier in Arizona

August 7, 2024, 6:10 amUncategorizedFirst Amendment, voter intimidationTabatha Abu El-Haj

Votebeat reports Maricopa County Superior Judge issued a temporary injunction preventing Arizona from enforcing a manual interpreting the state’s laws that prevent voter intimidation. The judge found the new rules over broad in violation of the First Amendment, accepting Arizona… Continue reading

“Georgia Board Grants Local Officials New Power Over Certifying Elections”

August 7, 2024, 5:51 amUncategorizedballot counting, election admiinstration, polarizationTabatha Abu El-Haj

N.Y. TImes: In a move that is likely to sow discord in the counting of ballots this fall, the state’s Georgia Election Board approved on Tuesday a measure that empowers local officials to refuse or delay certification of a… Continue reading

Impressive new vote.gov redesign

August 6, 2024, 5:47 pmelection administration, voter registrationelection informationJustin Levitt

On today’s anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, the Vice President name-checked vote.gov. And it looks like the site recently got a facelift that’s a giant improvement over its effectively 8-bit predecessor (which wasn’t all that… Continue reading

“Governing the House with Multiple Parties”

August 6, 2024, 3:24 pmpolitical partiesgovernance, Proportional Representation, structural reformTabatha Abu El-Haj

Lee Drutman and Rob Oldham at New American have published a new report exploring how multiple parties in Congress might affect governance. This is huge. Any move toward structural reform must demonstrate that legislatures would be better able to deliver… Continue reading

Democratic primary for Arizona’s open 3d congressional district to go to automatic recount

August 6, 2024, 3:17 pmprimaries, recounts2024 Primary Election CycleTabatha Abu El-Haj

AP News: “Former Phoenix City Council member Yassamin Ansari led former state lawmaker Raquel Terán by 42 votes, with 42,819 ballots counted — a margin of 0.1 percentage points. . . . Under Arizona law, a recount is triggered… Continue reading