“Federal Courts Won’t Hear North Carolina Gerrymandering Case”

April 19, 2020, 8:06 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Bloomberg Law: North Carolina legislators can’t remove to federal court a state suit under the state constitution challenging a redistricting plan that they say is gerrymandered in favor of Republicans, the Fourth Circuit said Thursday.

Sally Field Reads Portions of Justice Ginsburg’s Dissent in Wisconsin Voting Case in Short Video from Brave New Films

April 19, 2020, 8:03 pmSupreme CourtRick Hasen

Watch.

Another Virus-Related Potential Voting Issue

April 19, 2020, 11:36 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

From this story, which begins this way: Cancellation of citizenship oath ceremonies and in-person interviews because of coronavirus means hundreds of thousands of people may not naturalize in time for November’s elections. If ceremonies and interviews remain shut down… Continue reading

“Election Modifications to Avoid During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

April 18, 2020, 3:40 pmabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

Michael Morley for Lawfare: As we approach the presidential election this November, election officials are developing plans to deal with the unique risks posed by the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. I have written about how states have grappled with… Continue reading

“Voting by Mail and Ballot Rejection: Lessons from Florida for Elections in the Age of the Coronavirus”

April 18, 2020, 3:37 pmabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

Anna Baringer, Michael C. Herron, and Daniel A. Smith have posted this draft. Here is the abstract: The coronavirus and its concomitant need for social distancing have increased the attractiveness of voting by mail (VBM). VBM voting is nonetheless… Continue reading

“Federal Court DISMISSES Request To Force State To Allow Online Petition-Gathering For Initiatives During Pandemic”

April 18, 2020, 3:35 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Arizona’s Politics reports.

Chad Flanders and Kristen Spina in Slate: Texas Courts Should Use the “Democracy Canon” To Interpret Excuse Restrictions in Absentee Ballot Laws to Cover COVID-19 Fears

April 17, 2020, 5:08 pmabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

I like this a lot: As the ACLU stated it in its motion in the case, though, it’s arguable that everyone now has a “physical condition” that increases the “likelihood” that going to the polls might “injure[] the voter’s health.”… Continue reading

“Mass. Top Court Loosens Ballot Signature Rules Due To Virus”

April 17, 2020, 5:04 pmballot accessRick Hasen

Law 360: Political candidates seeking to get on to the Sept. 1 primary ballot in Massachusetts will only need to collect half the number of signatures usually required and can now use some electronic means to gather names, according to… Continue reading

Breaking: Texas State Court Issues Order Requiring Texas to Accept Absentee Ballot Applications from Anyone Who Raises COVID-19 Pandemic as a “Disability” Preventing In-Person Voting; Appeal Expected

April 17, 2020, 1:57 pmabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

Ordinarily it requires an excuse for most voters to vote by absentee ballot. The Texas AG has taken the position that fear of contracting COVID-19 is not a valid excuse to vote absentee. This court order, which was expected,… Continue reading

“Mail-In Elections Can’t Be Built Overnight. Here’s What Will Happen If Every State Tries.”

April 17, 2020, 12:27 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

TPM dives into the supply chain if there’s a surge in mail-in voting in November (there will be).

Bipartisan Policy Center Event: E-Briefing on Marshalling Resources for Voting

April 17, 2020, 12:20 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

E-Briefing on Marshalling Resources for Voting Monday, April 20, 20202-3 p.m. ETRegister NowAmerica’s election officials are scrambling to administer upcoming elections during an unprecedented pandemic. Federal assistance is desperately needed to adjust to new realities on the ground.… Continue reading

“Abigail Thernstrom, conservative voice on voting rights and education, dies at 83”

April 17, 2020, 12:11 pmelection law bizRick Hasen

Sad news: Abigail Thernstrom, a political scientist who was steeped in left-wing politics from childhood but became an influential conservative voice on racial equality, voting rights and education, died April 10 at a hospital in Arlington, Va. She was… Continue reading

“Elections in a Pandemic: The Crisis Response Should Be Permanent Policy”

April 17, 2020, 12:04 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Miles Rapoport and Cecily Hines in Dissent.

Trump Campaign Falsely Claims Democrats Trying to “STEAL THE ELECTION” with “Ballot Harvesting”

April 17, 2020, 10:12 amfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Email also says Democrats are “trying to stuff the ballot box with FAKE and FRAUDULENT votes.” (No evidence of this, as I explain here). Here’s the screenshot (via Brendan Nyhan):

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