“Democrats grow concerned Republicans are planting seeds with legal suits to overturn a Trump defeat”

September 3, 2024, 6:55 amelection subversion risk, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Peter Nicholas for NBC News: Republicans are setting off a slew of legal fights in the battleground states ahead of the November election, raising suspicions among Kamala Harris and her Democratic allies that the underlying goal is to gin up… Continue reading

“Convicted fraudsters launch AI lobbying firm using fake names”

September 3, 2024, 6:48 amchicanery, lobbyingRick Hasen

Politico: A Washington startup pitched as a service to integrate AI into lobbying is covertly run by a pair of well-known, far-right conspiracy theorists and convicted felons who are using pseudonyms in their new business, according to four former employees… Continue reading

“They didn’t submit a photocopy that wasn’t required; Why abortion won’t be on the Arkansas ballot in November”

September 3, 2024, 6:43 amballot access, chicanery, direct democracyRick Hasen

I missed this from Adam Unikowsky back on Aug. 25: On August 22, 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court held, by a 4-3 vote, that an abortion-rights ballot initiative would not appear on the 2024 ballot. Why? It’s a confusing… Continue reading

“Beijing-Backed Trolls Target U.S. Voters as Election Nears”

September 3, 2024, 6:40 amcheap speechRick Hasen

WSJ: Chinese government-backed trolls are targeting U.S. voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election, assuming fake identities of politically engaged voters on social media to promote divisive narratives around issues including gun control, racial inequality and the Israel-Hamas war, according… Continue reading

Skepticism about Proportional Representation for Congress: A New Article

September 3, 2024, 3:37 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

I’ve posted this new article at SSRN, which will be forthcoming as part of an election-law Symposium in the University of Illinois Law Review. In a white paper released after this draft was completed, a leading proponent of PR for… Continue reading

“Trump said he had ‘every right’ to interfere with 2020 election”

September 2, 2024, 5:13 pmelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Axios, on a story that is getting surprisingly little attention: Former President Trump said he had “every right” to interfere with the results of the 2020 presidential election a Fox News interview that aired Sunday. Why it matters: Trump’s recent remarks… Continue reading

“Paxton’s election fraud charges upend lives but result in few convictions”

September 2, 2024, 3:40 pmfraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

WaPo deep dive: The church leader’s case fits a pattern that has emerged in Texas under Paxton: Aggressive prosecutions for alleged election fraud crimes that upend lives but result in few cases that go to trial and end in a… Continue reading

“GOP network props up liberal third-party candidates in key states, hoping to siphon off Harris votes”

September 2, 2024, 7:52 amballot access, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: Across the country, a network of Republican political operatives, lawyers and their allies is trying to shape November’s election in ways that favor former President Donald Trump. Their goal is to prop up third-party candidates such as West who… Continue reading

“Federal judge blocks enforcement of new Ohio ban on noncitizen contributions to ballot issue campaigns”

September 2, 2024, 7:50 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cleveland.com: A federal judge on Saturday blocked key portions of Ohio’s new law restricting lawful permanent residents, visa-holders and others from contributing to statewide ballot issue campaigns. The injunction came one day before the law was to take effect…. Ohio’s … Continue reading

“California is racing to combat deepfakes ahead of the election”

September 1, 2024, 8:16 amcheap speechRick Hasen

LA Times: On Friday, California lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that would prohibit the distribution of deceptive campaign ads or “election communication” within 120 days of an election. Assembly Bill 2839 targets manipulated content that would harm a… Continue reading

“Improving Voter-Centered Representation in Local Government”

August 31, 2024, 6:53 pmUncategorizedNicholas Stephanopoulos

This launch event for TrueViews will be held on Tuesday, September 3, from 11am – 12:15pm, both in-person and virtually. TrueViews is a new site I’ve been working on together with Justin De Benedictis-Kessner, Ruth Greenwood, and Chris Warshaw, funded… Continue reading

“Prosecutors Seek Simpler Path in Federal Election Case, as Trump Seeks Delays”

August 31, 2024, 12:23 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: Federal prosecutors and lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump filed dueling proposals on Friday night about how to move forward in the case accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election in light of the Supreme Court’s… Continue reading

“North Carolina ballot order sparks misleading claims of election interference”

August 31, 2024, 12:20 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

AFP fact check.

“Nebraska Supreme Court weighs felon voting law: How it could affect 2024 election”

August 31, 2024, 12:19 pmfelon votingRick Hasen

USA Today: Elections and politics suddenly became more real to Aaron Pettes this summer when he learned that for the first time in his life he was eligible to vote. The 44-year-old former felon in Omaha is one of an… Continue reading