On Tuesday, December 10 (one week from today), AEI is hosting an event to discuss the forthcoming book Electoral Reform in the United States: Proposals for Combating Polarization and Extremism. Details on the event, and a link to RSVP for either in-person on online attendance, are available here. (There was an ELB notice shortly before Thanksgiving, but in the aftermath of the holiday a reminder is perhaps useful.)
Today, of course, is Election Day
Your regular reminder that the 2024 elections aren’t over, and I’m not just talking about the counting and certifying. Local runoffs in Georgia are today, and runoffs (and state constitutional amendments) in Louisiana are Saturday.
“Meta loses appeal, must pay $24.6M for WA campaign finance violations”
The Seattle Times reports on Monday’s appellate decision regarding violations of Washington’s disclosure law. The state’s Public Disclosure Commission is quoted as saying the judgment is believed to be the largest fine imposed for campaign finance violations in U.S. history.
Tied MN House hinges on 14-ballot win in race with 20 destroyed uncounted votes
“Misinformation exploits outrage to spread online”
I’m really looking forward to reading this new paper in Science (Killian L. McLoughlin, William J. Brady, Aden Goolsbee, Ben Kaiser, Kate Klonick, and M. J. Crockett.)
With a bonus thread by Crockett on the process to get there…
“US Postal Service touts timely delivery of mail ballots despite concerns from election officials”
Here’s the AP report on a 99.88% rate for delivery within one week of 99.22 million ballots. Along with the USPS press release and more detailed report.
“Audit of Georgia ballots proves that Dominion Voting Machine conspiracy theories are false”
USA Today out with a Monday report on Georgia’s audit of the 2024 elections, completed last week. The full ballot image audit report is here.
“A Chinese national, charged with fraud by the SEC, just sent Donald Trump $18 million”
Popular Information with a deep dive on the sketchy crypto thing that isn’t $6.2 million for a banana.
Get ready for the return of (and four-year procedural turmoil over) the emoluments cases. Law review note authors: start your… Continue reading
“The apocalypse that wasn’t: AI was everywhere in 2024’s elections, but deepfakes and misinformation were only part of the picture”
Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders expand the frame in The Conversation.
“Washoe County Commissioner Mike Clark raised 9 election concerns. We looked into each one.”
The Reno Gazette-Journal takes the professed concerns of a county commissioner both literally and seriously.
Dinesh D’Souza sort-of kind-of apologizes for 2000 Mules
Here’s the statement – which is undated but appears to be new – throwing True the Vote under the bus and also maintaining confidence in the “underlying premise” of the film … but in a nonspecific way far less susceptible… Continue reading
“Lawmakers express doubt over Trump’s plan to replace FBI’s Christopher Wray”
WaPo on another rocky rule-of-law road ahead for a potential nominee. Wray, of course, was appointed by Trump in 2017 to a ten-year term.
I’ve noted a few times now that Senators aren’t immune from an executive law enforcement… Continue reading
“Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to”
Here’s the AP take. And here’s the official statement and official pardon language.
“TikTok’s Romanian reckoning”
The Politico subhead: “Regulators suspect foul play in how far-right firebrand Călin Georgescu used the Chinese-owned app to sway voters.”