Election Law at Moritz

The law of politics and the politics of law: election law, campaign finance, legislation, voting rights, initiatives, redistricting, and the Supreme Court nomination process Rick Hasen's web log

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February 28, 2010

14:24
More on the Reconciliation Debate
USA Today this report and CNN this one, along with this fact check on the frequency with with reconciliation has been used....
13:36
Indiana Voter ID Litigation
This Thursday, March 4, the Indiana Supreme Court will hear oral argument in League of Women Voters v. Rokita, the state constitutional challenge to Indiana's photo ID law. Meanwhile, Defendants have moved for summary judgment in Stewart v. State of...

February 27, 2010

14:10
Elmendorf and Schleicher on San Francisco's Electoral Dysfunction
Chris Elmendorf and David Schleicher have this op-ed on the proposal that San Francisco move to at-large elections for the board of supervisors. They conclude: "San Francisco's problems will not be solved by flip-flopping between district and at-large elections. What...
13:42
"A Fundraiser as Social Secretary"
Ben Smith has this piece at Politico.com, on the promotion of Julianna Smoot to White House Social Secretary. He notes that Smoot, who was finance director for Obama's campaign, "will now be the key gatekeeper to the kind of social...
13:33
"The Case for Corporate Political Spending"
Brad Smith makes it here in the WSJ....
12:20
"Decision Could Allow Anonymous Political Contributions by Businesses"
The NY Times reports here that: "Experts say the ruling [in CU], along with a pair of earlier Supreme Court cases [MCFL & WRTL], makes it possible for corporations and unions to donate anonymously to nonprofit civic leagues and trade...

February 26, 2010

18:41
"Missing the Tea Party"
Linda Greenhouse offers these thoughts on the fallout from Citizens United, comparing (and contrasting) it to that which followed Kelo v. New London, the 2005 eminent domain decision:A major difference between the Kelo decision and Citizens United, of course, is...
18:34
"FEC Ruling Gives State Party Ability To Boost Candidates Before Primary"
BNA has this report ($)....
18:07
"Senator Dikembe Mutombo Blocks Record Amount Of Legislation"
NBA fans will enjoy this piece from the Onion on how "[t]he 7-foot-2 senator ... broke the record previously held by Sen. Shawn Bradley (D-NJ), Rep. Arvydas Sabonis (D-OR), and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), ... sometimes swatting...
17:45
Should Voter History Be Private?
From Virginia comes this story, highlighting the tension between voters' interests in privacy and candidates' interest in reaching voters. A state legislative subcommittee has voted to close off all access to voter history lists. Those lists -- indicating the elections...
17:21
FairVote and Dean on IRV
FairVote's monthly newsletter includes news on instant runoff voting from the U.S. and beyond. In related news, Howard Dean makes this plug to keep IRV in Burlington, VT....
16:03
Fifth Circuit Rejects Challenge to Mississippi Felony Disenfranchisement
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit yesterday issued this interesting opinion in Young v. Hosemann, rejecting a constitutional challenge to Mississippi's disenfranchisement of felons. Although it's an equal protection case, the outcome turns primarily on the meaning...
15:36
Frist on Reconciliation
Former Senate majority leader Bill Frist has this WSJ op-ed, arguing that using reconciliation to pass health care reform "would be an unprecedented, dangerous and historic mistake."...
15:31
"No Match, No Vote"
Project Vote has this report on problems it sees in implementing HAVA's provisions requiring that voter registration information be "matched" against other government databases....
15:25
"Partisan ploy overshadows Elbridge Gerry's legacy"
CNN has this story on what else Gerry did in his life....

February 25, 2010

12:23
The Reconciliation Option
The NY Times has this story on the previously obscure rule of congressional procedure that is now at the center of the health care debate. Politico reports here that most voters oppose its use to push health care through, though...
12:23
The Reconciliation Option
The NY Times has this story on the previously obscure rule of congressional procedure that is now at the center of the health care debate. Politico reports here that most voters oppose its use to push health care through, though...
12:16
Citizens United Debate at Michigan Law School
Angela Migally of the Brennan Center and Brad Smith are debating Citizens United today at the University of Michigan Law School. I'm told that video of the event will be posted afterwards....
00:44
Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Overrule CU
Senators Chris Dodd and Tom Udall have introduced a constitutional amendment that would overrule Citizens United, according to The Hill...
00:27
"Wall Street Shifting Political Contributions to Republicans"
The Washington Post has this report....