[EL] ELB News and Commentary 7/6/12

Fri Jul 6 08:53:32 PDT 2012

<http://electionlawblog.org/>

    "Troubling actions by Board of Elex members; Rangel-Espaillat
    vote-count odyssey continues" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36566>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:52 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36566> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Must-read Juan Gonzalez column 
<http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/troubling-actions-board-elex-members-article-1.1108812> 
in NY Daily News.

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | 
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    Quote of the Day <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36563>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:50 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36563> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

"The dominant role of political patronage is why BOE is lucky to get 
B-team talent; add in wounds inflicted by state law, and you've got 
real, systemic problems.One start on fixing things would be to give the 
mayor control of the BOE, with City Council approval required for 
appointment of any chief clerk, executive director or deputy executive 
director. That way, we'd be able to hold /someone/ to account when 
things go wrong."

--NY State Assembly Member Michael Benjamin, in a NY Post column 
<http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/to_fix_the_board_of_elex_EEB1UBDvTH7ZdUyvnklLqK>

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | 
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    "Pennsylvania Voter ID Law May Bar 9% From Presidential Election"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36560>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:47 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36560> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Bloomberg Businessweek 
<http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-06/pennsylvania-voter-id-law-may-bar-9-percent-from-presidential-election>: 
"Three-quarters of a million Pennsylvanians may be denied a chance to 
vote in November unless they can come up with an acceptable form of 
identification, a tally released by the state suggests. In a move 
lawmakers said would deter fraud at the polls, the Republican-led 
Legislature passed a law in March requiring voters to have a photo ID to 
obtain a ballot. A comparison of registration lists and state 
Transportation Department records showed 758,939 people don't have 
either a driver's license or an alternative state ID, the secretary of 
the commonwealth said."

As Justinreported <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36470>, it is not clear 
how accurate this count is.  I would suspect 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=29665> that the number of voters affected 
will be much lower. Of course, even if the number is orders of magnitude 
lower, there's no good reason <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=30177>for 
this Pennsylvania law and it should not have been passed. What we need 
<http://thevotingwars.com/> is a national voter id with universal voter 
registration done by the government.

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, 
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9> | Comments Off

    "Pol hits DOJ for 'liberal' vote group"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36557>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:41 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36557> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

/Politico/ <http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78166.html>: 
<http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78166.html>"Texas Rep. Ted 
Poe blasted the Justice Department on Friday for hiring what the 
congressman called a 'partisan' and 'liberal group' as a part of the 
DOJ's effort to block the implementation of the state's voter ID law, 
saying the firm in question has 'no credibility.'"

o <http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78166.html#ixzz1zrE8ZwTo>
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Posted in Department of Justice <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26>, 
election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting 
Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off

    "Rangel's Slim Lead Widens as Ballot Count Continues"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36554>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:39 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36554> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/nyregion/rangel-maintains-narrow-lead-as-more-ballots-are-counted.html?ref=politics>.

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | 
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    "In Washington's New Mood of Austerity, Legislating Turns Into a
    Zero-Sum Game" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36552>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:38 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36552> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/us/politics/washingtons-new-austerity-spreads-around-the-pain.html?_r=1&ref=politics>.

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Posted in legislation and legislatures 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27> | Comments Off

    "Countrywide Loans Sought Favor With Fannie Mae, Report Says"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36549>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:37 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36549> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Bloomberg 
<http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-M6OZ3K6JIJVQ01-1F2A4LURIV036PLROF8303EFO3>: 
"Countrywide Financial Corp. gave discount loans to former and current 
members of the U.S. Congress and executives at Fannie Mae as it lobbied 
to scuttle legislation that would have diminished its sale of sub-prime 
mortgages, according to a report released today by House Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa."

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Posted in chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, ethics 
investigations <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=42>, legislation and 
legislatures <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27>, lobbying 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28> | Comments Off

    "Stealthy Super PACs Influenced Primaries Without Disclosing Donors"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36547>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:35 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36547> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Open Secrets reports 
<http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/07/stealthy-super-pacs-influenced-prim.html>.

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Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments Off

    "Broadcasters Ask FCC to Delay Rule On 'Political Files' Pending
    Court Outcome" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36545>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:34 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36545> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Bloomberg BNA 
<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/MPDMWB/split_display.adp?fedfid=27270513&vname=mpebulallissues&jd=a0d3k5x3f4&split=0>: 
"The National Association of Broadcasters has asked the Federal 
Communications Commission to delay implementation---pending results of a 
court challenge---of a rule requiring TV stations to post on the 
internet information about political ad buys."

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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | 
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    "Ohio Clergy Group Seeks IRS Probe Of Exempt Status of Free Market
    Group" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36543>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:32 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36543> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Bloomberg BNA 
<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/MPDMWB/split_display.adp?fedfid=27270515&vname=mpebulallissues&jd=a0d3k5z9f9&split=0>: 
"Clergy VOICE, a group of central Ohio Christian clergy of various 
denominations, has asked the Internal Revenue Service to sanction the 
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), or strip it of its tax 
code Section 501(c)(3) charity status, claiming that the group has 
misrepresented its activities to the Service, the states, and the public 
in order to advance its legislative agenda. In a letter to IRS released 
July 1, Rev. Eric Williams, a United Church of Christ pastor in 
Columbus, said the 19 religious leaders who requested the IRS probe 'are 
deeply rooted in our religious beliefs.' The complaint was filed by 
Caplin & Drysdale attorney Marc Owens."

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Posted in legislation and legislatures 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27>, lobbying 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28>, tax law and election law 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22> | Comments Off

    New Infographic from the Census: "How Do We Know?"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36539>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:29 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36539> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Find it here <http://www.census.gov/how/>.

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Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments Off

    "WI: Election clerks once again miss federal absentee ballot
    deadline" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36537>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:28 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36537> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The /Wisconsin Reporter /reports 
<http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/wi-election-clerks-once-again-miss-federal-absentee-ballot-deadline>.

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Posted in absentee ballots <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=53>, 
election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, military 
voting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=48> | Comments Off

    "City asks Colorado Supreme Court to reconsider ballot case"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36535>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:27 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36535> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The /Aspen Daily News/reports 
<http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/153811>. See also Sometimes 
it's what a court doesn't do that matters. 
<http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/columnist/153804>

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, 
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off

    Two Opinions on Disclosure <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36533>

Posted on July 6, 2012 8:25 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36533> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

USA Today Editorial: Disclose secret campaign finance 
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-07-05/Disclose-Act-campaign-finance/56047650/1>

Mitch McConnell Op-Ed: Disclose Act is Un-American 
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-07-05/Disclose-Act-Mitch-McConnell/56046300/1>

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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | 
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    Top Two Almost Led to a More Competitive Race in My Assembly
    District <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36529>

Posted on July 5, 2012 5:51 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36529> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

I live in a reliably Democratic assembly district (AD 46), and I don't 
think I ever witnesses as tough and fierce a battle in round one between 
two Democrats, Adrin Nazarian and Brian Johnson.  Nazarian was heavily 
backed by the teacher's union, and Johnson by the charter school 
movement.  The volume of mail, calls, and outreach seemed 
unprecedented.  It looked like the two Democrats would go on to refight 
this battle in round two, much like the Sherman-Berman congressional 
race (which is also my district).

But it turns out that thanks to the large number of candidates in Round 
1, a Republican (the only one in the race), Jay Stern edged out 
<http://rrccmain.co.la.ca.us/charts/0602/0602AD46.htm> Johnson by a mere 
31 votes for the number 2 spot to face Nazarian. Stern got 20.07% of the 
vote compared to Johnson's 20%.  News just broke that Johnson will not 
ask for a recount. 
<https://twitter.com/udrawthelines/status/221035060042797056>

Stern does not have much of a campaign.  He has a website he appears to 
work himself, <http://www.jaylstern.com/>and he spent $2,000 
<http://www.dailynews.com/politics/ci_20945571/gops-jay-stern-edges-his-way-into-46th> 
on his campaign so far.  (In contrast, the California Teacher's 
Association spent $500,000 to defeat Johnson.)

This race is effectively over, but top two almost led to a more 
competitive race in the fall in my district.

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Posted in political parties <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25> | 
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    "Despite Conservative Media Claims, Outside Money Does Not Favor
    Obama" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36526>

Posted on July 5, 2012 11:59 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36526> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

TPM 
<http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/despite-conservative-media-claims-outside-money-does-not-favor-obama.php?ref=fpblg>critiques 
analysis <http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/304754> done by 
National Review. National Review responds. 
<http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/304808/difference-between-superpacs-and-501c4-nonprofits>

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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | 
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    "Advocates draw voting wars to a stalemate in key Southern states"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36524>

Posted on July 5, 2012 11:57 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36524> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

This post 
<http://www.southernstudies.org/2012/07/advocates-draw-voting-wars-to-a-stalemate-in-key-southern-states.html> 
appears at "Facing South."

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, 
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>, voter registration 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37> | Comments Off

    Dan Smith is All Over the Florida Voter Purge Controversy
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36519>

Posted on July 5, 2012 11:47 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36519> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here's what I missed when I was gone (at the very least click on the 
first link to see how inaccurate the state's noncitizen purge list is):

http://electionsmith.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/the-failed-florida-secretary-of-states-voter-purge-exclusive/

http://electionsmith.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/digging-deeper-into-the-failed-florida-voter-purge/

http://electionsmith.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/exclusive-digging-deeper-into-the-roguevoter-purge-in-lee-county/

http://electionsmith.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/wokvs-gene-wexler-interview-on-floridas-voter-purge/

http://electionsmith.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/exclusive-was-peter-schorsch-aka-stpetersblog-purged-by-the-florida-secretary-of-state/

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | 
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    "Ciara Torres-Spelliscy: The John Roberts Head Fake"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36517>

Posted on July 5, 2012 11:46 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36517> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

This item 
<http://www.guernicamag.com/daily/ciara-torres-spelliscy-the-john-roberts-head-fake/>appears 
in /Guernica/.

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Posted in Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29> | Comments Off

    "So what's going on in the Texas redistricting cases?"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36514>

Posted on July 5, 2012 9:36 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36514> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Nada 
<http://txredistricting.org/post/26533286369/so-whats-going-on-in-the-texas-redistricting-cases>.

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Posted in Department of Justice <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26>, 
redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>, Voting Rights Act 
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15> | Comments Off

    "Judge threatens gag order; Suit involves election officials, ballot
    secrecy in 6 counties" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36506>

Posted on July 5, 2012 9:30 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=36506> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The latest 
<http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/judge-threatens-gag-order/article_201011b0-c592-11e1-8284-001a4bcf887a.html> 
from Colorado.

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, 
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off

-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org
Pre-order The Voting Wars: http://amzn.to/y22ZTv
www.thevotingwars.com

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