[EL] Independent EMBs not impossible but difficult for institutional design to secure

[Jack Santucci]

Yes. Something like that.

Not every happy outcome in a "mature" democracy results from well-designed
institutions. In fact, that's exactly what we mean when we refer to a
democracy as being "mature." In that case, civil service agencies with
mandates to behave independently take those mandates seriously. Bureaucrats
in those instances serve the missions of their bureaucracies over the
political needs of their ostensible masters.

What would it take to get pure civil service like that? We would need some
consensus on what policy levers are beyond the reach of partisan interest.

If the partisanship-hopelessness argument against independent election
management is taken to its logical conclusion, it applies equally to the
judicial branch of government. There is no way to guarantee that judges
serve any masters other than the partisan interests of the coalitions that
secure their appointments. Given the composition of this listserv, I doubt
most are willing to commit to the idea that judicial independence is as
nonsensical as even-handed election management. That would raise serious
questions about the legitimacy of judicial strategies for achieving
election policy changes.

There may be institutional tweaks that assist in mitigating partisan bias
in election management. One might be a rules-change that makes it more
difficult to predict the outcome of an election ex ante. If that were in
place, it would be more difficult to know the types and amounts of
manipulation needed to swing an outcome. Candidate-based,
preference-transfer methods like STV and IRV seem like sensible options
here. The amount of information needed to predict those kinds of races is
usually more than that needed under closed-list PR or single-member
plurality.

But that information is not theoretically impossible to get. At the end of
the day, the prospects for independent management depend on what the
parties expect of each other, which is a function of "democratic
maturity." In other words, ethical decisions are inescapable.

Jack

On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 12:57 PM, John Tanner <john.k.tanner at gmail.com>wrote:

> I think it would be fairer to say that many people suspect formally
> non-partisan organizations of being partisan.  Given the current climate I
> don't expect any structural change to eliminate that suspicion.  The
> Federal Reserve model suggested by Rick is a good thought, but many people
> believe the Federal Reserve Board acts to favor financial interests over
> the general public interest -- and I beleive that many people woudl impugn
> the motives of any Board that made election-related decisions with which
> they disagreed.  For that matter, many people also believe the Federal
> Reserve to have caused the latest recession through
> its incompetence.   Certainly a member of the NY FR board has egg on his
> face over a more recent debacle
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 12:30 PM, John White <white at lfa-law.com> wrote:
>
>> More basically, Professor Hasen’s solution raises a fundamental question
>> that bedevils local politics across much of the West – the notion that
>> making political matters “non-partisan” removes partisanship from the
>> equation.  All it does is put partisanship below the surface, lessening the
>> information available to voters about the persons running the show.  ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Disclosure of partisan affiliation of elected officials, especially those
>> who run elections is at least as important as the identity of those sending
>> them campaign money.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> John J. White, Jr.
>> white at lfa-law.com
>> (425) 822-9281 ext. 321 ****
>>
>> The contents of this message and any attachments may contain confidential
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>> doctrine or other applicable protection.  If you are not the intended
>> recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender
>> and promptly delete the message.  Thank you for your assistance.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> *Tax Advice Notice*: IRS Circular 230 requires us to advise you that, if
>> this communication or any attachment contains any tax advice, the advice is
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>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *From:* law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:
>> law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] *On Behalf Of *Steve
>> Hoersting
>> *Sent:* Thursday, June 14, 2012 9:12 AM
>> *To:* JBoppjr at aol.com
>> *Cc:* law-election at UCI.EDU
>> *Subject:* Re: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 6/14/12****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> I see Jim is already ahead of me on this.
>>
>> - Steve****
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 11:59 AM, <JBoppjr at aol.com> wrote:****
>>
>> Isn't this really a fantasy:  "Create an independent, nonpartisan agency
>> to run our federal elections."****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> If the federal agency would be "independent," who would appoint them
>> under our system other than the President.  Well, the President is a little
>> partisan.  And how therefore would it then be "nonpartisan." And if all
>> elections in every state were run by one federal agency, this federal
>> agency would be the biggest prize to control for partisan ends ever devised.
>> ****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> Why isn't it better to, (1) acknowledge the reality than anyone who
>> bubbles up in the political system to run elections are likely to be
>> partisan, (2) therefore, create lots of checks and balances by involving
>> both parties in election administration so they can watch over each other,
>> and (3) disperse the control of elections as widely as possible - say at
>> the county level.  As a result, it is true that there will be Republican
>> control of elections in some counties and Democrat control of election in
>> others, but this will balance out over the whole country.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> If we have one federal agency in charge, I am sure the "reformers" will
>> want one person in charge of that agency -- no more "tie" votes like at the
>> FEC.  Well this is the biggest partisan prize ever.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> Ok, lets test my theory.  Name me one, just one living breathing person,
>> not some theoretical or dead person, who would be so "independent" and
>> "nonpartisan" and that the President would nominate and the Senate would
>> confirm who everyone would trust with this awesome power.  Just one.****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> Jim Bopp****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> In a message dated 6/14/2012 11:29:56 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> rhasen at law.uci.edu writes:****
>>
>> ** **
>> “End the Voting Wars: Take our elections out of the hands of the partisan
>> and the incompetent.” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35724> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 8:28 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35724> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> I have written this piece<http://hive.slate.com/hive/how-can-we-fix-constitution/article/end-the-voting-wars>for
>> *Slate*, part of its ts “How to Fix the Constitution” Hive<http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_hive.html>.
>> It begins:****
>>
>> My field is election law, and in this area it’s really easy to come up
>> with a sexy but risky fix that might improve the U.S. Constitution:
>> Abolish <http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/> the Electoral College.
>> Overturn <http://movetoamend.org/> *Citizens United* and the flood of
>> corporate money in elections<http://hive.slate.com/hive/how-can-we-fix-constitution/article/the-once-and-for-all-solution-to-our-campaign-finance-problems>.
>> Establish <http://ni4d.us/> a national initiative allowing voters to
>> vote directly on legislation instead of going through Congress, making the
>> United States more like California.  I have a change that will sound less
>> sexy but is more needed than all of them: Create an independent,
>> nonpartisan agency to run our federal elections.****
>>
>> The United States is one of the few mature democracies that leaves the
>> rules for counting elections in local hands, and, in a majority of states,
>> that means partisan officials are in charge.  Think about it: We have
>> people running our elections whose ultimate allegiance is not to the
>> integrity of the vote count but to the Republican Party or the Democratic
>> Party.****
>>
>> So when Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott defends<http://www.theledger.com/article/20120606/POLITICS/120609606/1004/news?p=1&tc=pghttp://www.theledger.com/article/20120606/POLITICS/120609606/1004/news?p=1&tc=pg>his latest purge of voters as necessary to keep illegal voters from voting,
>> why should we believe <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35134> he is doing
>> this in the best interest of the integrity of the elections rather than to
>> give Romney and edge over Obama in the perennial swing state? And when
>> Obama’s Justice Department objects to the purge, why should we believe<http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/301900/who-may-vote-florida-hans-von-spakovsky>it is acting to preserve voter access to the polls rather than trying
>> to give that edge<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/us/florida-vows-to-continue-its-search-for-ineligible-voters.html?ref=politicshttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/us/florida-vows-to-continue-its-search-for-ineligible-voters.html?ref=politics>to Obama?
>> ****
>>
>> As I document <http://thevotingwars.com/> in my upcoming book, *The
>> Voting Wars: From Florida 2000 to the Next Election Meltdown<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300182031/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=slatmaga-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0300182031>
>> *, the fights over election rules, especially over controversial new
>> voter identification rules, have gotten much worse since *Bush v. Gore*in 2000….
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35724&title=“End
>> the Voting Wars: Take our elections out of the hands of the partisan and
>> the incompetent.†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35724&title=%E2%80%9CEnd%20the%20Voting%20Wars%3A%20Take%20our%20elections%20out%20of%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20partisan%20and%20the%20incompetent.%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The
>> Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter registration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “Money and the ‘Appearance of Corruption’”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35720>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 8:22 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35720> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Paul Sherman WSJ oped<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303768104577462822206922422.html?mod=googlenews_wsj>:
>> “But there is also a third possibility: The Supreme Court could double down
>> on *Citizens United *and reject, once and for all, the flawed
>> justification underlying much of America’s failed experiment with
>> campaign-finance law—the so-called appearance-of-corruption standard.”***
>> *
>>
>> This is what I mean when I asked whether liberals were shooting
>> themselves in the foot <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=34885> by seeking
>> cert. in the Montana case.  The best way to win in the Roberts Court if you
>> are a liberal is to stay out<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2009/09/how_liberals_can_win_by_losing_at_the_roberts_court.html>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35720&title=“Money
>> and the ‘Appearance of Corruption’†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35720&title=%E2%80%9CMoney%20and%20the%20%E2%80%98Appearance%20of%20Corruption%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “New Arizona election plea (UPDATE)”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35717>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 8:19 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35717> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> SCOTUSBlog <http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/06/new-arizona-election-plea/>:
>> “Arizona state officials asked the Supreme Court
>> <http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/11A1189-AZ-applic.pdf>on
>> Wednesday to allow election officials there to demand that all voters show
>> proof of citizenship before they may register to vote   The divided *en
>> banc* Ninth Circuit Court ruled in April<http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/9th-CA-ruling-on-voter-regist.-4-17-12.pdf>that the citizenship proof requirement conflicts with a 1993 federal law
>> passed to make it easier for individuals to sign up to vote.  The state
>> took its plea for a delay of that ruling, for the duration of this year’s
>> election season, to Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who has the option of
>> acting alone or referring the issue to his eight colleagues.  The
>> application (11A1189) was filed in *Arizona v. Gonzalez, et al.  *The *en
>> banc* Ninth Circuit, over three judges’ dissents, had denied a stay<http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/9th-CA-stay-denial-AZ-election-case-6-7-121.pdf>last week.”
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35717&title=“New
>> Arizona election plea (UPDATE)†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35717&title=%E2%80%9CNew%20Arizona%20election%20plea%20%28UPDATE%29%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> Pipe Dream Dept. <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35713> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 8:00 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35713> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> “After one nuclear winter of an election, rich partisans could agree to
>> mutual disarmament.”****
>>
>> –E.J. Dionne, Secret Money Fuels the 2012 Elections<http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/secret-money-fuels-the-2012-elections/2012/06/13/gJQAsZ4FaV_story.html>
>> .****
>>
>> See also Adelson’s Donations Could Be “Limitless”<http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/06/14/adelsons_donations_could_be_limitless.html>
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35713&title=Pipe
>> Dream Dept.&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35713&title=Pipe%20Dream%20Dept.&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Aetna Hides $7 Million in Political Spending”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35710>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:58 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35710> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> CREW has posted this release.<http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/entry/aetna-political-spending-american-action-network-chamber-of-commerce>
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35710&title=“Aetna
>> Hides $7 Million in Political Spending†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35710&title=%E2%80%9CAetna%20Hides%20%247%20Million%20in%20Political%20Spending%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> An Inside Look at the Most Dysfunctional Appellate Court in the U.S.<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35707>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:55 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35707> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> The latest<http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/judicial-commissions-first-vote-on-prosser-complaint-was-unanimous-ci5p21t-158912155.html>from Wisconsin.
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35707&title=An
>> Inside Look at the Most Dysfunctional Appellate Court in the
>> U.S.&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35707&title=An%20Inside%20Look%20at%20the%20Most%20Dysfunctional%20Appellate%20Court%20in%20the%20U.S.&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in ethics investigations <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=42>, judicial
>> elections <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=19> | Comments Off ****
>> “The Money Crisis: How Citizens United Undermines Our Elections and the
>> Supreme Court” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35704> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:50 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35704> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Russ Feingold has written this piece
>> <http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/money-crisis>for the *Stanford
>> Law Review Online.*****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35704&title=“The
>> Money Crisis: How Citizens United Undermines Our Elections and the Supreme
>> Court†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35704&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20Money%20Crisis%3A%20How%20Citizens%20United%20Undermines%20Our%20Elections%20and%20the%20Supreme%20Court%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Alaska Native Group Suing Division of Elections”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35701>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:42 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35701> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> New section 5 suit<http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/06/11/alaska-native-group-suing-division-of-elections/>in Alaska.
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35701&title=“Alaska
>> Native Group Suing Division of Elections†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35701&title=%E2%80%9CAlaska%20Native%20Group%20Suing%20Division%20of%20Elections%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Top Two in California Primaries, June 2012: By the Numbers: High Rates
>> of Invalid Ballots; Perverse Outcomes; Major Parties Dominate”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35698>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:39 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35698> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> FairVote has issued this press release<http://www.fairvote.org/top-two-in-california-primaries-june-2012-by-the-numbers#.T9n3c1LNnTt>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35698&title=“Top
>> Two in California Primaries, June 2012: By the Numbers: High Rates of
>> Invalid Ballots; Perverse Outcomes; Major Parties Dominate†&description=]
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in alternative voting systems <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=63>,
>> political parties <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25>, primaries<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=32>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “Ex-prosecutor George Holding defends John Edwards case”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35696>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:37 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35696> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Must-read<http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2012/06/exprosecutor-george-holding-defends-john-edwards-case-126118.html>Gerstein.
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35696&title=“Ex-prosecutor
>> George Holding defends John Edwards case†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35696&title=%E2%80%9CEx-prosecutor%20George%20Holding%20defends%20John%20Edwards%20case%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>> chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, John Edwards<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=17>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “Ex-lawmaker lobbyists more likely to put leftover campaign money to
>> political use” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35694> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:36 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35694> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> WaPo reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ex-lawmaker-lobbyists-more-likely-to-put-leftover-campaign-money-to-political-use/2012/06/13/gJQApprNbV_story.html>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35694&title=“Ex-lawmaker
>> lobbyists more likely to put leftover campaign money to political useâ€
>> &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35694&title=%E2%80%9CEx-lawmaker%20lobbyists%20more%20likely%20to%20put%20leftover%20campaign%20money%20to%20political%20use%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, legislation
>> and legislatures <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27>, lobbying<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “No New Trial for John Edwards” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35691> ***
>> *
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:32 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35691> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> NYT reports<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/us/politics/john-edwards-charges-dismissed.html?ref=politics>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35691&title=“No
>> New Trial for John Edwards†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35691&title=%E2%80%9CNo%20New%20Trial%20for%20John%20Edwards%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>> chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, John Edwards<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=17>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “Beltway Bundlers Have Mitt Romney Sitting Pretty”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35689>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:31 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35689> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Roll Call reports<http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_151/Beltway_Bundlers_Have_Mitt_Romney_Sitting_Pretty-215368-1.html?pos=htmbtxt>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35689&title=“Beltway
>> Bundlers Have Mitt Romney Sitting Pretty†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35689&title=%E2%80%9CBeltway%20Bundlers%20Have%20Mitt%20Romney%20Sitting%20Pretty%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “The Anti-ALEC alliance: Group at heart of anti-conservative crusade is
>> shadowy organization funded by leftwing millionaires and billionaires”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35687>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:31 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35687> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> The right wants disclosure
>> <http://freebeacon.com/the-anti-alec-alliance/>of funding for issue
>> advocacy.  Interesting. (h/t Eric Brown<http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2012/06/14/good-morning-here-are-todays-political-law-links-for-thurs-june-14th/>
>> )****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35687&title=“The
>> Anti-ALEC alliance: Group at heart of anti-conservative crusade is shadowy
>> organization funded by leftwing millionaires and billionairesâ€
>> &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35687&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20Anti-ALEC%20alliance%3A%20Group%20at%20heart%20of%20anti-conservative%20crusade%20is%20shadowy%20organization%20funded%20by%20leftwing%20millionaires%20and%20billionaires%E2%80%9D&de>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments
>> Off ****
>> “The Missing Right To Vote; What we’d get from amending the Constitution
>> to guarantee it.” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35685> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:29 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35685> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Heather Gerken has written this Slate contribution<http://hive.slate.com/hive/how-can-we-fix-constitution/article/the-missing-right-to-vote>to its “How to Fix the Constitution”
>> Hive <http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_hive.html>.****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35685&title=“The
>> Missing Right To Vote; What we’d get from amending the Constitution to
>> guarantee it.†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35685&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20Missing%20Right%20To%20Vote%3B%20What%20we%E2%80%99d%20get%20from%20amending%20the%20Constitution%20to%20guarantee%20it.%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in voting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=31> | Comments Off ****
>> “Campaign Aid Is Now Surging Into 8 Figures”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35683>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:27 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35683> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> NYT<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/us/politics/sheldon-adelson-sets-new-standard-as-campaign-aid-surges-into-8-figures.html?_r=1&smid=pl-share>:
>> “Even in a political season marked by unprecedented levels of political
>> spending, Sheldon Adelson<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/sheldon_g_adelson/index.html?inline=nyt-per>stands alone.”
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35683&title=“Campaign
>> Aid Is Now Surging Into 8 Figures†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35683&title=%E2%80%9CCampaign%20Aid%20Is%20Now%20Surging%20Into%208%20Figures%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Corporate Cash in State Elections Gets U.S. High Court Scrutiny”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35681>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 14, 2012 7:25 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35681> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Bloomberg reports<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-14/corporate-cash-in-state-elections-gets-u-s-high-court-scrutiny.html>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35681&title=“Corporate
>> Cash in State Elections Gets U.S. High Court Scrutiny†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35681&title=%E2%80%9CCorporate%20Cash%20in%20State%20Elections%20Gets%20U.S.%20High%20Court%20Scrutiny%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Fla. Gov. Rick Scott Defends Noncitizen Voter Purges”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35678>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 1:29 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35678> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> NPR reports<http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/06/13/154935265/fla-gov-rick-scott-defends-noncitizen-voter-purges?ft=1&f=1014&sc=tw>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35678&title=“Fla.
>> Gov. Rick Scott Defends Noncitizen Voter Purges†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35678&title=%E2%80%9CFla.%20Gov.%20Rick%20Scott%20Defends%20Noncitizen%20Voter%20Purges%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The
>> Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter registration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “Justice Department Is Dropping Case Against Edwards”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35675>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 1:15 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35675> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Carrie Johnson reports<http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/06/13/154951540/justice-department-is-dropping-case-against-edwards>for NPR.
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35675&title=“Justice
>> Department Is Dropping Case Against Edwards†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35675&title=%E2%80%9CJustice%20Department%20Is%20Dropping%20Case%20Against%20Edwards%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
>> chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, John Edwards<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=17>| Comments Off
>> ****
>> “Angus King pledges to discourage super PAC money if his opponents do the
>> same” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35673> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 1:14 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35673> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> News<http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/13/politics/angus-king-pledges-to-discourage-pac-money-if-his-opponents-do-the-same/?ref=videos>from Maine.
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35673&title=“Angus
>> King pledges to discourage super PAC money if his opponents do the sameâ€
>> &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35673&title=%E2%80%9CAngus%20King%20pledges%20to%20discourage%20super%20PAC%20money%20if%20his%20opponents%20do%20the%20same%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “New Wine Into Old Bottles: Adapting Text Messaging Proposal to 1970’s
>> Era Rules Gains FEC Approval” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35671> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 1:13 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35671> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Larry Norton blogs
>> <http://www.politicallawbriefing.com/my-blog/2012/06/new-wine-into-old-bottles-adapting-text-messaging-proposal-to-1970s-era-rules-gains-fec-approval-.html>at
>> Venable’s new Political Law Briefing blog.****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35671&title=“New
>> Wine Into Old Bottles: Adapting Text Messaging Proposal to 1970’s Era
>> Rules Gains FEC Approval†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35671&title=%E2%80%9CNew%20Wine%20Into%20Old%20Bottles%3A%20Adapting%20Text%20Messaging%20Proposal%20to%201970%E2%80%99s%20Era%20Rules%20Gains%20FEC%20Approval%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Gingrich: Elections ‘rigged’ for the rich”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35668>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 1:08 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35668> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Newt Gingrich, whose presidential campaign stayed alive as long as it did
>> only because of his rich Super PAC benefactors, now complains<http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/gingrich-elections-rigged-for-1457276.html>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35668&title=“Gingrich:
>> Elections ‘rigged’ for the rich†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35668&title=%E2%80%9CGingrich%3A%20Elections%20%E2%80%98rigged%E2%80%99%20for%20the%20rich%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Dice Roll Decides Election in Texas Town”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35666>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 1:07 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35666> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> ABC News reports<http://news.yahoo.com/dice-roll-decides-election-texas-town-165130275.html>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35666&title=“Dice
>> Roll Decides Election in Texas Town†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35666&title=%E2%80%9CDice%20Roll%20Decides%20Election%20in%20Texas%20Town%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments
>> Off ****
>> Larry Tribe Calls for Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35662>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 11:49 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35662>by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Read his proposal<http://hive.slate.com/hive/how-can-we-fix-constitution/article/the-once-and-for-all-solution-to-our-campaign-finance-problems>here in Slate, part of their How
>> to Fix the Constitution<http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_hive.html>“Hive” series.
>> ****
>>
>> Up in the Hive tomorrow: more election law-related proposals from Heather
>> Gerken and from me.****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35662&title=Larry
>> Tribe Calls for Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens
>> United&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35662&title=Larry%20Tribe%20Calls%20for%20Constitutional%20Amendment%20to%20Overturn%20Citizens%20United&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, Supreme
>> Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29> | Comments Off ****
>> “Ex-Gov. White says state voter laws flawed”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35659>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 10:21 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35659>by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> Houston Chronicle<http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Ex-Gov-White-says-state-voter-laws-flawed-3629126.php>:
>> “Voter registration restrictions imposed by the Texas Legislature<http://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news%2Fhouston-texas&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Texas+Legislature%22>last session are unnecessary and make it more difficult to register voters,
>> former Texas Gov. Mark White<http://www.chron.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news%2Fhouston-texas&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Mark+White%22>testified Tuesday in Galveston federal court.”
>> ****
>>
>> See also this report<http://www.chron.com/default/article/Volunteer-says-Texas-voter-laws-cause-fear-of-3626148.php>
>> .****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35659&title=“Ex-Gov.
>> White says state voter laws flawed†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35659&title=%E2%80%9CEx-Gov.%20White%20says%20state%20voter%20laws%20flawed%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, NVRA
>> (motor voter) <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=33>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>,
>> voter registration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37> | Comments Off **
>> **
>> “New York Deal Near for Simplified Ballots”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35657>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 10:19 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35657>by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> NYT’s “City Room” blog reports.<http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/deal-near-for-simplified-ballots/>
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35657&title=“New
>> York Deal Near for Simplified Ballots†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35657&title=%E2%80%9CNew%20York%20Deal%20Near%20for%20Simplified%20Ballots%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> “Appellate Lawyer of the Week: Anthony Johnstone”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35655>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 10:18 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35655>by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> NLJ<http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleSCI.jsp?id=1202555936944&slreturn=1>:
>> “In 2009, Anthony Johnstone and his home state of Montana played supporting
>> roles in the legal drama surrounding the Citizens United campaign finance
>> challenge. Today, the law professor and state officials stand center stage
>> in a fight to save Montana’s law in the wake of the Supreme Court’s
>> decision.”****
>>
>> I’m looking forward to joining Anthony and a great crowd at the
>> University of Montana at the end of the September for a conference on money
>> and politics.****
>>
>> (h/t How Appealing <http://howappealing.law.com/061312.html#046115>)****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35655&title=“Appellate
>> Lawyer of the Week: Anthony Johnstone†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35655&title=%E2%80%9CAppellate%20Lawyer%20of%20the%20Week%3A%20Anthony%20Johnstone%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> |
>> Comments Off ****
>> Quote of the Day <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35652> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 9:41 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35652> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> “On both the left and the right, then, originalism is no longer a theory
>> of judicial restraint, as it was once described by Black or Scalia, but a
>> means of advancing partisan preferences.”****
>>
>> –Jeffrey Rosen, Constitution Avenue:Liberals discover a theory to crush
>> conservative jurisprudence.<http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/103943/magazine/constitution-avenue-supreme-court?page=0,0>
>> ****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35652&title=Quote
>> of the Day&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35652&title=Quote%20of%20the%20Day&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29> | Comments
>> Off ****
>> “Sen. Grassley demands re-vote on 9th Circuit judge nomination”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35649>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted on June 13, 2012 8:04 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35649> by Rick
>> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> ****
>>
>> The Hill<http://thehill.com/video/senate/232395-grassley-demands-re-vote-on-9th-circuit-nominee>:
>> “Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) late
>> Tuesday demanded that the Senate vote again on the confirmation of Andrew
>> Hurwitz to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the 9th Circuit, and said he was not
>> aware that Senate Democrats were planning to ask for a speedy voice vote on
>> the nomination.”****
>>
>> [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=35649&title=“Sen.
>> Grassley demands re-vote on 9th Circuit judge nomination†&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D35649&title=%E2%80%9CSen.%20Grassley%20demands%20re-vote%20on%209th%20Circuit%20judge%20nomination%E2%80%9D&description=>
>> ****
>>
>> Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | 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****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Law-election mailing list
>> Law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
>> http://department-lists.uci.edu/mailman/listinfo/law-election****
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Law-election mailing list
>> Law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
>> http://department-lists.uci.edu/mailman/listinfo/law-election****
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Stephen M. Hoersting****
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Law-election mailing list
>> Law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
>> http://department-lists.uci.edu/mailman/listinfo/law-election
>>
>
>
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