[EL] “Reince Priebus Distances RNC From Consultant Arrested For Voter Fraud”

[Fredric Woocher]

Rick notes:  “Let’s be clear on terminology: the allegation is trashing voter registration forms.  That’s notvoter fraud, but it is an election crime.”

We should also be clear that what this person is accused of doing is much more serious than the typical “registration fraud” allegations of signing up non-existent persons to vote, which rarely if ever results in a fraudulent vote actually being cast.  In this instance, the individuals whose registrations were trashed may well be disenfranchised because when they show up to vote thinking they are registered, the election officials have no record of it and will not give them a ballot or count their provisional ballot.  So, this really is much closer to “vote” fraud.


Fredric D. Woocher
Strumwasser & Woocher LLP
10940 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90024
fwoocher at strumwooch.com<mailto:fwoocher at strumwooch.com>
(310) 576-1233
From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Rick Hasen
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:36 AM
To: law-election at UCI.edu
Subject: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 10/21/12

Two Pictures of Money in the Presidential Election<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42135>
Posted on October 21, 2012 9:34 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42135> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Romney and Republicans Began Month With $34 Million Advantage, Filings Show<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/us/politics/romney-and-republicans-began-month-with-34-million-advantage.html?ref=politics&_r=0> and Obama Outspent Romney in Sept.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/obama-outspent-romney-in-september/2012/10/20/0dd078fc-1aef-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42135&title=Two%20Pictures%20of%20Money%20in%20the%20Presidential%20Election&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59> | Comments Off
“Ohio county elections director resigns, citing stress of coming presidential election”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42132>
Posted on October 21, 2012 9:31 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42132> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

AP reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ohio-county-elections-director-resigns-citing-stress-of-coming-presidential-election/2012/10/20/4d9bc430-1ad8-11e2-ad4a-e5a958b60a1e_story.html>.  Here’s a sentence which would be remarkable in most mature democracies but is glossed over here: “He is a Republican so the county Republican Party in the key presidential battleground state will recommend his successor.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42132&title=%E2%80%9COhio%20county%20elections%20director%20resigns%2C%20citing%20stress%20of%20coming%20presidential%20election%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, election law biz<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=51>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Outside Groups Changing the Political Game for Good”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42129>
Posted on October 21, 2012 9:27 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42129> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The LA Times reports.  <http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-outside-influence-20121021,0,3068748.story> “As of Saturday, outside groups — many fueled by seven-figure donations from wealthy contributors — reported having pumped at least $675 million into political ads and other forms of voter outreach in 2012 federal elections. That’s more than double the amount outside groups spent in the 2008 cycle, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. And this cycle’s total doesn’t include tens of millions of dollars worth of ‘issue ads’ that ran early in the campaign, paid for by tax-exempt groups that were not required to report them.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42129&title=%E2%80%9COutside%20Groups%20Changing%20the%20Political%20Game%20for%20Good%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, tax law and election law<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22> | Comments Off
“Voter fraud billboards that drew complaints of racism and intimidation will come down, Clear Channel says”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42126>
Posted on October 21, 2012 9:23 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42126> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.<http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/10/voter_fraud_billboards_that_dr.html>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42126&title=%E2%80%9CVoter%20fraud%20billboards%20that%20drew%20complaints%20of%20racism%20and%20intimidation%20will%20come%20down%2C%20Clear%20Channel%20says%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Obama campaign accepted foreign Web donation — and may be hiding more”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42123>
Posted on October 21, 2012 9:21 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42123> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

This NY Post “Exclusive”<http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/bam_blind_eye_to_illegal_donors_8SWotytr1RvbhyDCRyyrEL> seems a bit rehashed<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41359>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42123&title=%E2%80%9CObama%20campaign%20accepted%20foreign%20Web%20donation%20%E2%80%94%20and%20may%20be%20hiding%20more%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Cash Flood Fuels Fight to the End in Leaning States”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42120>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:33 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42120> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports.<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/us/politics/cash-flood-allows-fight-to-the-finish-for-electoral-votes.html?ref=politics>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42120&title=%E2%80%9CCash%20Flood%20Fuels%20Fight%20to%20the%20End%20in%20Leaning%20States%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59> | Comments Off
“Gary Johnson’s third-party presidential bid: A real factor or just a footnote?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42117>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:30 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42117> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Fix reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/10/19/gary-johnsons-third-party-presidential-bid-a-real-factor-or-just-a-footnote/>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42117&title=%E2%80%9CGary%20Johnson%E2%80%99s%20third-party%20presidential%20bid%3A%20A%20real%20factor%20or%20just%20a%20footnote%3F%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in ballot access<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, third parties<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=47> | Comments Off
“Sunday Dialogue: To Enhance Democracy, Expand Vote-by-Mail”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42115>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:28 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42115> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT forum<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/opinion/sunday/sunday-dialogue-to-enhance-democracy-expand-vote-by-mail.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0> on letter from former Oregon SOS Phil Keisling.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42115&title=%E2%80%9CSunday%20Dialogue%3A%20To%20Enhance%20Democracy%2C%20Expand%20Vote-by-Mail%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in absentee ballots<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=53>, election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments Off
“A grand strategy inspires Ohio Democrats’ election lawsuits: Thomas Suddes”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42112>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:26 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42112> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Cleveland Plain Dealer column:<http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/10/a_grand_strategy_inspires_ohio.html>“That’s why all those Democratic lawsuits aimed at purported GOP schemes to limit voting by Democrat-leaning Ohioans aren’t just about maximizing Democratic turnout in Ohio (though that’s Object One). Also in play, as previously observed here, seems to be an Object Two — “building a record” for post-presidential-election Ohio recounts or lawsuits. And you know Ohio is super-close already; otherwise, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney wouldn’t be here so often. So Ohio could see the kind of wrangling that erupted after the Bush-Gore election 12 years ago. In that case, Ohio Democrats would surely brandish pre-Nov. 6 lawsuits (and victories) to prove (alleged) GOP vote-rigging in Ohio. Democrats also appear to have an Object Three — a calculated bid to trash Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted as an investment in future campaigns.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42112&title=%E2%80%9CA%20grand%20strategy%20inspires%20Ohio%20Democrats%E2%80%99%20election%20lawsuits%3A%20Thomas%20Suddes%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Crossroads groups spend $9.2M on Ohio Senate race”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42109>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:23 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42109> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Senate and House is where to watch the Super PAC and 501c money now<http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/national-govt-politics/crossroads-groups-spend-92m-on-ohio-senate-race/nShf7/>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42109&title=%E2%80%9CCrossroads%20groups%20spend%20%249.2M%20on%20Ohio%20Senate%20race%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, tax law and election law<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22> | Comments Off
“Federal court and the $500,000 political donation question”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42106>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:12 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42106> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Charles Johnson column<http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/column-federal-court-and-the-political-donation-question/article_467e5fb4-1b1e-11e2-ad85-001a4bcf887a.html> in the Missoulian.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42106&title=%E2%80%9CFederal%20court%20and%20the%20%24500%2C000%20political%20donation%20question%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“All Ohioans’ votes will count, Husted says”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42103>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:10 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42103> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Toledo Blade:<http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2012/10/20/All-Ohioans-votes-will-count-Husted-says.html>

Sponsored by the Toledo Law Review, the legal symposium focused on how elections are financed and monitored. Titled “Votes and Voices in 2012: Issues Surrounding the November Election and Beyond,” the conference included four panels discussing issues.

Mr. Husted spoke of a recent federal court decision that he claimed intruded on Ohio’s ability to run its own elections and called it an “un-American approach to voting” — an opinion not shared by many who attended the symposium.

“It’s the job of the federal courts to enforce the Constitution; that includes the right to vote,” said Daniel Tokaji, a professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law who was a panelist at the symposium, after the secretary’s comments. “…We should be doing everything we can to improve access to eligible voters.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42103&title=%E2%80%9CAll%20Ohioans%E2%80%99%20votes%20will%20count%2C%20Husted%20says%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
Interesting First Circuit Campaign Finance Case<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42100>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:07 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42100> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

SINDICATO PUERTORRIQUEÑO DE TRABAJADORES v. FORTUÑO:<http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/12-2171P-01A.pdf>

Per Curiam. In this appeal from the denial of a preliminary injunction, plaintiff labor unions claim that Sections 6.007-.010 of Law 222, Puerto Rico’s campaign finance law, place an unconstitutional burden on the unions’ First Amendment right to engage in political speech. Despite the gravity of plaintiffs’ claims and months of procedural wrangling, including two writs of mandamus from this court to the district court directing it to rule on plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunctive relief and the merits of their constitutional claims, both the district court and the government declined to address the merits of their claims. Indeed, we asked the Puerto Rico government three times at oral argument to defend the merits of the campaign finance provisions at issue, and each time the government declined to do so. In the absence of any such defense, and in light of the other factors relevant to the preliminary injunction analysis, we issued an appellate injunction on October 11, 2012, enjoining enforcement of the challenged provisions of Law 222 pending the final disposition of this appeal. We now resolve that appeal. In so doing, we explain more fully the reasons why we ordered the entry of the appellate injunction. We also set forth at the end of the opinion the preliminary injunction that we now direct the district court to enter.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42100&title=Interesting%20First%20Circuit%20Campaign%20Finance%20Case&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
John Anderson Doesn’t Like Third Party Candidates Referred to as “Spoilers”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42097>
Posted on October 20, 2012 8:00 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42097> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

No surprises here. <http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/19/4923727/politicians-should-stop-playing.html>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42097&title=John%20Anderson%20Doesn%E2%80%99t%20Like%20Third%20Party%20Candidates%20Referred%20to%20as%20%E2%80%9CSpoilers%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in ballot access<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46>, third parties<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=47> | Comments Off
“Dan McGrath fears ninjas, hopes for HAL”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42094>
Posted on October 20, 2012 7:56 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42094> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Max Hailperin offers this perspective<http://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2012/10/dan-mcgrath-fears-ninjas-hopes-for-hal-.html> on the fight over Minnesota voter id.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42094&title=%E2%80%9CDan%20McGrath%20fears%20ninjas%2C%20hopes%20for%20HAL%E2%80%9D&description=>
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
Holy Cow! They’ve Already Screwed Up the Ballots in Palm Beach County<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42091>
Posted on October 19, 2012 9:14 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42091> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

A major theme of The Voting Wars is that we learned the wrong lessons after the Florida 2000 debacle.

Here’s some good evidence<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/florida-elections-officials-to-oversee-duplication/nShyk/> at ground zero of the 2000 battles: Palm Beach County:

The problem started when an Arizona company that printed the ballots failed to include a heading over the merit retention elections for judges on the Florida Supreme Court and 4th District Court of Appeal. The mistake was discovered and corrected after the first 60,000 ballots were printed and 50,000 mailed.

It was soon discovered that the error would affect all races on the flawed ballot. When the header was inserted, the races on about half of the ballots shifted, Bucher said. The shift will make it impossible for tabulation machines to count the votes on an estimated 27,000 of the bad ballots. Saying it would be impossible to program machines to read the defective ballots, Bucher said the only alternative is to duplicate them by hand.

Late Friday, she sent Detzner a report, outlining how the process will unfold Monday when workers begin opening, sorting and copying the roughly 15,000 absentee ballots that have been returned. Of the total, she said about 8,600 are flawed.


[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42091&title=Holy%20Cow%21%20They%E2%80%99ve%20Already%20Screwed%20Up%20the%20Ballots%20in%20Palm%20Beach%20County&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“AG questions voting act’s constitutionality”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42088>
Posted on October 19, 2012 9:07 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42088> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The San Antonio News-Express reports.<http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/AG-questions-voting-act-s-constitutionality-3965516.php>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42088&title=%E2%80%9CAG%20questions%20voting%20act%E2%80%99s%20constitutionality%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in redistricting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>, Supreme Court<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>, Voting Rights Act<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15> | Comments Off
“Pro-Romney PAC sought ‘1Million/couple’ for Palm Beach fundraiser, e-mail shows”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42085>
Posted on October 19, 2012 9:03 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42085> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Sticker shock.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/pro-romney-pac-sought-1millioncouple-for-palm-beach-fundraiser-e-mail-shows/2012/10/19/5b64154a-1a0b-11e2-aa6f-3b636fecb829_story.html>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42085&title=%E2%80%9CPro-Romney%20PAC%20sought%20%E2%80%981Million%2Fcouple%E2%80%99%20for%20Palm%20Beach%20fundraiser%2C%20e-mail%20shows%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Independent interest groups report hefty fundraising for September”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42083>
Posted on October 19, 2012 9:02 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42083> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/independent-interest-groups-report-hefty-fundraising-for-september/2012/10/19/fa6672a0-1a15-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42083&title=%E2%80%9CIndependent%20interest%20groups%20report%20hefty%20fundraising%20for%20September%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Man Aiding G.O.P. Voter Registration Drive Is Charged”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42081>
Posted on October 19, 2012 9:01 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42081> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports.<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/20/us/politics/man-aiding-gop-voter-registration-drive-is-charged.html?ref=politics>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42081&title=%E2%80%9CMan%20Aiding%20G.O.P.%20Voter%20Registration%20Drive%20Is%20Charged%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter registration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37> | Comments Off
“Democratic Money Pours Into ‘Super PACs’”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42078>
Posted on October 19, 2012 8:53 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42078> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports<http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/democratic-money-pours-into-super-pacs/?ref=politics>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42078&title=%E2%80%9CDemocratic%20Money%20Pours%20Into%20%E2%80%98Super%20PACs%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Impact of States’ Voter Laws Can Be Difficult to Identify”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42076>
Posted on October 19, 2012 8:52 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42076> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WSJ’s “Number’s Guy” has written this column.<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444868204578064890976575334.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42076&title=%E2%80%9CImpact%20of%20States%E2%80%99%20Voter%20Laws%20Can%20Be%20Difficult%20to%20Identify%E2%80%9D&description=>
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
Podcast of Bloomberg Law Interview with Me About “The Voting Wars”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42073>
Posted on October 19, 2012 5:08 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42073> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Hasen on Voting Rights Battles From 2000 to the Present (Audio)

Oct 19, 2012

Rick Hasen, a professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, is the author of a new book, “The Voting Wars: From Florida 2000 to the Next Election Meltdown.”<http://www.amazon.com/Voting-Wars-Florida-Election-Meltdown/dp/0300182031/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1329286945&sr=1-2-catcorr> He discusses the battles over election rules from 2000 to the present with June Grasso on Bloomberg Radio’s “Bloomberg Law.”

Download<http://media.bloomberg.com/bb/avfile/vHZjTkW.jdVU.mp3>

” © 2012 Bloomberg L.P. All rights reserved.  Used with permission.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42073&title=Podcast%20of%20Bloomberg%20Law%20Interview%20with%20Me%20About%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Voting%20Wars%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Pa. ads create confusion and fear on voter ID, voting rights advocates say”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42070>
Posted on October 19, 2012 5:01 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42070> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/10/19/confusion-and-fear-in-wake-of-pennsylvania-voter-id-decision/>: “Despite an Oct. 2 ruling by a Pennsylvania judge putting the state’s new voter ID law on hold, a series of misleading ads and announcements is creating confusion and fear among residents two weeks before Election Day, civil rights and union leaders contend.”

It wasn’t hard to see this coming.<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=40927>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42070&title=%E2%80%9CPa.%20ads%20create%20confusion%20and%20fear%20on%20voter%20ID%2C%20voting%20rights%20advocates%20say%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9> | Comments Off
“Arizona Elections Department Flubs Election Date”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42067>
Posted on October 19, 2012 4:49 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42067> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

ABC<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/arizona-elections-department-flubs-election-date/>: “Arizona election officials in Maricopa County admit they flubbed the date on an official government document that was printed in Spanish. The document, which was attached to updated voter registration cards that were requested in person, lists the general election date as Nov. 8 in Spanish. An English translation on the document lists the correct date, Nov. 6.”

This is only going to fuel conspiracy theories.  Remember Hanlon’s razor<http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/H/Hanlons-Razor.html> my friends.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42067&title=%E2%80%9CArizona%20Elections%20Department%20Flubs%20Election%20Date%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“‘Voter Fraud’ in My Backyard”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42064>
Posted on October 19, 2012 4:39 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42064> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Interesting Jamil Smith piece <http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/108886/voter-intimidation-in-my-backyard> at TNR.   I’ll have more to say on voter suppression claims soon.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42064&title=%E2%80%9C%E2%80%98Voter%20Fraud%E2%80%99%20in%20My%20Backyard%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Mystery Donors Dot Restore Our Future’s Campaign Filing”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42061>
Posted on October 19, 2012 4:27 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42061> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Caucus reports.<http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/mystery-donors-dot-restore-our-futures-campaign-filing/?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-thecaucus>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42061&title=%E2%80%9CMystery%20Donors%20Dot%20Restore%20Our%20Future%E2%80%99s%20Campaign%20Filing%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Two Roles: Obama Campaign Adviser and Corporate Strategist”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42058>
Posted on October 19, 2012 4:01 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42058> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT:<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/20/us/politics/anita-dunn-both-insider-and-outsider-in-obama-camp.html?pagewanted=1> “In the rarefied world of political consultants who straddle the line between campaign adviser and corporate strategist, Anita Dunn has few peers.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42058&title=%E2%80%9CTwo%20Roles%3A%20Obama%20Campaign%20Adviser%20and%20Corporate%20Strategist%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in conflict of interest laws<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=20>, lobbying<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28> | Comments Off
“Is Your Boss Going To ‘Mine’ Your Vote? More Corporations Step Up Coercion”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42055>
Posted on October 19, 2012 2:59 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42055> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Lee Fang writes<http://www.thenation.com/blog/170703/your-boss-going-mine-your-vote-more-corporations-step-coercion> for The Nation.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42055&title=%E2%80%9CIs%20Your%20Boss%20Going%20To%20%E2%80%98Mine%E2%80%99%20Your%20Vote%3F%20More%20Corporations%20Step%20Up%20Coercion%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
More Ideas for Campaign Finance Reform at Corporate Political Activity Law Blog<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42053>
Posted on October 19, 2012 2:57 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42053> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Adam Skaggs<http://www.corporatepoliticalactivitylaw.com/index.php/2012/10/guest-blogger-series-five-ideas-for-campaign-finance-reform-iii/>

Heather Briccetti<http://www.corporatepoliticalactivitylaw.com/index.php/2012/10/guest-blogger-series-five-ideas-for-campaign-finance-reform-iv/>

Joel Gora<http://www.corporatepoliticalactivitylaw.com/index.php/2012/10/guest-blogger-series-five-ideas-for-campaign-finance-reform-ii/>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42053&title=More%20Ideas%20for%20Campaign%20Finance%20Reform%20at%20Corporate%20Political%20Activity%20Law%20Blog&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Keeping the ‘Mentally Incompetent’ From Voting”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42050>
Posted on October 19, 2012 2:22 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42050> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Interesting report in The Atlantic.<http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/10/keeping-the-mentally-incompetent-from-voting/263748/>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42050&title=%E2%80%9CKeeping%20the%20%E2%80%98Mentally%20Incompetent%E2%80%99%20From%20Voting%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in voting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=31> | Comments Off
“Conservative Nonprofit Dispatches Volunteers to Canvass Battleground States”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42048>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:56 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42048> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Roll Call<http://www.rollcall.com/news/conservative_nonprofit_dispatches_volunteers_to_canvass_battleground_states-218341-1.html>: “Americans for Prosperity is busing hundreds of out-of-state conservative activists to the country’s most contested political battlegrounds….Delivering partisans to competitive states in the final weeks of a campaign is hardly a unique strategy, but the extent of AFP’s plan — paired with its other election activities — highlights the new role social welfare nonprofits have adopted during this election cycleAFP, a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization, has been criticized for abusing its tax status with hard-hitting advertisements, robocalls, direct mail and door knocking operations that seem more like campaign activities than social welfare work…”“[They say] what they have to say to protect the c4 status,’ said Frances Hill, who studies income tax, constitutional and election law at the University of Miami. ‘They are trying to avoid being characterized as a political committee, which has to comply with FEC reporting requirements.’”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42048&title=%E2%80%9CConservative%20Nonprofit%20Dispatches%20Volunteers%20to%20Canvass%20Battleground%20States%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, tax law and election law<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22> | Comments Off
“Reince Priebus Distances RNC From Consultant Arrested For Voter Fraud”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42045>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:48 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42045> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

HuffPo reports<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/reince-priebus-rnc-consultant-voter-fraud_n_1988619.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003>. Let’s be clear on terminology: the allegation is trashing voter registration forms.  That’s notvoter fraud, but it is an election crime.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42045&title=%E2%80%9CReince%20Priebus%20Distances%20RNC%20From%20Consultant%20Arrested%20For%20Voter%20Fraud%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter registration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37> | Comments Off
“Voting Groups On Both Sides Deploy Thousands Of Election Monitors To Battleground States”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42043>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:46 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42043> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

HuffPo reports.<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/voting-groups-election-monitors-battleground_n_1988545.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42043&title=%E2%80%9CVoting%20Groups%20On%20Both%20Sides%20Deploy%20Thousands%20Of%20Election%20Monitors%20To%20Battleground%20States%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Ohio Sees Fierce Fight Over Voter Roles [sic]”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42040>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:21 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42040> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

U.S. News offers this report<http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/10/19/ohio-sees-fierce-fight-over-voter-roles>, which also incorrectly identifies my institutional affiliation.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42040&title=%E2%80%9COhio%20Sees%20Fierce%20Fight%20Over%20Voter%20Roles%20%5Bsic%5D%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
Video of Zocalo Event on the Campaign/Election with Sam Popkin, Joe Mathews, and Me<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42037>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:19 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42037> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here’s a story<http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepublicsquare/2012/10/19/how-much-for-that-presidency-in-the-window/read/the-takeaway/> about yesterday’s fun event, along with a link to the video<http://zocalopublicsquare.org/fullVideo.php?event_year=2012&event_id=550&video=&page=1>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42037&title=Video%20of%20Zocalo%20Event%20on%20the%20Campaign%2FElection%20with%20Sam%20Popkin%2C%20Joe%20Mathews%2C%20and%20Me&description=>
Posted in The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Early Voting Spinning”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42034>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:13 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42034> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Michael McDonald’s must-read post<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-p-mcdonald/early-voting-spinning_b_1989094.html>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42034&title=%E2%80%9CEarly%20Voting%20Spinning%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in voting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=31> | Comments Off
“An Electoral College tie – and what it would mean”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42031>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:10 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42031> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Fix reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/10/19/an-electoral-college-tie-and-what-it-would-mean/>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42031&title=%E2%80%9CAn%20Electoral%20College%20tie%20%E2%80%93%20and%20what%20it%20would%20mean%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, electoral college<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=44> | Comments Off
Arizona Disclosure Ruling<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42027>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:06 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42027> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Following up on this post, you may now read the court ruling at this link.<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/Trial-Court-Ruling-10-11-2012.pdf>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42027&title=Arizona%20Disclosure%20Ruling&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Preventing the Next Hanging Chad”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42024>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:03 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42024> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Lee Rowland<http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/preventing_the_next_hanging_chad/>:

Yesterday, the Division of Elections issued statewide guidance to all of Florida’s 67 Supervisors of Elections (the local officials that run the election system in each county), detailing exactly how provisional ballots should be counted in the general election. The guidance responds to a letter<http://www.brennancenter.org/page/-/Democracy/VRE/Ltr_FL_DOE_Provisionals_092012.pdf> the Brennan Center and its allies sent to the Division, coupled with direct outreach by the League of Women Voters of Florida<http://thefloridavoter.org/>, to all 67 county Supervisors.

The Division’s response was clear: If a voter casts a provisional ballot, that ballot will be counted absent evidence of fraud or ineligibility. That means if Florida Supervisors are inundated with provisional ballots — a real concern in light of Florida’s rush to change its voting rules right before a presidential election — and run out of time to individually investigate each one, the tie goes to the voter. That’s absolutely the right call, and offers a model for other states grappling with heaps of provisional ballots.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42024&title=%E2%80%9CPreventing%20the%20Next%20Hanging%20Chad%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, provisional ballots<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=67>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“California Procedure for Getting a New Party on the Ballot Held Unconstitutional “<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42021>
Posted on October 19, 2012 1:01 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42021> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Ballot Access News<http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/10/18/california-procedure-for-getting-a-new-party-on-the-ballot-held-unconstitutional/>: “On October 18, U.S. District Court Judge Percy Anderson struck down California’s procedure for a newly-qualifying party to get on the ballot. The 16-page decision<http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/California-happy.pdf> is California Justice Committee & Constitution Party v Bowen, cv 12-3956, central district. The basis for the decision is that the deadline is so early. In 2012, it was January 2.”
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42021&title=%E2%80%9CCalifornia%20Procedure%20for%20Getting%20a%20New%20Party%20on%20the%20Ballot%20Held%20Unconstitutional%20%E2%80%9C&description=>
Posted in ballot access<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46>, third parties<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=47> | Comments Off
Texas Files SCOTUS Brief Asking for It to Restore its Redistricting Plan Blocked under Voting Rights Act<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42017>
Posted on October 19, 2012 12:54 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42017> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

You can read the brief (Paul Clement, counsel of record) here<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/State-of-Texas-Jurisdictional-Statement-BRIEF-filed-10-19-12.pdf>.  It makes statutory arguments the Court is likely to consider about the meaning of the Voting Rights Act’s section 5 preclearance provision and it raises the issue of section 5′s constitutionality:

This Court has been asked several times in recent years to reconsider the facial constitutionality of Section 5. See Northwest Austin Mun. Util. Dist. No. One v. Holder, 129 S.Ct. 2504, 2509 (2009); Shelby County v. Holder, No. 12-96; Nix v. Holder, No. 12-81. Those cases raise critically important issues about Section 5, but they do not directly illustrate the burdens of the preclearance process.

This case is different. It demonstrates the acute federalism costs when Section 5 is invoked to prevent a State from implementing changes to its electoral maps necessitated by population growth. The requirements of the Constitution and Section 2 ensure the absence of unconstitutional consideration of race. In contrast, the requirements of Section 5, especially as interpreted by the district court, virtually mandate an obsession with race and guarantee unprecedented intrusions into state sovereignty. The decision below clearly merits this Court’s review in its own right and would complement other Section 5 cases by showing the difficulties with the practical administration of the statute as reauthorized in 2006. The Court should note probable jurisdiction and set this case for oral argument this Term so that Texas can implement its legislatively enacted plans for the next electoral cycle.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D42017&title=Texas%20Files%20SCOTUS%20Brief%20Asking%20for%20It%20to%20Restore%20its%20Redistricting%20Plan%20Blocked%20under%20Voting%20Rights%20Act&description=>
Posted in redistricting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>, Supreme Court<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>, Voting Rights Act<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15> | 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<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>

http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html

http://electionlawblog.org

Now available: The Voting Wars: http://amzn.to/y22ZTv


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20121022/44a6bcdf/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1504 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20121022/44a6bcdf/attachment.png>