[EL] ELB News and Commentary 8/29/13
Rick Hasen
rhasen at law.uci.edu
Wed Aug 28 21:42:24 PDT 2013
"IRS official who scrutinized conservative groups facing harassment,
attorney says" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54904>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:38 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54904>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
WaPo:
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/irs-official-who-scrutinized-conservative-groups-facing-harassment-attorney-says/2013/08/28/50577962-0ff6-11e3-bdf6-e4fc677d94a1_story.html>
A top Internal Revenue Service official has faced harassment,
including threatening telephone calls and visits to her home, after
being singled out for criticism by Republicans, her lawyer alleges
in a letter to lawmakers.
The official, Holly Paz
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/06/17/what-did-top-irs-official-holly-paz-tell-congressional-investigators-here-are-the-highlights/>,
has been on administrative leave since June in connection with the
controversy
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-denounces-reported-irs-targeting-of-conservative-groups/2013/05/13/a0185644-bbdf-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html>
over how the IRS scrutinized conservative groups applying for
tax-exempt status. Paz was involved in subjecting some tea party
groups to scrutiny and helped conduct an internal review of the
program, but has not been formally accused of wrongdoing.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, tax law
and election law <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22>
Tom Edsall Gets Major Republican Strategists, Top U.S. Political
Scientists to Weigh in On Chances for Republicans to Capture
Presidency in 2016 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54902>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:34 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54902>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Important perspectives
<http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/28/can-republicans-paint-the-white-house-red/?hp&_r=0>.
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Posted in campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>
"Obama: 'We're Not Going To Wait For Congress' To Act On Voting
Rights Act" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54900>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:28 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54900>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Video
<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/08/28/obama_were_not_going_to_wait_for_congress_to_act_on_voting_rights_act.html>
from PBS News Hour interview.
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Posted in Department of Justice <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, Voting Rights Act
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
"N.C. Lawmakers Meet Raucous Crowd at Charlotte Forum"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54898>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:26 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54898>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The backlash begins.
<http://electionlawblog.org/N.C.%20lawmakers%20meet%20raucous%20crowd%20at%20Charlotte%20forum%20%20Read%20more%20here:%20http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/28/4271194/nc-lawmakers-meet-raucous-crowd.html#storylink=cpy>
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Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"The True Cost of Free Voter I.D. in Texas"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54896>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:17 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54896>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
This interesting item
<http://texaselectionlaw.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/the-true-cost-of-free-voter-i-d-in-texas/>
(and many other interesting items) appear at the new "Texas Election Law
Blog." The blog is written by
<http://texaselectionlaw.wordpress.com/about/> "Joseph Kulhavy -- I am a
licensed attorney in the State of Texas, and from October 6, 2004 until
July 2, 2013, I was a staff attorney with the Elections Division, Texas
Secretary of State."
Keep an eye here.
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Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>, Voting Rights Act
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
Other Goings-On in Texas Since The Supreme Court Killed Voting
Rights Act Section 5 Preclearance <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54892>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:11 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54892>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
In Pasadena, TX:
<http://txredistricting.org/post/58935159956/pasadena-redistricting-moves-draw-questions>
"the City of Pasadena in southeast Harris County voted 5-4 to place a
proposition on the November 2013 ballot that, if approved by voters,
would change the city's current 8 single member district system of
electing members of the city council to a 6-2 system featuring two at
large members.
<http://txredistricting.org/post/58935159956/pasadena-redistricting-moves-draw-questions>
State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, MALDEF, and the /Houston Chronicle/ have all
expressed concerns that the move would dilute the voting strength of the
city's rapidly growing Hispanic population."
In Galveston, TX:
<http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Galveston-County-may-run-afoul-of-Voting-Rights-4747681.php>"Galveston
County commissioners have slashed the number of justice of the peace and
constable districts a year after the U.S. Justice Department blocked a
similar plan as discriminatory."
Yeah, the end of preclearance matters
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/08/north_carolina_s_speedy_vote_suppression_tactics_show_exactly_why_the_voting.html>.
And for those like James Taranto
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324108204579024942693167698.html>who
say the Court didn't really kill Section 5, only the preclearance
provision of section 4, I debunk that claim in my APSA paper (which I'm
presenting tomorrow), /Shelby County and the Illusion of Minimalism./
<http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2291612>
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Posted in Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>, Voting
Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
Eric Wang on McCutcheon <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54890>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:00 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54890>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Here
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/28/wang-cutting-the-price-tag-off-free-speech/>,
in the /Washington Times./
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Black Republicans try to appropriate Martin Luther King"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54888>
Posted on August 28, 2013 8:56 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54888>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
And apparently they don't suppor
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-black-republicans-try-to-appropriate-martin-luther-king/2013/08/26/2eb47d18-0e99-11e3-bdf6-e4fc677d94a1_story.html>t
fixing the Voting Rights Act:
A similar response greeted Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who
criticized the Supreme Court decision
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-stops-use-of-key-part-of-voting-rights-act/2013/06/25/26888528-dda5-11e2-b197-f248b21f94c4_story.html>
that invalidated part of the Voting Rights Act and vowed to repair
the law so that it is "impervious to another challenge that will be
filed by the usual suspects. I'm with you on that." The light
applause suggested that most of those in attendance were not with him.
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Posted in Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
"Sorority offered free drinks to members to vote in Tuscaloosa City
Board of Education race" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54886>
Posted on August 28, 2013 8:54 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54886>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The /Birmingham News/ reports. (h/t Political Wire)
<http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/08/28/sorority_girls_offered_free_drinks_to_vote.html#.Uh6PQVbh_mE.twitter>
Offering payments or incentives for voting is illegal in federal
elections. It is also illegal in some states. (It is illegal in all
states to pay someone to vote /for or against/ a candidate or ballot
measure.)
More on this in my article, Vote Buying.
<http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=257564>
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Posted in vote buying <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=43>
"Colorado: Campaign Finance complaint filed against Morse opponent
points to the hybrid nature of recalls"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54884>
Posted on August 28, 2013 10:13 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54884>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
This item
<http://recallelections.blogspot.com/2013/08/colorado-campaign-finance-complaint.html>
appears at the Recall Elections Blog.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, recall
elections <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=11>
"What Today's Journalists Can Learn From MLK Coverage; In 1963,
newspapers tried to present 'both sides' of the civil rights
struggle. Modern reporters should know better --- but when it comes
to voting rights, they often make the same mistake."
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54882>
Posted on August 28, 2013 10:11 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54882>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Andrew Cohen writes
<http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/what-todays-journalists-can-learn-from-mlk-coverage/278095/>
for /The Atlantic./
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Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"Republicans Admit Voter ID Laws Are Aimed at Democratic Voters"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54880>
Posted on August 28, 2013 9:17 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54880>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Jamelle Bouie writes
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/28/republicans-admit-voter-id-laws-are-aimed-at-democratic-voters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thedailybeast%2Fpolitics+%28The+Daily+Beast+-+Politics%29>
for /The Daily Beast./
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Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"King's Deferred 'Dream' of Democracy"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54878>
Posted on August 28, 2013 8:56 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54878>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Janai Nelson writes
<http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/08/27/kings-deferred-dream-of-democracy/>
for Reuters Opinion.
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Posted in Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
An Open Letter to Jonathan Tobin on Voter Fraud Allegations
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54875>
Posted on August 28, 2013 8:32 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54875>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Mr Tobin,
Is it possible for you to stop the bait and switch
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=48568>? No one I know who has studied
this issue says there's no voter fraud (hence, the misleading title of
your piece: Are You Sure There's No Voter Fraud
<http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/08/27/are-you-sure-theres-no-voter-fraud-voter-id-detroi/>?).
It happens, especially with absentee ballots.
Instead, the claim is that there's almost no voter impersonation
fraud---the main type of fraud a voter id law would be designed to
prevent. For my book /The Voting Wars /I tried to find a single
instance where an election was thrown into question since 1980
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42150> by such fraud. I could not find
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19560> a single example. I found lots of
examples of absentee ballot fraud, and election officials committing
fraud. But because impersonation fraud is such a dumb and inefficient
way to steal an election, it is unsurprising that it doesn't happen.
You offer no such examples in your writing; just innuendo.
And please don't tell me that this fraud is both widespread and
impossible to detect (to paraphrase Colin Powell's recent remarks).
There's not a single credible academic
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=42251> who would agree. We have some
comparative numbers from News21 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=48568> on
prosecutions for these kinds of crimes. Absentee ballot fraud is a real
problem. Impersonation fraud is negligible. There's no reason to believe
that impersonation fraud would be harder to catch. In fact, because it
would involve a lot of people going to polling places claiming to be
someone else, it would be easier to catch.
So spare me the unsubstantiated allegations. And if you are really
serious that voter fraud is a major problem, let's see you get behind
and advocate for the elimination of no excuse absentee balloting before
you attack phantom targets.
Sincerely,
Rick Hasen
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Posted in fraudulent fraud squad <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=8>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
--
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://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
http://electionlawblog.org
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