[EL] ELB News and Commentary 2/13/14
Rick Hasen
rhasen at law.uci.edu
Wed Feb 12 21:07:01 PST 2014
"Elections Report: Prepare for the Worst"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58732>
Posted on February 12, 2014 9:04 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58732>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Politico
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/elections-natural-disasters-preparation-103459.html>:
Are states prepared to deal with natural disasters during elections?
A new report out Wednesday says while progress has been made,
there's room for improvement.
With much of the East Coast facing the threat of another serious
winter storm, the National Association of Secretaries of State is
unveiling a report
<http://images.politico.com/global/2014/02/12/task-force-report-on-emergency-preparedness-for-elections-jan14.html>
that looks at the current state of emergency preparedness of the
nation's elections rules, and makes recommendations for states to
better prepare for the unexpected.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>
"'Vote No, Hope Yes' Defines Dysfunction in Congress"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58730>
Posted on February 12, 2014 9:02 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58730>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
NYT news analysis
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/us/politics/vote-no-hope-yes-defines-dysfunction-in-congress.html?ref=politics>
from Carl Hulse.
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Posted in political parties <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25>,
political polarization <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=68>
"Senior tries and tries to get ID card so she can vote"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58728>
Posted on February 12, 2014 5:38 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58728>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Houston Chronicle column.
<http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/falkenberg/article/Senior-tries-and-tries-to-get-ID-card-so-she-can-5226268.php#src=fb>
Very informative on the bureaucratic burdens of voter id.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>
"Boxer, Nelson Introduce Legislation to Ensure Voters Wait No Longer
than Thirty Minutes to Vote" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58726>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:54 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58726>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Press release via email:
*BOXER, NELSON INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ENSURE VOTERS WAIT NO LONGER
THAN THIRTY MINUTES TO VOTE*
/'LINE Act' Will Help Implement the Recommendation of the Bipartisan
Presidential Commission on Election Administration Led by Counsels
to the Romney and Obama Campaigns/
**
*Washington, D.C. *-- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bill
Nelson (D-FL) today introduced an updated version of their
legislation -- the Lines Interfere with National Elections (LINE)
Act -- that would help implement the recommendation
<https://www.supportthevoter.gov/2014/01/22/presidential-commission-on-election-administration-presents-recommendations-to-president-obama/>
of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration that no
voter should wait in line for more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot.
The measure would require states where voters experienced long lines
in the 2012 election to develop plans to minimize waits at the polls.
*"We can never again allow Americans to stand in line for hours to
exercise their right to vote,"* Senator Boxer said. *"The bipartisan
Presidential Commission on Election Administration was right that no
voter should wait for longer than a half hour to cast a ballot, and
this legislation will help ensure that states are taking action to
meet this standard in future elections."*
*"In a democracy, you're supposed to make it easier and less of
hardship for people to vote, and that's what we're trying to do
here,"* Senator Nelson said.
Senator Boxer first introduced the LINE Act at the end of the 112^th
Congress in response to reports that voters in Florida
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics-july-dec12-election_11-08/>, Virginia
<http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/266281-virginia-voters-see-long-lines-as-pols-swoop-in>,
Ohio
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/04/ohio-early-voting_n_2073287.html>
and other states waited in line for up to seven hours to cast
ballots, and Senators Boxer and Nelson renewed the push for the
legislation
<http://www.boxer.senate.gov/en/press/releases/021213.cfm> at the
start of the 113^th Congress.
The legislation has now been updated to include the recommendations
and findings released last month by the bipartisan Presidential
Commission on Election Administration, which is led by veteran
election attorneys, Democrat Bob Bauer and Republican Ben Ginsberg,
who served as the chief campaign lawyers for President Obama and
Republican Mitt Romney during the last election.
The bill specifically cites the Commission's finding that more than
5 million voters experienced wait times that exceeded an hour in the
2012 election, and another 5 million waited between a half hour and
an hour. The measure also notes that the Commission found that these
excessive wait times are avoidable if election officials plan
properly and have systems in place to respond when problems occur at
the polls.
To help implement the Commission's goal of reducing wait times to
under a half hour, the bill would require states that experienced
long voter lines in the 2012 election to implement remedial plans to
fix the problems before the next federal election. Under the bill,
the Attorney General working with the Election Assistance Commission
would identify those states that had a substantial number of voters
who waited more than 30 minutes to vote. Those states would have to
develop and comply with a remedial plan to ensure that voters will
not face similar delays in the future.
The Commission also offered a series of recommendations
<https://www.supportthevoter.gov/files/2014/01/Amer-Voting-Exper-final-draft-01-09-14-508.pdf>
for best practices that state and local elections officials can take
to reduce voter lines and improve the voting experience for all
Americans.
I'd think the bill would have better chances if it was announced with a
Republican co-sponsor. I take it that the failure to have one means
something.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
PCEA (Bauer-Ginsberg Commission) <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=79>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"Election Panel: Long Lines Were 'Management' Problem"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58724>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:52 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58724>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Pam Fessler reports
<http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2014/02/12/275995111/election-panel-long-lines-were-management-problem?ft=1&f=1014&utm_campaign=nprpolitics&utm_source=politics&utm_medium=twitter>
for NPR on Bauer and Ginsberg's testimony about the PCEA before the
Senate Rules Committee.
She also notes the EAC nominations of Hicks and Perez were put off for
lack of a quorum.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
Election Assistance Commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=34>,
PCEA (Bauer-Ginsberg Commission) <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=79>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"IRS plan to curb politically active groups threatened by opposition
from both sides" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58722>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:48 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58722>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
WaPo reports.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/irs-plan-to-curb-politically-active-groups-threatened-by-opposition-from-both-sides/2014/02/12/99dcfd2a-932a-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html>
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, tax law
and election law <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22>
Kobach: EAC Would Have to Help Kansas Deny Vote to People of Swedish
Descent, If Kansas Wanted It <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58720>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:34 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58720>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Case continue
<http://www.kansas.com/2014/02/11/3281939/judge-questions-feds-role-in-kansas.html>s
over EAC's authority under the NVRA against the states.
While Kobach said the EAC did not have the authority to reject state
requested information for the federal form, he added that a court would
strike down the anti-Swedish voting law as unconstitutional.
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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>
"North Carolina voting law targets black voters: Study"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58718>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:28 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58718>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Adam Serwer reports
<http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/north-carolina-voting-law-black-voters>for
MSNBC.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, Voting Rights Act
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
Israeli Supreme Court Orders New Elections in Beit Shemesh,
Nazareth: Voter Impersonation Fraud in Beit Shemesh case
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58716>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:23 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58716>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Jerusalem Post.
<http://www.jpost.com/National-News/A-triple-revolution-Beit-Shemesh-Nazareth-and-Grunis-moves-to-background-341261>
The Beit Shemesh case has been fascinating to watch, as it seems to
involve a fair amount of real live impersonation fraud. Since I can't
find any modern U.S. cases where this has been a major problem, it is
useful to examine why it was a problem in Beit Shemesh (especially given
that they use voter id to vote in Israel). And the answer seems to be
that those engaging in the fraud were doing so on order of their rabbis.
That is, they were motivated by a religious desire. (Interestingly, the
same allegation figures into recent allegations ofvoter fraud in
Brooklyn <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=55279>.)
For those wanting to keep up with the Beit Shemesh case, the Failed
Messiah
<http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2013/12/court-overturns-beit-shemesh-election-due-to-haredi-voter-fraud-567.html>website
is indispensable.
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Posted in chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, election
administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>
FEC Commissioners Ravel, Weintraub Write WSJ Letter to the Editor
Complaining of OpEd <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58714>
Posted on February 12, 2014 2:14 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58714>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Here
<http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304680904579369191043834138?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304680904579369191043834138.html>.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, federal
election commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=24>
"Both Sides Object to I.R.S. Plan to Restrict Nonprofits' Political
Activity" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58712>
Posted on February 12, 2014 1:49 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58712>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
NYT reports.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/us/politics/both-sides-object-to-irs-plan-to-restrict-nonprofits-political-activity.html>
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, tax law
and election law <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22>
"Feds: Mexican Tycoon Exploited Super PACs to Influence U.S.
Elections" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58710>
Posted on February 12, 2014 12:56 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58710>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
FP's /The Cable/ reports.
<http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/02/11/feds_mexican_tycoon_used_super_pacs_to_influence_us_elections>
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Newport council candidate seeks bitcoin donations"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58706>
Posted on February 12, 2014 11:31 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58706>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The /OC Register /reports.
<http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bitcoin-601152-bitcoins-currency.html>
Also read it here
<http://www.law.uci.edu/news/in-the-news/2014/ocr-current_hasen_021114.pdf>.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
About to Be on HuffPostLive Talking Early Voting
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58704>
Posted on February 12, 2014 10:44 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58704>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
with Mike Sacks <http://huff.lv/1iPldpb>, Jonathan Bernstein, and David
Schaefer.
Background:my recent
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/the_new_conservative_assault_on_early_voting_more_republicans_fewer_voters.html>/Slate
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/the_new_conservative_assault_on_early_voting_more_republicans_fewer_voters.html>/piece
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/the_new_conservative_assault_on_early_voting_more_republicans_fewer_voters.html> on
conservatives and early voting.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
Talked Early Voting with Pete Domnick Today
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58702>
Posted on February 12, 2014 10:42 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58702>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Listen here
<https://soundcloud.com/siriusxm-news-issues/standup-w-petedominick-rick> as
I talked about my recent
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/the_new_conservative_assault_on_early_voting_more_republicans_fewer_voters.html>/Slate
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/the_new_conservative_assault_on_early_voting_more_republicans_fewer_voters.html>/piece
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/the_new_conservative_assault_on_early_voting_more_republicans_fewer_voters.html> on
conservatives and early voting.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"Taking Down D'Souza and Other Abuses of Power"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58700>
Posted on February 12, 2014 8:15 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58700>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Brad Smith
<http://www.libertylawsite.org/2014/02/11/taking-down-dsouza-and-other-abuses-of-power/>:
I have no idea if Dinesh D'Souza is guilty of the alleged campaign
finance law violations. One cannot make campaign contributions in
the name of another or exceed the legal limit---then $5000---to a
candidate in a campaign cycle. But most people are not aware of this
restriction, and violations of this provision are both relatively
common and usually inadvertent. Such violations are typically
handled as civil matters, subjected to small fines. This is
especially true when, as here, the race in which the violation
occurred was never even competitive. Long's Democratic opponent,
Kristin Gillibrand (D. N.Y.) won with over seventy percent of the
vote while outspending Long by over $13 million. Criminal
indictments and handcuffs for a first-time offender will strike many
as overkill.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"More voting rules poised to pass state House"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58698>
Posted on February 12, 2014 8:12 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58698>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The latest
<http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201402112238/NEWS010801/302110048>
from Ohio.
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Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>
"On Campaign Payment of Legal Fees, Contrasting Views From Christie"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58696>
Posted on February 12, 2014 8:11 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58696>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Brian Svoboda
<http://www.lawandpoliticsupdate.com/2014/02/on-campaign-payment-of-legal-fees-contrasting-views-from-christie/>
dives in.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>
"Winter Reading: Rick Hasen's 'Lobbying, Rent-Seeking, and the
Constitution'" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58694>
Posted on February 12, 2014 8:08 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58694>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
This item
<http://www.cityethics.org/content/winter-reading-rick-hasens-lobbying-rent-seeking-and-constitution>
appears at the /City Ethics/ blog.
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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
lobbying <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28>
Politico on the Partisan Fights over Secretary of State Races
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58692>
Posted on February 12, 2014 8:07 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=58692>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Here
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/secretary-of-state-elections-2014-103425.html>.
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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
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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