[EL] Wisconsin leaks

Mon Oct 31 22:38:09 PDT 2016

WI AG Schimel Says It Was Fine for O’Keefe to Illegally Leak #JohnDoe Documents<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88384>
Posted on October 31, 2016 4:30 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88384> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Wow:<https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/ag-schimel-responds-rep-chris-taylor-who-questions-why-doj-not-prosecuting-private>

Today, State Representative Chris Taylor issued a press statement<http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1031taylorag.pdf> calling on Attorney General Brad Schimel to investigate and prosecute Eric O’Keefe, Director of the Wisconsin Club for Growth, for exercising his First Amendment Rights.

Wow indeed. But I'm not sure Rick and I are talking about the same thing.

Bradley A. Smith

Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault

   Professor of Law

Capital University Law School

303 E. Broad St.

Columbus, OH 43215

614.236.6317

http://law.capital.edu/faculty/bios/bsmith.aspx

________________________________
From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] on behalf of Rick Hasen [rhasen at law.uci.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2016 12:14 AM
To: Election Law Listserv
Subject: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/1/16

Democrats in DNC v. RNC Allege RNC Lied About Engaging in Poll Watching Activities in Nevada<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88403>
Posted on October 31, 2016 8:59 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88403> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Letter<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/119111373123.pdf> from Dems’ Angelo Genova just filed in DNC v. RNC case:
As discussed during this afternoon’s conference call with the Court, plaintiff Democratic National Committee (“DNC”) has uncovered evidence that the Republican National Committee (“RNC”) – contrary to the sworn declarations submitted earlier today, and the clear statements of its counsel – has and continues to engage in one or more ballot security initiatives utilizing poll watchers in Nevada. The enclosed declarations are being provided today pursuant to the Court’s request, and will be discussed more fully in the DNC’s reply submission which will be filed later this week.
Affidavit<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/119111373123.pdf>:
[creen-shot-2016-10-31-at-8-57-51-pm]<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-10-31-at-8.57.51-PM.png>[creen-shot-2016-10-31-at-8-58-33-pm]<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-10-31-at-8.58.33-PM.png>
[creen-shot-2016-10-31-at-9-02-28-pm]<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2016-10-31-at-9.02.28-PM.png>
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88403&title=Democrats%20in%20DNC%20v.%20RNC%20Allege%20RNC%20Lied%20About%20Engaging%20in%20Poll%20Watching%20Activities%20in%20Nevada>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

“Will Republicans Fight to Shrink the Supreme Court?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88401>
Posted on October 31, 2016 8:00 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88401> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Jeff Shesol:<http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/will-republicans-fight-to-shrink-the-supreme-court>
The results of the election could alter these dynamics dramatically. If Clinton wins the White House and Democrats take back the Senate, McConnell and his colleagues will have only one reliable recourse to stop a nominee: a filibuster. (Under no scenario will the Democrats win a filibuster-proof majority of sixty.) In 2013, when Democrats last ran the Senate, Harry Reid changed the rules to prevent the use of the filibuster to block any judicial nomination short of the Supreme Court. Now Reid—who will retire in January—is urging his potential successor as leader, Chuck Schumer, to finish the job and allow nominees to the high court to be confirmed by a simple majority vote. If Republicans “mess with the Supreme Court,” Reid told an interviewer recently, the rules would be changed “just like that.” This, the so-called “nuclear” option, is a strong possibility—a near-certainty, Senator Tim Kaine, Clinton’s Vice-Presidential nominee, said on Thursday<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tim-kaine-supreme-court_us_5813a8f4e4b0990edc31285f>. Schumer, for his part, has said that “a progressive Supreme Court” is his “No. 1 goal<http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/schumer-calls-progressive-supreme-court-number-one-goal>.”
But to deploy the “nuclear” option Democrats will have to retake the Senate on November 8th. If Republicans hang on to their majority, McCain’s promise to block court appointments will almost certainly become Clinton’s reality. Roosevelt, in the heat of his Supreme Court fight, complained that the conservative justices had drawn “the boundaries of a ‘no man’s land’ where no government can function.” That struggle ended when a swing justice, Owen Roberts, sided with the liberals—the famous “switch in time that saved nine.” But that was a provisional victory. What really resolved the crisis was the retirement of Willis Van Devanter, one of the conservative justices, and his replacement by Senator Hugo Black, who tipped the balance of the Court for more than a generation. Black was a stalwart New Dealer, a defender of Roosevelt, and deeply unpopular among his Senate colleagues. He was confirmed in five days.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88401&title=%E2%80%9CWill%20Republicans%20Fight%20to%20Shrink%20the%20Supreme%20Court%3F%E2%80%9D>
Posted in Supreme Court<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>

“Nonprofits With Secret Donors Spend Millions in Key Senate Races”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88399>
Posted on October 31, 2016 7:58 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88399> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Bloomberg BNA<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/MPDMWB/split_display.adp?fedfid=99956210&vname=mpebulallissues&jd=a0k3u3w7e4&split=0>:
Nonprofits that keep donors secret but are closely linked to Democratic and Republican Senate leaders have spent more than $10 million on television, radio and mail ads in key races that may determine control of the Senate, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The spending included nearly $3 million in recent weeks by the Democratic-linked nonprofit Majority Forward for television and radio ads in Senate races in Missouri, Nevada and Pennsylvania. The Republican-linked nonprofit One Nation spent nearly $3.2 million on mailings in the same races, as well as those in Indiana, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
The spending on “express advocacy”—calling for votes for or against candidates—came in addition to the groups’ unreported spending earlier in the campaign of about $25 million for “issue ads,” which referred to Senate candidates but didn’t explicitly call for votes.
The nonprofit groups on both sides have also contributed money from undisclosed sources to the super political action committees linked to the parties, including an $11 million last-minute infusion of funds from One Nation to the GOP super PAC Senate Leadership Fund.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88399&title=%E2%80%9CNonprofits%20With%20Secret%20Donors%20Spend%20Millions%20in%20Key%20Senate%20Races%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>

In DNC v. RNC Voter Intimidation Case, Court Orders Discovery on Trump, Republican Poll Monitoring Efforts<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88394>
Posted on October 31, 2016 7:29 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88394> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Pretty broad discovery required in short order, <http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/dnc-rnc-discovery.pdf> with hearing on November 4.
The judge rejected much of the discovery sought by the DNC given the time frame, but this should alone should be pretty educational on what efforts are actually going on behind the scenes.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88394&title=In%20DNC%20v.%20RNC%20Voter%20Intimidation%20Case%2C%20Court%20Orders%20Discovery%20on%20Trump%2C%20Republican%20Poll%20Monitoring%20Efforts>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, fraudulent fraud squad<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=8>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

Sad News: Legislation Scholar Norman Singer has Died<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88392>
Posted on October 31, 2016 7:23 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88392> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Peter Strauss passes along the obituary:

Norman J. Singer, 78, died on October 31, 2016. He was Professor Emeritus of Law and Anthropology at the University of Alabama, and for 40 years held full tenured professorships in both departments, though he was proud that he never took salary or benefits from Arts and Sciences.
Professor Singer had a wide-ranging international career as well. After graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he worked for a year in Stockholm. A trip through Russia and into Iran introduced him to the Middle East. He returned to the States, graduated summa cum laude from Boston University Law School, and in 1964 joined the Peace Corps with his wife, the former Bethany Wasserman. They spent four years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where Prof. Singer was a member of the first law faculty in Ethiopia and where two sons were born. Prof. Singer joined the University of Alabama Law School in 1971 and in 1975 received the SJD from Harvard, with an anthropological/legal dissertation on traditional legal systems in Ethiopia.
While teaching full time at UA, Prof. Singer also fitted in numerous projects in countries as diverse as Albania, Cambodia, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, Iraq, Trinidad, and Zanzibar. He became known as a major expert in restructuring land tenure in countries with poorly-organized or non-existent private land systems. He also took leave from the University to spend 1980-82 as the Ford Foundation Res.Rep. in the Sudan.
Prof. Singer may be best known in the legal world as the author of a treatise, Sutherland, Statutory Construction. In recent years, he has shared authorship with his eldest son, Shambie J.D. Singer.
He was born in Boston to the late Morris and Anna C. Singer. His first marriage ended in divorce. He is survived by his wife, Anna Jacobs Singer, sons Shambie, Jeremy (Nicole) and Micah (Ali), stepdaughters Joanna Jacobs and Stephanie Jacobs, special children Ejvis Lamani, and Anil and Aron Mujumdar, grandchildren Sofia, Avery, and Zeke Singer, and sister Helen Silverstein.
There will be a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery on Wednesday, Oct 2, at 2 pm.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88392&title=Sad%20News%3A%20Legislation%20Scholar%20Norman%20Singer%20has%20Died>
Posted in election law biz<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=51>

A Week Before the Election, ACLU Files Lawsuit to Allow Ballot Selfies in CA<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88388>
Posted on October 31, 2016 7:16 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88388> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Here is the complaint.<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/ACLU-v.-Padilla.pdf> After asserting the law’s unconstitutionality, the complaint states: “Moreover, the California legislature has already repealed the laws that Plaintiffs challenge, illustrating the lack of government interest in their enforcement. But because of the timing of this repeal, the laws continue in effect until January 1, 2017.”
Why did the ACLU wait until a week before the election to seek a TRO?
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88388&title=A%20Week%20Before%20the%20Election%2C%20ACLU%20Files%20Lawsuit%20to%20Allow%20Ballot%20Selfies%20in%20CA>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>

NY Times Reporting More Skeptical of Russian-Trump Server Claim, But Sees Russia Trying to Undermine US Democracy<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88386>
Posted on October 31, 2016 7:07 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88386> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Following up on a link <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88376> to Foer’s Slate piece<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_a_server_registered_to_the_trump_organization_communicating_with_russia.html>, see Licthblau and Myers:<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/01/us/politics/fbi-russia-election-donald-trump.html?_r=1&referer>
In classified sessions in August and September, intelligence officials also briefed congressional leaders on the possibility of financial ties between Russians and people connected to Mr. Trump. They focused particular attention on what cyberexperts said appeared to be a mysterious computer back channel between the Trump Organization and the Alfa Bank, which is one of Russia’s biggest banks and whose owners have longstanding ties to Mr. Putin..I. officials spent weeks examining computer data showing an odd stream of activity to a Trump Organization server and Alfa Bank. Computer logs obtained by The New York Times show that two servers at Alfa Bank sent more than 2,700 “look-up” messages — a first step for one system’s computers to talk to another — to a Trump-connected server beginning in the spring. But the F.B.I. ultimately concluded that there could be an innocuous explanation, like a marketing email or spam, for the computer contacts.
But there’s also this:
The most serious part of the F.B.I.’s investigation has focused on the computer hacks that the Obama administration now formally blames on Russia. That investigation also involves numerous officials from the intelligence agencies. Investigators, the officials said, have become increasingly confident, based on the evidence they have uncovered, that Russia’s direct goal is not to support the election of Mr. Trump, as many Democrats have asserted, but rather to disrupt the integrity of the political system and undermine America’s standing in the world more broadly….
A senior intelligence official, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing national security investigation, said the Russians had become adept at exploiting computer vulnerabilities created by the relative openness of and reliance on the internet. Election officials in several states have reported what appeared to be cyberintrusions from Russia, and while many doubt that an Election Day hack<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/us/politics/sowing-doubt-is-seen-as-prime-danger-in-hacking-voting-system.html> could alter the outcome of the election, the F.B.I. agencies across the government are on alert for potential disruptions that could wreak havoc with the voting process itself.
“It isn’t about the election,” a second senior official said, referring to the aims of Russia’s interference. “It’s about a threat to democracy.”
Glenn Thrush: <https://twitter.com/GlennThrush/status/793269912458424320> “Times story says Russians only want to disrupt election — not elect Trump. Then why only hack Dem side?”
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88386&title=NY%20Times%20Reporting%20More%20Skeptical%20of%20Russian-Trump%20Server%20Claim%2C%20But%20Sees%20Russia%20Trying%20to%20Undermine%20US%20Democracy>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

WI AG Schimel Says It Was Fine for O’Keefe to Illegally Leak #JohnDoe Documents<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88384>
Posted on October 31, 2016 4:30 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88384> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Wow:<https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/ag-schimel-responds-rep-chris-taylor-who-questions-why-doj-not-prosecuting-private>
Today, State Representative Chris Taylor issued a press statement<http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1031taylorag.pdf> calling on Attorney General Brad Schimel to investigate and prosecute Eric O’Keefe, Director of the Wisconsin Club for Growth, for exercising his First Amendment Rights. Attorney General Schimel issued the following statement in response:
“As a career prosecutor and now as Attorney General, I respect the Constitution and would never threaten to prosecute a private citizen who is exercising his or her individual rights.
“No judge has the authority to place a gag order on a private citizen to prevent that person from talking about acts committed against them by the government.
The AG has called for an investigation into later leaks that hurt conservatives.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88384&title=WI%20AG%20Schimel%20Says%20It%20Was%20Fine%20for%20O%E2%80%99Keefe%20to%20Illegally%20Leak%20%23JohnDoe%20Documents>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>

“Democrats Are Asking a Court to Stop Trump From Intimidating Voters”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88382>
Posted on October 31, 2016 3:51 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88382> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Mother Jones reports.<http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/Ohio-democrats-sue-trump-campaign-roger-stone-alleged-voter-harassment>
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88382&title=%E2%80%9CDemocrats%20Are%20Asking%20a%20Court%20to%20Stop%20Trump%20From%20Intimidating%20Voters%E2%80%9D>
Posted in The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

“Trump Traders: Like Tinder, but for swapping your swing state vote”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88380>
Posted on October 31, 2016 3:49 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88380> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
McClatchy reports<http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article111674002.html>. As I’m quoted saying in the article, I don’t believe the issue of legality is settled, despite the 9th Circuit precedent.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88380&title=%E2%80%9CTrump%20Traders%3A%20Like%20Tinder%2C%20but%20for%20swapping%20your%20swing%20state%20vote%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, vote buying<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=43>

“FBI Making Inquiry Into Ex-Trump Campaign Manager’s Foreign Ties”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88378>
Posted on October 31, 2016 3:21 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88378> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
NBC News:<http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-making-inquiry-ex-trump-campaign-manager-s-foreign-ties-n675881>
The FBI has been conducting a preliminary inquiry into Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort’s foreign business connections, law enforcement and intelligence sources told NBC News Monday.
Word of the inquiry, which has not blossomed into a full-blown criminal investigation, comes just days after FBI Director James Comey’s disclosure that his agency is examining a new batch of emails connected to an aide to Hillary Clinton.
And it comes a day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid criticized Comey’s revelation and asserted that Comey possesses “explosive information about close ties and coordination between Donald Trump, his top advisors, and the Russian government.”
The FBI did not comment. Manafort told NBC News “none of it is true … There’s no investigation going on by the FBI that I’m aware of.” He said he had never had ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, or had dealings with Putin and his government. He said any suggestion of such ties was “Democratic propaganda.”
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88378&title=%E2%80%9CFBI%20Making%20Inquiry%20Into%20Ex-Trump%20Campaign%20Manager%E2%80%99s%20Foreign%20Ties%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>

“Was a Trump Server Communicating With Russia?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88376>
Posted on October 31, 2016 3:07 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88376> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Franklin Foer<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_a_server_registered_to_the_trump_organization_communicating_with_russia.html> with one of the more bizarre, and worrisome, stories of this bizarre and worrisome election season.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88376&title=%E2%80%9CWas%20a%20Trump%20Server%20Communicating%20With%20Russia%3F%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>

Supreme Court, Without Noted Dissent, Denies Relief in OH Voting Case<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88374>
Posted on October 31, 2016 3:05 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88374> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Order.<https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/103116zr_886b.pdf>
My earlier coverage: Ohio Homeless Advocates File Emergency #SCOTUS Petition on OH Absentee/Provisional Voting Rules<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88099>
The result here is no surprise, beginning with the late timing.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88374&title=Supreme%20Court%2C%20Without%20Noted%20Dissent%2C%20Denies%20Relief%20in%20OH%20Voting%20Case>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

NC Sen. Burr, Running for Reelection, Jokes About Gun Owners Shooting Clinton; Says #SCOTUS Vacancy for 4 Years<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88372>
Posted on October 31, 2016 3:03 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88372> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Wow report<http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/31/politics/richard-burr-hillary-clinton-gun-owners/index.html> from Manu Raju at CNN.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88372&title=NC%20Sen.%20Burr%2C%20Running%20for%20Reelection%2C%20Jokes%20About%20Gun%20Owners%20Shooting%20Clinton%3B%20Says%20%23SCOTUS%20Vacancy%20for%204%20Years>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, Supreme Court<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>

“How Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Are Flouting Campaign Finance Rules”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88370>
Posted on October 31, 2016 2:53 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88370> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Brendan Fischer <http://billmoyers.com/story/clinton-trump-super-pacs-violate-key-money-politics-protections/> for Moyers & Co.
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Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>
“Pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC accepted illegal contributions”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88368>
Posted on October 31, 2016 2:48 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88368> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
CPI:<https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/10/31/20401/pro-hillary-clinton-super-pac-accepted-illegal-contributions>
Pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC Correct the Record<https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/04/07/19528/inside-hillary-clintons-big-money-cavalry> accepted $250,000 in illegal contributions from a charity backed by a Boston-based construction firm already in trouble<https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/07/05/19872/pro-hillary-clinton-super-pac-returns-government-contractors-contribution> this year for its political donations.
Suffolk Cares Inc., a nonprofit charity registered under section 501(c)(3) of federal tax code, gave Correct the Record $100,000<https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3211293-correct2.html> on Sept. 8 and another $150,000<https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3211292-correct1.html> on Oct. 12, according to federal campaign finance documents. Charities of this kind are explicitly prohibited from making political contributions under federal law.
Asked about the contributions by the Center for Public Integrity<http://www.publicintegrity.org/politics>, Correct the Record spokeswoman Elizabeth Shappell said the super PAC is giving the money back to Suffolk Cares Inc. today.
“When we learned this donation came from a 501(c)(3), we returned it,” Shappell said.
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Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, tax law and election law<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22>

“UK Law’s Election Law Society to Live-Blog during the 2016 Presidential Election”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88366>
Posted on October 31, 2016 2:17 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88366> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Release.<http://law.uky.edu/news/uk-law%E2%80%99s-election-law-society-live-blog-during-2016-presidential-election>
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Posted in Uncategorized<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

More Baseless Trump Allegations of Voter Fraud<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88364>
Posted on October 31, 2016 12:17 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88364> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Today,<https://twitter.com/SopanDeb/status/793166294833135616> via Sopan Deb.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88364&title=More%20Baseless%20Trump%20Allegations%20of%20Voter%20Fraud>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, fraudulent fraud squad<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=8>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

“Right-Wing Group Citizens United Again May Have Tried to Trick the Elderly Into Giving It Cash”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88361>
Posted on October 31, 2016 11:13 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88361> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Sick.<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/31/right-wing-group-citizens-united-again-may-have-tried-to-trick-the-elderly-into-giving-it-cash.html>
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88361&title=%E2%80%9CRight-Wing%20Group%20Citizens%20United%20Again%20May%20Have%20Tried%20to%20Trick%20the%20Elderly%20Into%20Giving%20It%20Cash%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>

“African American early voting is way down in North Carolina. Why is that?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88358>
Posted on October 31, 2016 9:45 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88358> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Insightus:<http://www.insight-us.org/blog/african-american-early-voting-is-way-down-in-north-carolina-why-is-that/>
In the 58 counties that have been plagued by neither flooding nor locked polling place doors (Unimpaired Counties) African Americans are voting at 91% of their 2012 rate – not great, but a definite improvement over the statewide rate of just 82%. By contrast, among the 32 counties for which federal disaster declarations are in effect, that rate drops substantially to just 79%. But the man-made disaster of voter suppression proves to be the most potent force of all, depressing the African American voting rate to a mere 72% of 2012’s performance. Interestingly, flooding and voter suppression aren’t additive: among the 7 counties doubly cursed by both, voting action is again 72%. Actually, that makes sense: if there’s no open polling place within a reasonable distance, it hardly matters whether or not a voter is surrounded by water.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88358&title=%E2%80%9CAfrican%20American%20early%20voting%20is%20way%20down%20in%20North%20Carolina.%20Why%20is%20that%3F%E2%80%9D>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

Breaking: Democrats Sue Trump, State Republican Parties, and Roger Stone for Voter Intimidation Tactics<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88351>
Posted on October 31, 2016 9:33 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88351> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The latest set of filings from Democrats (led by Marc Elias) against the Trump campaign, state Republican parties, and Roger Stone’s “Stop the Steal” group:
Nevada Complaint<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/16-2514-As-Filed-Complaint.pdf>
Arizona Complaint<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/Complaint_ADP-v-ARP.pdf>
Pennsylvania Complaint<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/Complaint.pdf>
Ohio Complaint<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/ODP-v-Trump-Complaint.pdf> [corrected link]
I haven’t yet gone through each complaint in detail yet, but all seem to raise two claims, one under the Voting Rights Act and one under the Ku Klux Klan Act, aimed at preventing voter intimidation. The complaints allege that the state parties are cooperating with the Trump campaign and Stone to stir up unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and to intimidate minority voters. This complaint comes on top of the earlier-filed complaint<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88127> alleging that Trump and the RNC are violating the long-standing and soon expiring (unless extended) consent decree against the RNC.
The new complaints seek temporary restraining orders which will bar activities such as “exit polling<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=87836>” from the Stone people which could be used to intimidate voters.
It is not clear that a court would issue a vague order to stop “voter intimidation,” as requested in the relief in these suits (as that term would be vague and difficult to enforce). But the suits will first bring publicity to the activities, and second get these parties on record stating that they do not plan on engaging in voter intimidation, which itself could be useful in the event of problems on election day.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88351&title=Breaking%3A%20Democrats%20Sue%20Trump%2C%20State%20Republican%20Parties%2C%20and%20Roger%20Stone%20for%20Voter%20Intimidation%20Tactics>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, fraudulent fraud squad<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=8>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

“Why Bill Gates is trying to change Washington’s Supreme Court”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88349>
Posted on October 31, 2016 9:00 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88349> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Quite a story<http://www.thehill.com/homenews/news/303156-why-bill-gates-is-trying-to-change-washingtons-supreme-court> from Reid Wilson:
In Washington, Gates and the other mega-donors are targeting a judge who has ruled against one of their pet projects in the past.
Last year, the court ruled that a 2012 ballot measure establishing charter schools in Washington violated the state constitution because it gave control of charter schools to appointed boards, rather than elected ones. Wiggins voted with the majority.
Gates, Allen and Ballmer had helped fund the ballot measure establishing charter schools.
“It sends a terrible message to judges, which is if you don’t toe the line as we see it, we’ll find a criminal case and we’ll vilify you,” Wiggins said of the outside spending. Judges “rely on the respect of the public, and, quite frankly, the other two branches of government. This kind of negative campaigning that I’m confronting is corrosive.”
A Gates spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. Larson’s campaign did not respond to an email.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88349&title=%E2%80%9CWhy%20Bill%20Gates%20is%20trying%20to%20change%20Washington%E2%80%99s%20Supreme%20Court%E2%80%9D>
Posted in Uncategorized<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“Are Voter ID Laws Dead? That Depends.”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88347>
Posted on October 31, 2016 8:52 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88347> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Daniel Vock <http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-voter-id-presidential-election.html> for Governing.
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88347&title=%E2%80%9CAre%20Voter%20ID%20Laws%20Dead%3F%20That%20Depends.%E2%80%9D>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>, Voting Rights Act<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>

“Why no selfies in voting booth? Think “$20 or a pint of whiskey””<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88345>
Posted on October 31, 2016 8:15 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=88345> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The Post and Courier.<http://www.postandcourier.com/news/why-no-selfies-in-voting-booth-think-or-a-pint/article_9e969b82-9c50-11e6-8103-7feadd130aa4.html>
[hare]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D88345&title=%E2%80%9CWhy%20no%20selfies%20in%20voting%20booth%3F%20Think%20%E2%80%9C%2420%20or%20a%20pint%20of%20whiskey%E2%80%9D%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>

--
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://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
http://electionlawblog.org<http://electionlawblog.org/>
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