[EL] ELB News and Commentary 3/16/18

Fri Mar 16 09:20:08 PDT 2018

Montana: “Green Party candidate was on state GOP payroll”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98166>
Posted on March 16, 2018 9:17 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98166> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

AP:<https://www.apnews.com/aae15528a9fe415282402c4e14090c75>

 A man who registered as a Green Party candidate for Montana’s U.S. Senate race was on the state Republican Party’s payroll and heads a newly formed anti-tax group, according to a review of election documents.

Timothy Adams filed as a challenger Monday against Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, who faces a tough re-election campaign, in a race where a Green Party candidate could siphon votes from the Democrat.
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Posted in ballot access<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46>, third parties<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=47>

“NRA lawyer said to have had concerns about group’s ties to Russia”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98164>
Posted on March 16, 2018 9:10 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98164> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

McClatchy:<http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article205412394.html>

Congressional investigators are examining information that a longtime attorney for the National Rifle Association had concerns about the group’s ties to Russia and its possible involvement in channeling Russian funds into the 2016 elections to help Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the matter say.

Cleta Mitchell, a former NRA board member who has done legal work for the organization, is on a newly disclosed list of people whom Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee are seeking to interview. Democratic investigators for that committee’s Senate counterpart also are interested in what she may know about relationships between the NRA or its allies and wealthy Russians, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Mitchell told McClatchy in an email that any suggestion she has concerns about the NRA’s Russia connections is a “complete fabrication.”
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Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>

Minnesota: “Audit Finds Little Voter Fraud, But Recommends Improvements”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98162>
Posted on March 16, 2018 9:09 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98162> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

AP:<http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/03/16/voter-registration-audit/>

Minnesota should develop a report that helps county election officials identify people who aren’t eligible to vote, the legislative auditor’s office recommended Friday.

The auditor’s office examined the state’s election system and voter registration practices for months, interviewing county election officials and county attorneys who prosecute allegations of voter fraud.

The audit did not find widespread problems with the system. County attorneys reported 69 investigations of ineligible voting in the past two years, with most not resulting in convictions.
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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>

“Election Security War Game: Testing Critical Infrastructure Designation”–April 12 at W & M<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98160>
Posted on March 15, 2018 1:34 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98160> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Upcoming event:

Election Security War Game: Testing Critical Infrastructure Designation

Election Law Program

William & Mary Law School

April 12, 2018

3:30-6:00, Room 119

Free and Open to the Public

Virginia CLE Credit available

On April 12, 2018, the William & Mary Election Law Program will host a unique symposium aimed at expanding understanding of the role of courts in promoting election security. The symposium will kick off with a war game simulating an election security dispute in the fictional state of “Flichigan.” Panelists will then debrief the moot and discuss election security challenges going forward, including the role of the federal government in helping states secure election infrastructure, the perils and promise of our decentralized of election system, and the role of judges in promoting public confidence in state election security.

Panelists:

Joseph Lorenzo Hall, Center for Democracy & Technology

Kemba Walden, Department of Homeland Security

Mark Listes, Election Assistance Commission

David Becker, Center for Election Innovation & Research

Edgardo Cortes, Former Commissioner Virginia Department of Elections

John Davisson, Electronic Privacy Information Center

Registration (free) and more details available HERE<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/election-security-war-game-testing-critical-infrastructure-designation-tickets-43903340072>.

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, voting technology<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40>

--
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
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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