[EL] ELB News and Commentary 1/18/19

Fri Jan 18 08:58:06 PST 2019

"Arizona Legislators Launch Dueling Proposals on Voting Rights and Elections"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=103226>
Posted on January 18, 2019 8:54 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=103226> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Phoenix New Times:<https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-democrats-unveil-voters-bill-of-rights-11116394>

A battle is underway for the future of voting rights in Arizona, featuring liberal lawmakers who want to expand voting opportunities fighting with conservatives who seek to add new restrictions.

Democratic legislators unveiled a House resolution on Thursday that would create an "Arizona voters bill of rights," and promised legislation to expand access to the ballot. At the same time, Republicans, who are in the majority, filed a flurry of bills during the first days of the legislative session that could make it more difficult for people to vote.
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Posted in The Voting Wars<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>

"Benson seeks to settle federal gerrymandering case"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=103223>
Posted on January 17, 2019 5:43 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=103223> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Detroit News<https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/01/17/benson-seeks-settle-federal-gerrymandering-case/2608845002/>:

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is working to settle a federal lawsuit against the state alleging partisan gerrymandering by Republican lawmakers who approved legislative and congressional district boundaries in 2011.

Benson, who took office Jan. 1, this week replaced former GOP Secretary of State Ruth Johnson as a named defendant in the case. A deal with plaintiffs who sued the state over current maps could result in new district boundaries being drawn for the 2020 election cycle.

"It's clear the court has found significant evidence of partisan gerrymandering, and the likely outcome would not be favorable to the state," Benson said in a statement. "It is therefore my responsibility to ensure a fair and equitable resolution for the citizens of Michigan that would save taxpayers money and ensure fair representation."...

Attorneys for the plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters and Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit, filed a court brief late Thursday indicating they and Benson have "committed to reach a compromise" in the case and "in the near future" will present that deal to the court for potential approval.

Republican lawmakers recently joined the case, citing "uncertainty" over whether Benson would defend maps the GOP approved. It's likely those lawmakers will ask the three-judge panel to reject any settlement deal.

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Posted in redistricting<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>

Mitch McConnell Calls H.R. 1, the Democrats' Mammoth Election Reform Bill, a "Partisan Power Grab"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=103221>
Posted on January 17, 2019 2:22 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=103221> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

New WaPo oped.<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/call-hr-1-what-it-is-the-democrat-politician-protection-act/2019/01/17/dcc957be-19cb-11e9-9ebf-c5fed1b7a081_story.html?utm_term=.a35f6678059b>

Here were my more positive thoughts<https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/01/nancy-pelosi-election-reform-bill-save-democracy.html> about the bill.
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Posted in The Voting Wars<https://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
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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