[EL] ELB News and Commentary 7/20/19

Sat Jul 20 11:44:52 PDT 2019

"Intelligence Chief Names New Election Security Oversight Official"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106542>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:26 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106542> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

More on the appointment<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106502> of Shelby Pierson, from the NYT<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/us/politics/intelligence-election-security.html>, NPR<https://www.npr.org/2019/07/19/743567568/director-of-national-intelligence-dan-coats-appoints-new-election-security-czar>, Reuters<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-security/u-s-intelligence-chief-creates-election-security-position-idUSKCN1UE2A7>.
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Posted in chicanery<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, voting technology<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40>
"'It's really a new low': In first news conference, deputy attorney general lashes out at Congress"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106540>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:26 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106540> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The subject of the DAG's ire<https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/its-really-a-new-low-in-first-news-conference-deputy-attorney-general-lashes-out-at-congress/2019/07/19/4481ccdc-aa41-11e9-86dd-d7f0e60391e9_story.html> was the criminal contempt vote against the AG, for failure to comply with subpoenas regarding the citizenship question on the decennial enumeration.

More from Fox<https://www.foxnews.com/politics/deputy-ag-rosen-calls-barr-contempt-vote-a-new-low-calls-on-lawmakers-to-apologize>.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106540&title=%E2%80%9C%E2%80%98It%E2%80%99s%20really%20a%20new%20low%E2%80%99%3A%20In%20first%20news%20conference%2C%20deputy%20attorney%20general%20lashes%20out%20at%20Congress%E2%80%9D>
Posted in census litigation<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=125>
"2020 election: Dems man up for recount; GOP looks to boost voter ranks"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106538>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:25 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106538> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

Florida gonna Florida<https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190719/2020-election-dems-man-up-for-recount-gop-looks-to-boost-voter-ranks>.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106538&title=%E2%80%9C2020%20election%3A%20Dems%20man%20up%20for%20recount%3B%20GOP%20looks%20to%20boost%20voter%20ranks%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaigns<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, recounts<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=50>, The Voting Wars<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter registration<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>
Hofeller files come into court in North Carolina state gerrymandering case<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106536>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:24 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106536> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

Courthouse News Service<https://www.courthousenews.com/secret-files-revealed-in-north-carolina-gerrymandering-case/> reviews the end of week one of trial.
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Posted in political parties<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25>, redistricting<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>
"Marine Corps Orders Duncan Hunter to Stop Using Emblem on Political Mailers"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106534>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:24 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106534> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

A snippet of the NYT<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/us/duncan-hunter-marines-emblem.html> piece:

The Marine Corps said it was not uncommon to encounter politicians using the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, commonly referred to as the E.G.A., and officials routinely send letters telling them to stop.

"We encourage such individuals to be proud of their service," the Marine Corps said in a statement. "But the use of the E.G.A. or other indicia, where it could appear that the Marine Corps endorses or sponsors a particular candidate, is inappropriate."
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Posted in campaigns<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>
"De Blasio used state account he controls as campaign slush fund"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106532>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:23 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106532> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The NY Post discusses<https://nypost.com/2019/07/19/de-blasio-used-state-account-he-controls-as-campaign-slush-fund/> some questionable state-PAC spending on a federal race.

A related Politico story<https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/19/amid-murkiness-over-spending-de-blasio-team-says-campaign-launch-video-was-not-a-campaign-expense-1112843> notes that de Blasio is claiming that his presidential campaign launch video was not a presidential campaign expense.
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Posted in campaign finance<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Prosecutors Are Asked Why Trump Wasn't Indicted for Campaign Violations"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106530>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:22 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106530> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The WSJ<https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-asked-why-trump-wasnt-indicted-for-campaign-finance-violations-11563561750> covers the House Oversight letter<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106505>.
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Posted in campaign finance<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Iowa will keep voter registration system for 2020 elections"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106528>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:22 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106528> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The AP on the nuts and bolts of trying to figure out the right amount of space<https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/19/iowa-keep-voter-registration-system-2020-elections/1779032001/> to upgrade election technology in an unending election environment.
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Posted in voter registration<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>, voting technology<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40>
Parking as pretext?<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106526>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:22 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106526> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

ThinkProgress<https://thinkprogress.org/it-can-be-hard-for-college-students-to-get-to-the-polls-floridas-new-law-is-making-it-even-harder-aa140bb798f9/> on the challenged Florida law requiring sufficient parking for early voting sites, and its impact on college voters.
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Posted in election administration<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
"Judges won't block voter ID law for 2020, but lawsuit will continue"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106524>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:21 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106524> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The denial of a preliminary injunction<https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article232078502.html> in North Carolina.  The opinion is here<http://redistricting.lls.edu/other/20190719%20NC%20ID%20preliminary%20injunction%20ruling.pdf> ... with not much by way of explanation.
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Posted in voter id<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>
"New Normal: Bloodlust on the Left in Census and Election Fights"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106522>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:20 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106522> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

Wherein<https://pjmedia.com/jchristianadams/new-normal-bloodlust-from-left-in-census-and-election-fights/> J. Christian Adams rails against "personal destruction" and "demonization," and compares Kris Kobach (or, possibly, himself) to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
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Posted in census litigation<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=125>, chicanery<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, The Voting Wars<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
Census recruiting and hiring is ahead of schedule<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106520>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:20 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106520> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

But there are still some "headwinds<https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2019/07/census-eclipses-500k-applicants-still-needs-23m-more/158562/>" ahead (including low unemployment rates) to hiring for the push to come.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106520&title=Census%20recruiting%20and%20hiring%20is%20ahead%20of%20schedule>
Posted in census litigation<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=125>
"Texas leaves Census outreach to cities, counties"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106518>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:19 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106518> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

A follow-up<https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-leaves-Census-outreach-to-cities-counties-14109752.php?t=14d90682eb> in the Houston Chronicle to this NPR report<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106355> a few days ago.
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Posted in census litigation<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=125>
"How Polarized Are State Politicians?"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106516>
Posted on July 20, 2019 11:19 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106516> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

A deeper dive on Wisconsin<https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/07/19/how-polarized-are-state-politicians/> and the Midwest, using data from the Shor-McCarty American Legislatures Project<https://americanlegislatures.com/>.
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Posted in legislation and legislatures<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27>, political polarization<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=68>
"Federal Election Agency, Hungry for Funds, Now Pays for Officials to Get to Office"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106511>
Posted on July 19, 2019 4:07 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106511> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

ProPublica on some apparent extended commutes<https://www.propublica.org/article/federal-election-agency-hungry-for-funds-now-pays-for-officials-to-get-to-office> to the EAC.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106511&title=%E2%80%9CFederal%20Election%20Agency%2C%20Hungry%20for%20Funds%2C%20Now%20Pays%20for%20Officials%20to%20Get%20to%20Office%E2%80%9D>
Posted in Election Assistance Commission<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=34>
Ninth Circuit upholds California's 1% signature requirement for independent candidates<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106509>
Posted on July 19, 2019 3:43 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106509> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The decision is here<http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2019/07/19/17-56668.pdf>.

(h/t, as in everything ballot access, to Richard Winger<http://ballot-access.org/2019/07/19/ninth-circuit-upholds-californias-presidential-independent-petition-requirement/>.)
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Posted in ballot access<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46>, third parties<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=47>
Ballot initiative skullduggery?<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106507>
Posted on July 19, 2019 2:41 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106507> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

The plot thicks. Maybe.

Earlier this week, I'd mentioned<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106390> a movement to amend state constitutions to prohibit voting by noncitizens in state elections, even though every state currently prohibits voting by noncitizens in state elections.

Now a report featuring speculation<https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/07/19/non-citizens-cant-vote-in-florida-so-why-is-this-group-trying-to-ban-itagain/> (and it is only that) about another motive for the campaign in Florida, where the nonprofit is based: the possible attempt to corner the market on petition circulators, to box out another campaign.

And in the middle of it all, the election administrators trying to keep up with the volume.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106507&title=Ballot%20initiative%20skullduggery%3F>
Posted in direct democracy<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=62>, petition signature gathering<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=39>
And now House Oversight wants to know how OLC's stance on indicting the President factored in to the NY campaign finance case<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106505>
Posted on July 19, 2019 2:26 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106505> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

Following on this story<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106494>, the letter is here<https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2019-07-19.COR%20to%20Strauss-SDNY%20re%20Hush%20Money%20Investigation.pdf>.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106505&title=And%20now%20House%20Oversight%20wants%20to%20know%20how%20OLC%E2%80%99s%20stance%20on%20indicting%20the%20President%20factored%20in%20to%20the%20NY%20campaign%20finance%20case>
Posted in campaign finance<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
Director of National Intelligence Creates "Election Threats Executive"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106502>
Posted on July 19, 2019 10:44 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106502> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

Shelby Pierson gets the nod for a new federal position<https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/453899-intel-chief-coats-establishes-election-security-adviser-position> to serve as the intelligence community's principal advisor on election security.

This bio<https://www.workingmother.com/shelby-l-pierson> fits the very general description in the DNI's press statement<https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/item/2023-director-of-national-intelligence-daniel-r-coats-establishes-intelligence-community-election-threats-executive>, but I'll confess I'm not sure if they're the same person.  As someone often confused with another southern California researcher with the same name who also works on redistricting (hi, Justin<https://www.ndcresearch.com/justin-levitt/>!), I'm wary of making assumptions.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106502&title=Director%20of%20National%20Intelligence%20Creates%20%E2%80%9CElection%20Threats%20Executive%E2%80%9D>
Posted in campaigns<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, voting technology<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40>
"Trump's Supreme Court Challenge Has a Historical Precedent"<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106500>
Posted on July 19, 2019 10:43 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=106500> by Justin Levitt<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=4>

Pacific Standard notes yet another connection<https://psmag.com/social-justice/trumps-supreme-court-challenge-has-a-historical-precedent> to Andrew Jackson, in the overtime chaos of the Census case.
[Share]<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D106500&title=%E2%80%9CTrump%E2%80%99s%20Supreme%20Court%20Challenge%20Has%20a%20Historical%20Precedent%E2%80%9D>
Posted in census litigation<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=125>

Justin Levitt   (he/him/his)
Associate Dean for Research
Professor of Law / Gerald T. McLaughlin Fellow

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