[EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/15/19

Fri Nov 15 08:25:13 PST 2019

“Democrats could pick up seats in Congress under proposed North Carolina map”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108092>
Posted on November 15, 2019 8:17 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108092> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

News & Observer:<https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article237362384.html>

The new map that started advancing on Thursday would likely have an 8-5 Republican advantage. U.S. Rep. GK Butterfield, a Wilson Democrat, said Democrats have little chance of winning a sixth seat.

“To have a fair map we need a 6-7 map or a 7-6 map or a 6-6-1 map. Those would be fair maps,” said Butterfield, who had copies of the map printed out and showed them to other members of the congressional delegation at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. “This appears on the face of it to be a 5-8 map which doesn’t quite get us where we need to go.”
Democrats at the legislature were also unhappy that there weren’t more competitive districts.
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Posted in redistricting<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>

“Bloomberg Will Spend $100 Million on Anti-Trump Online Ad Blitz”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108089>
Posted on November 15, 2019 7:58 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108089> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports.<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-2020-ads.html?emc=rss&partner=rss>
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Posted in campaign finance<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, Plutocrats United<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=104>

Another Hofeller Bombshell: Hofeller Was Communicating with DOJ Officials to Approve Letter Regarding Citizenship Question on the Census, Meaning DOJ Officials Likely Lied<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108087>
Posted on November 14, 2019 4:44 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108087> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

I’ll update this post with a link to the full filing when I have it. (Update: the document is here.<https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6549950-Nov-14-2019-Letter-Motion-for-Leave-to-File-Sur.html>) In the meantime, here is a key tweet <https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195137404207869952> from Jonathan Topaz:
[cid:image002.jpg at 01D59B8E.336499F0]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
Jonathan Topaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
✔@JonathanTopaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>

 · 15h<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195136037560995840>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195136037560995840>

Replying to @JonathanTopaz and 3 others<https://twitter.com/_/status/1195134803240275968>

Needless to say, after more than a year of dishonesty from the Trump Administration ... we have a lot of questions that need to be answered. Now.
[View image on Twitter]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195136037560995840/photo/1>
[cid:image002.jpg at 01D59B8E.336499F0]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
Jonathan Topaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
✔@JonathanTopaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>

This is the email that Secretary Ross' top adviser sent to Hofeller, asking him to "[p]lease make certain that this language is correct" for DOJ's letter requesting a citizenship question.

"Dale" is Dale Oldham, Hofeller's business partner and Republican gerrymandering expert.
[View image on Twitter]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195137404207869952/photo/1>
<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1195137404207869952>
362<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1195137404207869952>
4:32 PM - Nov 14, 2019<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195137404207869952>
Twitter Ads info and privacy<https://support.twitter.com/articles/20175256>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195137404207869952>
122 people are talking about this<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195137404207869952>

[cid:image002.jpg at 01D59B8E.336499F0]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
Jonathan Topaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
✔@JonathanTopaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>

 · 16h<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195132665202130945>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195132665202130945>

Replying to @JonathanTopaz and 3 others<https://twitter.com/_/status/1195130665940992002>

Months ago, DOJ told a federal court that our description of Hofeller's essential role in adding a citizenship question was "a conspiracy theory."

Now, we know that Secretary Ross' top adviser asked for Hofeller's explicit blessing on language that he sent straight to DOJ.
[cid:image002.jpg at 01D59B8E.336499F0]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
Jonathan Topaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>
✔@JonathanTopaz<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz>

MORE: Newly-released deposition testimony shows that Hofeller, for years, was obsessed with adding a citizenship question to aid "the Republican redistricting effort."
[View image on Twitter]<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195133896930865152/photo/1>
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764<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1195133896930865152>
4:18 PM - Nov 14, 2019<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195133896930865152>
Twitter Ads info and privacy<https://support.twitter.com/articles/20175256>
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342 people are talking about this<https://twitter.com/JonathanTopaz/status/1195133896930865152>

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Posted in census litigation<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=125>, chicanery<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>

Challenges Coming to Canada’s Minimum Voting Age<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108085>
Posted on November 14, 2019 3:10 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108085> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Release:<https://aspercentre.ca/news-release-asper-centre-and-justice-for-children-and-youth-organize-youth-consultations-for-legal-challenge-to-canadas-voting-age/>

 In partnership with several child rights organizations, Justice for Children and Youth<https://jfcy.org/en/about-us/> (JFCY) and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights<https://aspercentre.ca/> (Asper Centre) have secured case development funding from the Court Challenges Program, which helps finance cases of national significance related to constitutional human rights issues. They will be hosting a consultation for children and youth to inform a legal challenge against Canada’s minimum voting age.
The consultation is designed to hear from children and youth on the voting age and determine a legal approach to a constitutional challenge that both respects and represents their interests. If you are interested in joining the consultations, reach out to the Asper Centre through the contact information provided below.
Section 3<https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-15.html> of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is clear that all Canadian citizens are allowed to vote. JFCY and the Asper Centre will be working with other child rights organizations and young people to challenge section 3 of the Canada Elections Act, which prevents citizens under the age of 18 from voting in federal elections, on the grounds that the voting age requirement is unconstitutional.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“Did the contested Kentucky election reveal Republicans’ strategy for 2020?”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108083>
Posted on November 14, 2019 11:56 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108083> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Steven Rosenfeld for Salon.<https://www.salon.com/2019/11/14/did-the-contested-kentucky-election-reveal-republicans-strategy-for-2020_partner/>
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“More than 150 Civil Rights Groups Demand Comprehensive Voting Rights Reform”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108081>
Posted on November 14, 2019 11:39 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108081> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Release:<https://civilrights.org/2019/11/14/more-than-150-civil-rights-groups-demand-comprehensive-voting-rights-reform/>

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and 150 other civil rights organizations released their policy platform, “Vision for Democracy: Fortifying the Franchise in 2020 and Beyond<http://civilrightsdocs.info/pdf/voting/Vision-For-Democracy.pdf>” today, marking the overwhelming support for comprehensive voting rights reform within the civil rights community. The platform offers concrete policy recommendations to public officials, policy makers, and candidates for the 2020 state and federal elections and proposes a unified vision for ensuring that Americans have a strong, functioning democracy.

The platform outlines six major pillars of reform, including preventing barriers to the ballot box; ending felony disenfranchisement; expanding voter registration; increasing voter participation and access; strengthening election security; and creating structural reform. It also calls on federal elected officials to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act – two major legislative measures proposed in the 116th Congress to kick start comprehensive fixes to our democracy.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“Ranked-choice voting and the future of small-d democracy in New York”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108078>
Posted on November 14, 2019 11:26 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108078> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Jack Santucci oped <https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-ranked-choice-voting-and-small-d-democracy-20191114-b4yhi6orofg2tg7t7on3jieabe-story.html> in NYDN.
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Posted in alternative voting systems<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=63>

“Would a Bigger Legislature Mean a Smaller Government for California?”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108076>
Posted on November 14, 2019 11:23 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108076> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Reason:<https://reason.com/2019/11/12/would-a-bigger-legislature-mean-a-smaller-government-for-california/>

Putting voters back in charge of the state government requires having more representatives in Sacramento, activists argue. Their lawsuit was launched by a coalition that includes the California Libertarian Party, the Marin County Green Party, a group of Native Americans, and secessionists who have sought for years to form a new state, Jefferson, out of portions of northern California and southern Oregon. Former federal judge Alex Kozinski is helping litigate the case.
The effort faces an undeniably daunting path forward, in part because courts have been generally unwilling to adjudicate questions of political representation. (The same reluctance has stymied legal efforts to restrict gerrymandering, the practice of drawing legislative districts to benefit one political party over another.) But the activists pushing for more representation in California’s legislature argue that the state’s current legislative framework disenfranchises minorities, including Native Americans and Hispanics—a claim that has convinced federal courts to intervene in gerrymandering cases—as well as anyone who lives outside the state’s population centers.
A federal district court tossed the case in 2018, but the activists are now appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, with oral arguments likely to occur later this year or in early 2020. A victory there could send the case back to the lower court for a hearing on the merits.
The state is again trying to get the case dismissed. “Even if a federal court possessed the authority to increase the number of state legislative districts in California, there are no judicially discernible and manageable standards” for deciding how many seats are appropriate, attorneys for Alex Padilla, California’s secretary of state, argued in a brief filed in August.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

Bevins Concedes<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108074>
Posted on November 14, 2019 11:21 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=108074> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
[cid:image006.jpg at 01D59B8E.336499F0]<https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid>
<https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid>
Reid Wilson<https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid>
✔@PoliticsReid<https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid>

<https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid/status/1195058347768242177>

KY Gov. Matt Bevin conceding defeat to AG Andy Beshear, press conference happening now - https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/14/recanvass-kentucky-governors-race-between-bevin-and-beshear-begins/4189206002/ …<https://t.co/5y8w6kkbbA>
<https://t.co/5y8w6kkbbA>
[cid:image007.jpg at 01D59B8E.336499F0]<https://t.co/5y8w6kkbbA>
Kentucky governor's race recanvass begins: Follow along here<https://t.co/5y8w6kkbbA>

All 120 county boards of elections began a recanvass of the votes in Kentucky's race for governor at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, at the request of Bevin<https://t.co/5y8w6kkbbA>
courier-journal.com<https://t.co/5y8w6kkbbA>

<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1195058347768242177>
75<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1195058347768242177>
11:18 AM - Nov 14, 2019<https://twitter.com/PoliticsReid/status/1195058347768242177>
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

--
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>
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http://electionlawblog.org<http://electionlawblog.org/>

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