news of the day 11/30/04

"The New Palm Beach"

The Sacramento Bee offers this editorial, which begins: "On Election Day in San Diego, more citizens went to the polls to vote for Donna Frye for mayor than for incumbent Dick Murphy. Nonetheless, when all the votes a judge ruled could be counted were counted, it was Murphy who declared victory this week. That is a travesty."

"Step Toward Election Standards"

The Los Angeles Times offers this editorial, which calls on Congress to "set basic certification and oversight procedures" for electronic voting. The Times does not seem to be aware of the existence of the Election Assistance Commission, created after the Florida 2000 debacle in the Help America Vote Act of 2002. In Roll Call, Amy Keller writes "EAC to Continue Pursuing Voting Flaws" (paid subscription required).

"Most City Incumbents Opt Out of Spending Limit"

The Los Angeles Times offers this report.

"Electronic Voting 1.0, and No Time to Upgrade"

James Fallows writes this New York Times article. Link via Ed Still.

"Ohio Recount Taxes the Voters"

Fritz Wenzel offers this column in the Toledo Blade.

"Funding Law May Help Possible Hutchison Bid"

A.P. offers this report, which begins: " U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's possible gubernatorial bid could get a $6.7 million campaign boost if a provision tucked into a spending bill by congressional negotiators becomes law. The provision reverses a Federal Election Commission interpretation that barred members of Congress from transferring federal campaign funds to a state race." UPDATE: Roll Call reports (paid subscription required) that "[w]ithout floor debate or a single hearing, Congress changed election laws last week to allow Members to transfer campaign funds raised for a federal race to a run for state or local office."

Supreme Court Summarily Affirms New York Redistricting Case

According to today's order, only Justice Stevens would have set the case for argument.

Supreme Court Denies Cert in Albuquerque Campaign Finance Case

The A.P. story is here. There were no reported votes for cert. I predicted this cert denial here.

Analysis from Mike McDonald

He has written an oped, The numbers prove that 2004 may signal more voter interest for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. And those who enjoyed his initial analysis of the Berkeley electronic voting study may wish to look at his more extensive analysis here. This should be updated again in a few days.

"Inmate Wants Voting Access Whle in Jail"

The Fresno Bee offers this report. Thanks to Peter Wagner for the link.

Bauer on Breyer's Campaign Finance Theories

Bob Bauer has just posted these extensive thoughts on Justice Breyer's views of campaign finance jurisprudence, as expressed most recently in his Tanner Lectures.

"Plenty of Individual Contributions"

Larry Noble and Steve Weiss write this Miami Herald oped on campaign finance. A snippet: "Elections certainly are growing more expensive, and deep-pocketed donors continue to wield a disproportionate amount of influence in Washington. But a closer examination of the numbers also reveals a more-uplifting trend -- the rise of the individual donor."

-- 
Rick Hasen
Professor of Law and William M. Rains Fellow
Loyola Law School
919 South Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211
(213)736-1466
(213)380-3769 - fax
rick.hasen@lls.edu
http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org