California Special Election and Redistricting News

Via Rough & Tumble, the following articles and commentaries on the special election and Proposition 77 appeared today:

Gov., Lawmakers Still Miles Apart on Ballot Measures (LA Times)

New districts possible for June 2006 vote If Prop. 77 passes, secretary of state sees quick implementation (SF Chronicle, noting that this was "an abrupt shift of direction" for McPherson) -- in somewhat related news, the Sacramento Bee offers McPherson might run: Details later

Daniel Weintraub: Now the real debate over Proposition 77 can begin (Sacramento Bee) --- I agree with Weintraub that the Prop. 77 issue before the California Supreme Court was a "close one," though I don't think he's right that "Historically, the courts have given wide latitude to the initiative process, letting a wide range of mishaps go as long as sponsors have 'substantially complied' with the law." I'll be writing more about this soon.

Jack Kemp Supports Renewed Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act

Over at Town Hall, Jack Kemp writes The Voting Rights Act Turns 40. A snippet:

Section 5, the so-called "temporary" or "special" provisions, which gave the federal government extraordinary "emergency" powers to eliminate voter discrimination, even had to be used in some parts of the North. This part of the statute required nine states and 66 counties in seven others with a long history of voter discrimination to pre-clear all voting procedures and laws, including redistricting plans and moving a polling station, with the U.S. Department of Justice. That section originally was intended to last no more than about five years because of its extraordinary nature, in effect pre-empting the Constitution's vesting of voting laws and procedures. I agree with Lewis, however, that problems remain, and Section 5 should be reauthorized in 2007 when it expires.

See also this oped by Kent Willis.

Patterico Responds

Following up on this post, Patterico responds.

-- 
Rick Hasen
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
919 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