Subject: Electionlawblog news and commentary 1/24/06
From: Rick Hasen
Date: 1/24/2006, 6:40 AM
To: election-law

Coverage of Supreme Court's WRTL Campaign Finance Decision

See New York Times; Washington Post; A.P.; law.com; USA Today, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Washington Times; BNA (paid subscription required); Bob Bauer; Allison Hayward; the Lonely Centrist.


"Supreme Court Ruling Could Spur Partisan Judicial Campaigns; Justices void restrictions on Minnesota judges' soliciting of money and declaring party ties. Effect of the decision could spread"

The Los Angeles Times offers this report.


"'Dead Last' in Voting Reform"

The NY Times offers this editorial.


Lobbying Reform Update

The Los Angeles Times offers Distance Grows From K Street to the Capitol; Lobbyists are getting a cooler response from lawmakers waving the banner of ethics reform.. The New York Times offers Amid Scandals, States Overhaul Lobbying Laws. The Washington Post offers Closed-Door Deal Makes $22 Billion Difference.


"Diebold fate hinges on internal fixes; If voting software cannot be changed, then none of their systems may be allowed in state elections"

The Oakland Tribune offers this report.


"Time to Get Private Money Out of Public Policy"

George Skelton offers this LA Times column, with the subhead: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger already was a poster boy for why we need real campaign finance reform in California. And now he has created a poster girl: Susan Kennedy."


"Supreme Court refuses to hear voting rights case"

Indian Country Today offers this report, which begins: "The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from the state of South Dakota on a Voting Rights Act violation. Subject to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act which requires pre-clearance for changes to voting laws, the state asked the high court to accept their appeal to review that section and possibly limit its scope."


"Who's Playing Politics? It's the Left, not the Right, that's out of order in Texas.

Edward Blum, Roger Clegg & Abigail Thernstrom offer this National Review Online commentary on controversies over the Justice Department's handling of voting rights cases.


Restricting the Flow of Election Results in the Internet Era? Look North

The Canadian Broadcast Service offers this fascinating report, which begins: "When radio and television begin reporting election results region by region on Monday night, CBC.ca and other websites will be handcuffed by federal law: No results till 10 p.m. ET...By law, results cannot be transmitted to parts of the country where polls remain open. Elections Canada believes results from Atlantic and Central Canada could influence the way people in Western Canada vote. That means that websites – which by their nature can be seen anywhere in the country – can't post figures until the polls close in the West. In practical terms, however, it isn't clear how the law can stop the flow of information via the internet, BlackBerries, e-mail and satellite TV and radio."


"Judge rejects new election law; Action leaves La.'s congressional primaries in Nov., runoffs in December"

2theavocate.com offers this report, which begins: "A judge on Monday shot down a new Louisiana law that set federal primaries in October in hopes of shoring up the state's power in Washington, D.C."



"The Right to Vote"

Jesse Jackson, Jr. [corrected from Sr.], has this oped in The Nation.

-- 
Rick Hasen
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211
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rick.hasen@lls.edu
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