"Puerto Ricans dealt blow in U.S. presidential vote"

AP offers this report, which begins: "The Supreme Court turned down an appeal Monday that sought to open U.S. presidential elections to voters in Puerto Rico." Thanks to Ed Still for the link.

"Pastors' Get-Out-the-Vote Training Could Test Tax Rules"

The NY Times offers this report, which begins: "Weeks after the Internal Revenue Service announced a crackdown on political activities by churches and other tax-exempt organizations, a coalition of nonprofit conservative groups is holding training sessions to enlist Pennsylvania pastors in turning out voters for the November elections."

"Social Science and 'Appearance' in Campaign Finance Reform"

Bob Bauer offers this post at More Soft Money, Hard Law.

"At Schwarzenegger fundfest, fingers point at McCain"

The San Francisco Chronicle offers this report, which begins: "A high-priced fundraiser Monday night in Beverly Hills for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger featured special guest Sen. John McCain of Arizona, whose appearance Democrats and some government watchdogs say skirted the federal campaign finance law he helped enact. McCain, the maverick Republican who once called Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' fundraising conduct 'disgraceful,' was the star attraction at an event that allowed guests who contributed or raised $100,000 or $50,000 to take photos with the governor and attend a private reception, according to the invitations."

"Campaign Donation Plan May Not Work, Critics Say"

The Austin American-Statesman offers this report, on Austin's apparently failed experiment with $100 contribution limits in local races.

"Bet on a Bet but Not on a Ballot"

Richard Morin has written this column for the Washington Post. It begins: "It's easier to rig an electronic voting machine than a Las Vegas slot machine, says University of Pennsylvania visiting professor Steve Freeman." See also How to Steal an Election, a chart comparing security for Las Vegas slot machines with DREs. Thanks to Bill Corbett for the link.

"Bloggers push politics aside in fight against FEC; It's a case of strange bedfellows, as liberals and conservatives unite against rules that could rein in political blogs."

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune offers this report. You can find my earlier commentaries on this issue here, here and here. The election law listserv is currently having a contentious debate on the question (including the competing House bills, 1606 and 4900). You can access the postings by following this thread.
UPDATE: Writing on the election law listserv, Adam Bonin observes the following (reprinted with permission):

There is at least one (oft-repeated) inaccuracy in that MST article. Re "The bloggers were being paid by the Thune campaign, but that didn't come out until Thune's campaign made an FEC filing after the election, which Thune won".

That the Thune bloggers were paid was disclosed:

(a) in FEC filings as early as the second-quarter 2004 report: http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/4/4/11593/26253/61#c61
(b) in an August 9 article in the Argus-Leader: http://www.southdakotaelections.com/Story.cfm?Type=Election&ID=2713

I think I'm unfortunately responsible for leading the reporter astray on this point. Thanks to Adam for the correction.

-- 
Rick Hasen
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street
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rick.hasen@lls.edu
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http://electionlawblog.org