[EL] Electionlawblog news and commentary 12/17/10

"Democrat Loses Bid to Upset Certification of State Senate Seat"

NY Law Journal offers this report.

"Top attorney on House ethics committee resigns"

WaPo reports.

UPDATE: The headline on this article, now updated, reads: "Ethics probe of Rep. Waters derailed by infighting, sources say."

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:38 PM

Federal District Court Grants Motion to Dismiss in Kinston, North Carolina Voting Case

See this AP story and this statement from the Campaign Legal Center, in which Gerry Hebert attributes the dismissal to a lack of standing. I've posted the court's one-page order, which promises an opinion explaining the decision to soon follow.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:35 PM

Jay Weiner's Wrap Up on the 2010 Minnesota Gubernatorial Recount

Here.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:30 PM

"Party-Switchers Beware: It Ain't Easy"

The Fix explains.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:27 PM

"The most diverse state redistricting body ever"

That's Gerry Hebert's description of the Prop. 11 California redistricting commission.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:24 PM

Electionline Weekly on Minnesota, Connecticut Recounts

Here.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:21 PM

"Obama's see-no-evil, do-nothing Justice Department ignores voting rights"

J. Christian Adams has written this oped for the Wash. Examiner.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:19 PM

Ilinois Business Journal Point/Counterpoint on Judicial Elections

See here from pages 4-8.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:15 PM

Read Joe Miller's Reply Brief in Alaska Supreme Court Case

This is the last brief to be filed before oral argument Friday afternoon. I would anticipate a decision some time next week, perhaps with a promise of a longer opinion to follow.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:09 PM

FEC Splits Along Party Lines 3-3 in Failing to Approve Advisory Opinion Involving Citizens United

According to this press release, "In Advisory Opinion 2010-30 (Citizens United), the Commission could not render an opinion on whether the proposed rental of email lists to federal candidates, authorized committees, political party committees or other political committees for emails soliciting contributions or inviting recipients to fundraisers would constitute a prohibited corporate facilitation of contributions. The Commission did agree, however, that the proposed rental program would not result in either a coordinated expenditure or a coordinated communication. The Commission directed the Office of the General Counsel to redraft the advisory opinion reflecting these conclusions."

Congratulations to Commissioners Bauerly and Hunter, who were elected as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission for next year (that was on a unanimous vote!).

MORE: This BNA report gives more flavor of the partisan tensions on the committee evident at today's meeting.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 05:03 PM

More on IRS Treatment of Allegedly Political (c)(4)s

See pages 19-20 of this IRS publication.

Posted by Rick Hasen at 04:57 PM

December 16, 2010