Alternative Vote (AKA Instant Runoff Voting) Poised for Resounding Defeat in U.K. National Referendum

The Telegraph's last poll had the measure being defeated 39-61 percent. Follow real-time results here.

Ronald Dworkin Blogs on McComish Case

Here, accompanying this article in the NY Review of Books.

"Hiding Behind the Tax Code, the Dark Election of 2010 and Why Tax-Exempt Entities Should Be Subject to Robust Federal Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws"

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

f the past is prologue, we should anticipate a marked increase in the use of non-profits to mask for-profit money in politics. History shows that for-profit corporations spend through non-profits to enjoy their anonymity while spending without accountability from shareholders or customers. And Citizens United may only expand this corporate habit of spending through intermediaries. If for-profit corporations are purposefully using non-profits to hide the true source of their funds, then it is possible that the degree of disclosure required of non-profits in the future may have an impact on whether for-profits give money to ideological and politically active non-profits.

Citizens United changed many aspects of American campaign finance law. The Supreme Court's decision ended decades-old restrictions on the use of union and corporate treasury funds to pay for independent expenditures and electioneering communications. But the one area where the Citizens United Court increased the ability of Congress to regulate was the disclosure of the sources of money in politics. Indeed, the Supreme Court found that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002’s (BCRA's) disclaimer and disclosure provisions could be constitutionally applied to the plaintiff in Citizens United, a 501(c)(4) organization, as well as to its ads and its film entitled "Hillary: The Movie."

As Citizens United reaffirms, in order for voters to make informed choices at the ballot box, they must know who is paying for each side of a political fight. Campaign finance disclosure and disclaimer laws should be adopted at the federal level to achieve this end, regardless of the tax status of the spender. Yet the question remains, how expansive is this governmental right to mandate disclosure? And in particular, what types of disclosure can non-profit social welfare organizations or trade associations be subject to in the future once they purchase political advertisements? These are the questions that this article will endeavor to answer.

Sen. Susan Collins Severely Criticizes Proposed Executive Order on Contractor Disclosure

In this WSJ column by Kimberly Strassel, Sen. Collins, a co-sponsor of McCain-Feingold, calls the proposed EO "Orwellian." A counterpoint from the LA Times editorial page: "Government contractors can argue that they are being singled out. The easy remedy for that is to require that all contributions to all groups that engage in political activities be made public. Requiring disclosure by contractors is a first step, but it doesn't have to be the last."

"Charles Zelden: Changes in election law remind us of another era Read more: Charles Zelden: Changes in election law remind us of another era"

See this oped. See also Bill Nelson Warns Rick Scott to Veto Election Bill or Face a Federal Investigation.

"When Capitalists Need Socialist Workers"

Steve Hoersting on the costs of disclosure.

"Eductators: Congress Needs Law Clerks"

The National Law Journal offers this report.

"Wisconsin Recall Deadline: Where Things Stand"

The Fix reports.

"Shareholders Push for Transparency in Political Spending"

This item appears at California Watch.

"Prince William Co. Seeks Bailout from Voting-Rights Rules"

The Washington Times offers this report.

"Data Dispatches: Exploring the Census' Voting & Registration Supplement"

Charles Stewart and Andreas Westgaard have written the lead story in this week's Electionline Weekly.

"Fundraising for '12 Elections Sets Fast Pace"

The Texas Tribune (via NYT) offers this report.

"Nevada GOP Files Lawsuit Over Special Election Ruling"

Hotline on Call reports.

"Wisconsin Assembly Special Election result: Voter Turnout numbers as precursor?"

This item appears at the Recall Elections Blog.

"Court puts Carl Lewis back on NJ primary ballot"

AP offers this report about this order from the Third Circuit (via Howard).

"Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White Releases Rokita Report"

This item, with links to the Report, appears on Secretary White's official website.