State of Texas v. Women: is Texas violating the 19th Amendment?
September 10, 2014
By Dru Tigner
What do Greg Abbott, Wendy Davis, State Senator Letitia Van De Putte, Former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright, and U.S. District Court Judge Sandra Watts all have in common? They all apparently have high potential for committing voting fraud– at lest according to the State of Texas. All five of these prominent Texas leaders were hassled by the new Texas Voter ID Law this past November.
It has been a concern for those opposed to the Voter ID Law that it will make it difficult for individuals to obtain appropriate identification, and thus poor, elderly, and minority voters will be disenfranchised because they lack appropriate identification. However, it seems that one distinct group that also may be affected are people whose photo ID’s don’t match the name that is recorded in the voter rolls.
Election law topics will be featured at 27th annual Supreme Court Preview
September 10, 2014
On Saturday, September 20 the Institute of Bill of Rights Law at William & Mary Law School will hold its 27th annual Supreme Court Preview. The event features a lunchtime breakout panel “The Court and Election Law” with Paul Smith (Jenner, argued Vieth, LULAC, and Florida redistricting cases), Pam Karlan (DOJ, Stanford), and Erin Murphy (Bancroft, argued McCutcheon). The session will cover race and redistricting, Section 2 voter ID and early voting cases, and campaign finance. In addition, a morning panel on civil rights cases before the Court will include a discussion of Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama. The Preview congregates judges, former solicitors general, Supreme Court advocates, and prominent Court journalists to discuss the upcoming term. Those interested in attending can find more information and register for the event here.
Link: Professor Rebecca Green on Mississippi
July 6, 2014
Rebecca Green, co-director of William & Mary’s Election Law Program, has written an insightful article on the upshots for election transparency seen in ongoing Mississippi election campaigns. The post is shared on Professor Rick Hassen’s excellent Election Law Blog.
Permalink: https://stateofelecdev.wpengine.com/2014/07/06/070614/
Aftermath of McCutcheon on state election laws
April 16, 2014
http://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2014/04/in-the-wake-of-mccutcheon/
Recap: Rethinking DC Representation in Congress
April 8, 2014
By Allison Davis, Reporter.
William & Mary’s Election Law Program and DC Vote co-hosted a symposium on Rethinking DC Representation in Congress on February 21, 2014 in Washington, DC. The symposium impaneled several highly regarded Constitutional law experts and voting rights advocates. (more…)
McCutcheon ruling and state election laws
April 5, 2014
What is the impact of McCutcheon on state campaign finance laws? We’re starting to see some glimpses of what might be coming down the pipeline now that the Supreme Court has ruled aggregate limits on donations unconstitutional:
http://www.reuters.com/
Ken Gross and Allison Davis (WM Law ’16) are featured discussing the possible impacts of McCutcheon on state campaign finance laws in the Election Law Program’s latest module at www.electionlawissues.org.
Election Law Symposium speaker gives interview on possible future of campaign finance
April 3, 2014
By Sarah Wiley
On Thursday February 27, William and Mary Law School hosted its Eighth Annual Election Law Symposium, featuring three preeminent attorneys in the field who gave a talk on the possible effects of McCutcheon v. FEC on campaign finance. Before the symposium itself, however, one of the panelists, Kenneth Gross (partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate & Flom LLP & Affiliates) sat down for an interview with ELS Symposium Co-Chair 1L Allison Davis.
In the interview, Mr. Gross explained that modern campaign finance law emerged in the wake of the Watergate scandals in the early 1970s. The first major case, Buckley v. Valeo, established the principle that political contributions are speech, so the government needs a pretty compelling reason to regulate them. The case drew a distinction between independent expenditures, which cannot be regulated, and political contributions which can, to an extent. (more…)
February 26, 2014
Mr. Kenneth A. Gross is a former associate general counsel for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and is now a partner at Skadden where he leads the political law practice, and advises corporations on political given. He will be one of three speakers at William & Mary on Thursday, February 27 on the impact of McCutchen on political giving.
2014 Election Law Symposium Spotlight: Lawrence Noble
February 24, 2014
Mr. Lawrence “Larry” Noble is a highly regarded attorney and authority in the field of election law. In particular, his work in campaign ethics and finance is frequently referenced. He will speak at William & Mary this Thursday, Feb. 27th, on the state of political giving post-McCutcheon. (more…)
Ongoing: Election Law Program presents Rethinking DC Representation in Congress
February 21, 2014
From the press release:
The William & Mary Election Law Program will convene leading election law practitioners, scholars, and politicians in Washington, D.C., on February 21 for a program titled “Rethinking D.C. Representation in Congress.”
“This symposium draws together a group of highly prestigious thought leaders to re-ignite the question of Congressional representation for residents of the District of Columbia” said Rebecca Green, Co-Director of the Election Law Program at William & Mary. (more…)