The Bulletin in Philadelphia has the details of a recent hearing of the state legislature on redistricting reform. There are 3 bills currently in the legislature that deal with reform. Testimony on the bill came from Pennsylvania’s League of Women Voters and Common Cause. According to the article, “The hearing focused on the issue of… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Rose Institute
Rick Hasen, Debra Bowen: "Protecting the Right to Vote"
Via Rick Hasen’s Election Law blog: he’ll be at an interesting event with Secretary of State Debra Bowen tomorrow in San Diego: The San Diego Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society presents “Protecting the Right to Vote,†featuring The Honorable Debra Bowen, California Secretary of State; and Richard L. Hasen, William H. Hannon Distinguished… Continue Reading
California Primary Turnout Press
Speaking of Feb. 5 turnout numbers… Dan Walters reports on turnout over at Capitol Alert: The final numbers are in, and they reaffirm the almost uncanny accuracy of the Field Poll’s prediction that 56.6 percent of California’s registered voters would cast ballots… Frank D. Russo of the California Progress Report breaks down some of the… Continue Reading
Final Feb. 5 Turnout Numbers: Rose Report(ed) Right
After a month of counting (and some significant vote-counting issues), the official canvass of the vote is finally available, if you can find your way around the Secretary of State’s website. We can save you the adventure: The final numbers confirm what on February 28th we posted here on the Rose Report: the official turnout… Continue Reading
Steven Maviglio Attacks Common Cause
On the California Majority Report Speaker Nunez’ spokesman Steven Maviglio criticized Common Cause and their Democratic allies on the Voters First redistricting initiative. Maviglio promises a critique of the initiative’s “problems” in the future, while focusing his current criticism on the initiative’s funders: “If you go to the Secretary of State’s website, www.ss.ca.gov, you’ll see… Continue Reading
State Senator Abel Maldonado (R-15) Unopposed By Democrats
State Senator Abel Maldonado (R-15) represents as close to a competitive district as exists in California (Democrats outnumber Republicans 40% to 37% in registration, and John Kerry won the district in 2004, 53% to 46%). The Senator must be a happy man now that no Democratic candidate filed to run against him this November. The… Continue Reading
Voting Rights Act Case To Affect California Congressional Districts
Yesterday, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear Bartlett v. Strickland, a Section 2 Voting Rights Act case with potentially major implications for California’s African American members of Congress. The North Carolina case poses the question whether a group that constitutes less than 50 percent of a district’s population can state a vote dilution claim… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Rules Open Primary Constitutional UPDATED
In a 7-2 surprise, the US Supreme Court ruled in Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party that Washington’s open primary law is constitutional. This opens the door to an expected revival of California’s open primary law. Expect drafting and fundraising to start in many corners of the state within 24 hours! UPDATE Dan… Continue Reading
Dr. Ralph Rossum on Tribal Sovereignty
From Hsin-Yin Lee’s article in the Washington Times: …Ralph Rossum, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College in California, argued that the Constitution protects tribal sovereignty. He said in the Sacramento Bee that the Supreme Court should intervene and “repudiate [lower courts’] departures from clear and controlling precedents, and perform its historic role of protecting… Continue Reading
Douglas M. Johnson on Portantino's "Punishment"
From Alison Hewitt’s article in the Pasadena Star-News: Doug Johnson, a fellow at the Rose Institute for State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College, said punishment was the likelier of two explanations for the move. “It’s a question of whether, are they punishing him, which is probable, or is there some early supporter of… Continue Reading