In the News
Huffington Post: North Dakota Election: National Group Sues To Overturn Election Day Campaigning Ban
By John CelockA conservative group that helped lead the legal battle that would eventually allow for the creation of super PACs is now working to overturn North Dakota’s ban on election day campaigning, arguing it violates the First Amendment.
Associated Press: Ex-GOP leader fights ND Election Day campaign ban
By DALE WETZELEmineth, who has several signs in his yard in Lincoln, just southeast of Bismarck, said the ban was “something that’s kind of bugged me for a long time.” He didn’t think about suing, however, until he became aware of the Center for Competitive Politics, a Virginia organization that challenges what it regards as unreasonable election restrictions.
CCP
CCP Files Election-Day Free Speech Challenge in North Dakota
By Sarah LeeALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Center for Competitive Politics filed a lawsuit today in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, challenging a state ban on “electioneering on election day.” The complaint states that the ban, which prohibits all election-day attempts to “induce or persuade” any North Dakota resident to vote a particular way, is a prior restraint on speech and unconstitutional under the First Amendment.
Independent groups
Center for Public Integrity: Christian college asks for refund of donation to super PAC
By Andrea FullerThis past summer, Brewer spoke at the Western Conservative Summit, hosted by the institute and the university. According to Andrews, the college wanted to thank the governor for her appearance and her representatives requested a donation to the PAC.
Politico: Allen West plagued by scam PACs
By Jonathan Martin and Alexander BurnsThe Florida Republican’s campaign has sent cease-and-desist letters to a number of the groups and filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission, copies of which the campaign shared with POLITICO. But the organizations have been only mildly deterred and some continue to raise funds for themselves with marketing that would suggest they represent the actual campaign.
ProPublica: The Campaign Finance Free-For-All: How We Got to This Point
By Justin ElliotIn a forthcoming law review article, Richard Briffault of Columbia Law School argues that the rise of super PACs and unfettered contributions and spending this election cycle are “effectively ending the post-Watergate era of campaign finance laws.”
SCOTUS/Judiciary
Reuters: Court leaves in place Montana caps on campaign contributions
By Laura ZuckermanThe move by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld and extended a ruling it issued last week that temporarily reinstated Montana’s right to regulate campaign contributions, after a lower court struck down the restrictions earlier this month.
Corporations
CNBC: Can Employers Tell Their Workers How to Vote?
By Robert FrankA flurry of emails from CEOs telling workers how to vote in November has raised a troubling question: Can a company legally tell workers how to vote?
Candidates and parties
Reuters: Round two over, Obama and Romney back to campaign trail
By Deborah Charles and Susan HeaveyWith 20 days to go until the November 6 election, the candidates’ vice presidential running mates blanketed the morning television talk shows to claim victory in the second U.S. presidential debate on Tuesday evening.
