Posted: July 21, 2016
Michigan Federal Judge Blocks Law Prohibiting Straight Ticket Voting
U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain issued an opinion blocking enforcement of a Michigan law prohibiting straight-ticket voting. This voting method allows voters to easily select the entire slate of candidates on the ballot from a particular party. Michigan abolished straight-ticket voting by enacting a law effective in January. In granting the plaintffs\' motion for a preliminary injunction, Judge Drain determined that the law \"presents a disproportionate burden on African-Americans\' right to vote.\" The case is Michigan State A. Philip Randolph Institute v. Johnson.
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Commentary
Gerrymandering as Viewpoint Discrimination: A "Functional Equivalence" Test
Edward B. Foley
A First Amendment test for identifying when a map is functionally equivalent to a facially discriminatory statute.
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