12:30-1:30pm PM Chart Room, Fairhaven Commons, 2nd Floor, Fairhaven College
Race, Class, and Voter IDs in the 2008 Presidential Election
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court upheld an Indiana state law requiring all voters to present ID prior to voting. Though seemingly neutral in their language, voter ID laws have a disparate impact along race and class lines. The Supreme Court's decision could have a significant impact in an election where the Democratic candidate expects to mobilize large numbers of minority voters. This talk will touch on the potential role of the Court's decision in the election as well as using the conflict over voter IDs as a window into how considerations of race and class will influence the strategic calculations of both parties.
2:00-3:20pm Arntzen Hall 219
Bush v. Gore in 2008: Courts, Law, and the Presidential Election
The prominent role of the Supreme Court in the 2000 election surprised many observers who expected the Court to stay out of electoral politics. Courts, however, have been playing an increasing role in election-related litigation as political candidates, parties, and interest groups have turned to the judiciary to resolve disputes about who can vote, how votes should be counted, and who can run. Given the increased rate of election litigation over the last two election cycles, what can we expect in 2008? What areas are litigants focused on and in what ways are courts influencing the outcomes of elections? While the circumstances of Bush v. Gore were unique, the reliance on courts as yet another electoral battlefield is a trend that is not likely to disappear anytime soon
Chris Shortell is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Portland State University. He writes and teaches on the relationship between law and the broader political system, with a particular focus on the interactions between law and society, law and elections, and federalism. His recent publications include Rights, Remedies, and the Impact of State Sovereign Immunity (SUNY Press) and articles in Election Law Journal and Judicature. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego in 2004.
All election law students will be required to attend the 12:30 - 2:30 talk by Dr. Shortell.
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