Check out SDRI Senior Counsel @derekclinger.bsky.social's latest @statecourtreport.org piece discussing two recent California Supreme Court decisions finding a local sheriff's seizure of 650,000 ballots unlawful and the lessons for voters, officials, and courts.

State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 4d ago

The CA Supreme Court's holding that a sheriff's seizure of ballots cast in the state’s November 2025 special election was unlawful offers lessons for the upcoming midterms, writes @derekclinger.bsky.social of @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social

In the upcoming November election, Wisconsinites will be asked to vote on three proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution. In a series of explainers, we describe the proposals, identify arguments for and against, and assess likely impacts. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/nov... 1/4

November 2026 Proposed Wisconsin Constitutional Amendments

In the upcoming November 2026 election, Wisconsin voters will be asked to vote on three proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution. These…

statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu

There is still time to register for "2026 Midterm Elections: Risks and Responses", taking place on Friday, Oct 9, from 12-1:15 pm CT. You can join us in person at the UW Law School or virtually via Zoom. Register here: go.wisc.edu/t38psa

2026 Midterm Elections: Risks and Responses

Join us for our next Election Matters 2026 Panel!

go.wisc.edu

State Democracy Research Initiative@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social · last mo.

Join us for "2026 Midterm Elections: Risks and Responses" on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 12-1:15 pm at the UW Law School or via Zoom. This panel will examine potential risks to midterm election integrity and explore strategies to defend against them. Register here: go.wisc.edu/t38psa

Yesterday, DOJ’s lawsuit seeking Georgia’s sensitive voter data was dismissed, making it the 27th such case DOJ has lost (including appeals). We’ve been tracking the suits here: go.wisc.edu/k7mw0w And we recently updated our deep-dive into the underlying legal issues here: go.wisc.edu/p002lc

Tracker: DOJ Lawsuits Seeking States' Sensitive Voter Data

As part of President Trump’s efforts to expand federal control over the country’s historically state-run election infrastructure, the U.S. Department of…

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Join us for a talk with Professor Judith Resnik on her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy, on Thursday, Oct 29, from 3-4 pm in Lubar Commons (Rm 7200) at UW Law School. Register here: go.wisc.edu/8wfl02

@bgodar.bsky.social recaps the WI Supreme Court's 2025-26 term for @statebarofwi.bsky.social WI Lawyer magazine. The term unfolded largely outside the political spotlight and included cases on criminal procedure, immunities from suit, and race-conscious grant programs. www.wisbar.org/NewsPublicat...

Join us for "2026 Midterm Elections: Risks and Responses" on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 12-1:15 pm at the UW Law School or via Zoom. This panel will examine potential risks to midterm election integrity and explore strategies to defend against them. Register here: go.wisc.edu/t38psa

Join us for "State Constitutions & Criminal Law" on Thursday, September 24th from 12-1 pm CT at the UW Law School or virtually via Zoom. This panel will focus on distinctive approaches to criminal law issues under state constitutions. Register here: go.wisc.edu/dbij59

In a newly published essay in Northwestern U. L. Rev., @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @bgodar.bsky.social examine how state constitutional principles inform permissible state court reforms and highlight recent legislative efforts at odds with these principles. go.wisc.edu/g3786t

SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social, @robyablon.bsky.social, & other legal scholars filed an amicus brief in the WI Supreme Court explaining that partisan gerrymandering is contrary to the WI Constitution's core democratic commitments and that state courts can adjudicate such claims go.wisc.edu/c2993j

Bothfeld et al. v. Wisconsin Elections Commission et al.

On September 3, 2026, the State Democracy Research Initiative filed an amicus brief on behalf of eight legal scholars encouraging the court to be mindful…

statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu

Yesterday, the California Supreme Court heard two challenges to a sheriff's seizure of 650k+ ballots from a Nov. '25 election based on debunked fraud claims. Our new report examines the risk of such seizures occurring during a vote count, and how states can respond: go.wisc.edu/dc9qbo

SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social, @robyablon.bsky.social, & other legal scholars filed an amicus brief in the WI Supreme Court explaining that anti-competitive gerrymandering is contrary to the WI Constitution's core democratic commitments. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/wis...

Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy et al. v. Wisconsin Elections Commission et al.

On August 20, 2026, the State Democracy Research Initiative filed an amicus brief on behalf of eight legal scholars encouraging the court to be mindful of…

statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu

Check out SDRI faculty co-director @miriamseifter.bsky.social's latest scholarship roundup in @statecourtreport.org⬇️

Alicia Bannon@aliciabannon.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Want to see the latest in scholarship re: state constitutions & other state public law issues? Check out @miriamseifter.bsky.social's new roundup for @statecourtreport.org. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @robyablon.bsky.social, together with other legal scholars, filed a Second Circuit amicus brief explaining that federalism principles protect states against federal demands for sensitive state data and resources. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/uni...

United States v. New York et al.

Constitution bars three provisions of New York’s Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act that seek to limit disclosure of sensitive state data for…

statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu

Check out our legal director Danielle Friedman’s appearance on the Executive Functions podcast, discussing our work exploring how state laws may be used to curb interference by federal government officials in the upcoming midterm elections.

Executive Functions@execfunctions.org · 2mo ago

Can a state prosecute a federal official who shows up armed at a polling place? Danielle Friedman of @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social walks through the relevant statutes, and why Supremacy Clause immunity is a weaker defense in the election context than elsewhere. open.substack.com/pub/executiv...

Can state & local governments ban new detention centers or bar warrantless immigration actions at “sensitive locations” like schools? Check out @bgodar.bsky.social & @harrisonstark.bsky.social’s piece at @statecourtreport.org exploring these efforts. go.wisc.edu/s6v4jp

State Authority to Limit Disruptive Federal Activity

From banning new detention centers to barring warrantless immigration actions at courthouses and other “sensitive locations,” jurisdictions are using traditional powers to push back on ICE operations.

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Recent federal efforts to exert control over state elections appear likely to intensify as the 2026 midterms approach. Our latest explainer examines state laws that provide a potential pathway for reining in federal electoral overreach: go.wisc.edu/324j0q

As citizens have increasingly turned to direct democracy powers to make or change law, officials across states have responded with a similar set of tactics to make doing so harder. SDRI's @derekclinger.bsky.social explores the tactics and how citizens have responded in @statecourtreport.org.

The Quiet Campaign Against Direct Democracy

As citizens have increasingly employed their powers to make or change law, state officials have used a variety of tactics to make doing so more difficult.

statecourtreport.org

Our "Year in Review" panel is happening tomorrow! There is still time to register to attend in person or virtually at go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

State Democracy Research Initiative@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Join us for "Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States" on Wednesday, July 8, at 3 pm CT at the Madison Public Library or online via Zoom. This annual panel will discuss significant democracy-related cases at both the state and federal levels. Register here: go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

There is still time to register for "Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States", taking place on Wednesday, July 8, from 3-4:15 pm CT. You can join us in person at the Madison Central Library or virtually via Zoom. Register here: go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

State Democracy Research Initiative@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Join us for "Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States" on Wednesday, July 8, at 3 pm CT at the Madison Public Library or online via Zoom. This annual panel will discuss significant democracy-related cases at both the state and federal levels. Register here: go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

Today, the Arizona Supreme Court, in Center for Arizona Policy v. Arizona Secretary of State, upheld a ballot measure that requires disclosure of "dark money" election spending, rejecting claims that the law facially violates the Arizona Constitution's free speech and privacy protections. 1/3

SDRI Faculty Co-Director @miriamseifter.bsky.social and Staff Attorney @ewylau.bsky.social dive into the history of the Wisconsin Constitution in State Court Report. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

The Wisconsin Constitution: Initial Adoption Fights and a Veto Power That’s Still Contested

The charter is a guide for safeguarding the state’s aim of self-determination.

statecourtreport.org

State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 4mo ago

The Wisconsin Constitution gives the governor one of the nation’s most powerful partial vetoes. Governors have used it to strike phrases, numbers, and word fragments to create new sentences and figures. 1/2

The Supreme Court just ruled in Trump v. Slaughter, allowing the President to remove the heads of agencies like the U.S. Postal Service at will, and Watson v. RNC, preserving post-election day receipt of mail ballots. We previewed these and other mail voting-related issues here: go.wisc.edu/v566xn

How Can States Address Federal Hostility to Mail Voting?

Mail voting is under unprecedented federal pressure heading into the 2026 midterm elections. From the White House to the Supreme Court to Congress, a…

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In this Second Circuit amicus brief, SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @robyablon.bsky.social, together with other legal scholars, explain that the doctrine of “intergovernmental immunity” does not bar a NY law limiting immigration enforcement in state courthouses. go.wisc.edu/s0i9si

United States v. New York et al.

On June 17, 2026, the State Democracy Research Initiative’s faculty co-directors, Miriam Seifter and Rob Yablon, filed an amicus brief with six other…

go.wisc.edu

In 2024, New Yorkers adopted an Amendment that expanded the state constitution’s Equal Protection Clause to bar discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, pregnancy status, reproductive healthcare & more. Learn more at 50constitutions.org/ny

Join us for "Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States" on Wednesday, July 8, at 3 pm CT at the Madison Public Library or online via Zoom. This annual panel will discuss significant democracy-related cases at both the state and federal levels. Register here: go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

State courts are encountering a new type of “vote dilution” claim, which asserts that certain election practices are unconstitutional because they increase the hypothetical risk of voter fraud, and thus dilute the weight of “legal” ballots. Our latest Report unpacks these claims: go.wisc.edu/n9nk35

Hypothetical Vote Dilution Claims and State Constitutions

State courts are encountering a new type of “vote dilution” claim, which asserts that certain election rules or practices are unconstitutional because…

go.wisc.edu

Mail voting is under unprecedented federal pressure ahead of the 2026 midterms. From the White House to the Supreme Court to Congress, the threats to this widely used form of voting are mounting. Our new Explainer explores what's happening and what states can do about it: go.wisc.edu/622s38

How Can States Address Federal Hostility to Mail Voting?

Mail voting is under unprecedented federal pressure heading into the 2026 midterm elections. From the White House to the Supreme Court to Congress, a…

go.wisc.edu

There is still time to register for our panel event, "The Work of State Supreme Courts", happening tomorrow morning! Learn more and register here: go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

State Democracy Research Initiative@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 29, from 9-10:30 am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country! Register to join us in-person or online⬇️ go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

It's not too late to register for our panel, "The Work of State Supreme Courts", taking place on Friday, May 29, from 9-10:30 am. You can join us virtually or in person. Register here: go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

State Democracy Research Initiative@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 29, from 9-10:30 am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country! Register to join us in-person or online⬇️ go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d