Op-Eds

I have written numerous Op-Eds for CNN, Washington Post, Washington Monthly, USA Today, NY Times, and others. Here is a list:

2024:

• State Courts Can and Should Do More to Protect Voters, State Court Report, Brennan Center, April 16, 2024.
• The unintended consequences of making Election Day a federal holiday, CNN, April 9, 2024.
• The Montana Supreme Court Correctly Recognizes a Robust Right to Vote Under the State Constitution, Election Law Blog, March 27, 2024.
• Trump is hoping to delay his trial. The Supreme Court shouldn’t take the bait, CNN, Feb. 7, 2024.
• Confessions of a Democracy Optimist, Washington Monthly, Jan. 16, 2024.

2023:

• A Body Blow to the Voting Rights Act, Washington Monthly, Nov. 21, 2023.
• Other Elections You’ll Want to Follow, Washington Monthly, Oct. 24, 2023.
• Alabama’s Defiance of the Supreme Court and the Rule of Law, Washington Monthly, Sept. 18, 2023.
• The Roberts Court Isn’t Getting More Moderate, Washington Monthly, July 10, 2023.
• A (Mostly) Good Supreme Court Ruling, Nixing the “Independent State Legislature” Theory of Election Law, Washington Monthly, June 27, 2023.
• This victory at the Supreme Court shows how low the bar has fallen, CNN, June 11, 2023.
• Justice Stevens’s Papers and Burdick v. Takushi, Election Law Blog, June 5, 2023.
• Florida’s New Law Takes Aim at Voter Registration, Washington Monthly, May 31, 2023.
• Once Again, Voting Rights and Democracy Are Under Siege in North Carolina, Washington Monthly, May 5, 2023.
• Can New Jersey benefit from a lowered voting age?, NorthJersey.com, May 4, 2023; Why New Jersey Municipalities Can Likely Lower the Voting Age, Vote16 Substack, Apr. 20, 2023.
• Kentucky’s colleges and universities should follow UK and encourage voter registration, Lexington Herald-Leader, Apr. 13, 2023.
• Republicans Took Over the North Carolina Supreme Court. Here’s What Happened, Washington Monthly, Feb. 13, 2023.
• Ohio’s Restrictive Voting Law is a Disaster, Washington Monthly, Jan. 31, 2023.

2022:

• Election deniers aren’t the only threats to democracy this year, CNN, Nov. 1, 2022.
• The Roberts Court Takes Aim at the Voting Rights Act, Washington Monthly, Sept. 29, 2022.
• The Case for the 16-Year-Old Vote, Washington Monthly, Aug. 25, 2022.
• One state where GOPers show the election wasn’t stolen, CNN, July 26, 2022.
• Take Me Out to the…Voting Booth!, Washington Monthly, July 14 2022.
• The dangerous election theory the Supreme Court may be poised to endorse, CNN, July 7, 2022.
• Non-Citizen Voting in New York City Blocked by State Court, State and Local Government Blog, July 1, 2022.
• New York’s Smart New Voting Rights Law, Washington Monthly, June 13, 2022.
• Ohio Voters Shafted by Conservative Judicial Activism, Washington Monthly, April 25, 2022.
• Ketanji Brown Jackson, Voting Rights Champion?, Washington Monthly, April 1, 2022. 
• Another Scheme to Curtail Voting Rights, Washington Monthly, March 4, 2022. 
• The Supreme Court’s Alabama Disaster, Washington Monthly, Feb. 9, 2022.
• One Year After the Capitol Attack, Why Have We Done Nothing to Protect Our Democracy?, Washington Monthly, Jan. 5, 2022.
• One year after Jan. 6, Mitch McConnell still “obstructor-in-chief” on election rules., Lexington Herald-Leader, Jan. 5, 2022.
• How Kentucky’s redistricting result is the definition of gerrymandering, Louisville Courier Journal, Jan. 5, 2022.

2021:

• The attacks on the 2024 election are already underway, CNN, Nov. 29, 2021.
• Why Gerrymandering Needs to Land in State Courts, Politico, Nov. 24, 2021.
• A Voting Rights Bill That Both Democrats and Republicans Can Support, Washington Monthly, Oct. 22, 2021.
• Maybe Supreme Court Judges Really Are Driven by Politics, Washington Monthly, Oct. 12, 2021.
• Disbar Trump’s Lawyers Who Tried to Steal the Election, Washington Monthly, August 31, 2021.
• What I Learned Talking to Fourth-Graders About How to Design Elections, Politico, July 31, 2021.
• Why Voting Isn’t a “Privilege,” Washington Monthly, July 30, 2021.
• MLB Can Do More for Voting Than Moving the All-Star Game, USA Today, July 12, 2021.
• Supreme Court Deals Blow to American Democracy, CNN, July 1, 2021.
• Republicans aren’t just making it harder to vote. They’re going after election officials, too., Washington Post, May 9, 2021.
• Arizona’s dangerous vote audit includes a hunt for bamboo, CNN, May 7, 2021.
• In Georgia, will courts leave the fox in charge of the hen house?, CNN, March 31, 2021.
• A contested election in Iowa could undermine Americans’ faith in democracy, CNN, March 18, 2021.
• Keep your eye on Kentucky’s voting plans, CNN, Feb. 26, 2021.
• Republicans react to 2020 defeats by trying to make it harder to vote, CNN, Jan. 27, 2021.
• Voter ID Laws Are Bad. But Some Are Better Than Others, Washington Monthly, Jan. 27, 2021.
• KY’s pandemic voting plan was great; Ky lawmakers should stop attacking it, Lexington Herald-Leader, Jan. 8, 2021; Democracy is under attack, but now it’s not in Washington, it’s in Kentucky’s Capitol, Louisville Courier-Journal, Jan. 11, 2021 (same Op-Ed).

2020:

• The real reason you need to worry about Hawley’s objection to Biden victory, CNN, Dec. 30, 2020.
• Trump is the true perpetrator of election fraud, CNN, Nov. 19, 2020.
• Breathless media coverage of election lawsuits plays right into Trump’s plan, Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 10, 2020.
• GOP leaders: demand that Trump stop his outrageous assault on America’s vote now, CNN, Nov. 6, 2020.
• On this Election Day, Remember the Power of the Individual Right to Vote, Lexington Herald-Leader, Nov. 3, 2020.
• How Trump-appointed judges have made it harder to vote, CNN, Nov. 1, 2020.
• Actually, Americans Do Want to Wear Masks To Vote, Politico, Oct. 21, 2020.
• The scary part of the Supreme Court ruling on Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballots, CNN, Oct. 20, 2020.
• Courts are supposed to protect the right to vote. Why aren’t they?, CNN, Oct. 14, 2020.
• The Worst Election Law Decision of the Year?, Take Care, Oct. 12, 2020.
• Got a Question About Voting in Kentucky? UK Election Expert Has the Answers, Lexington Herald-Leader, Oct. 8, 2020.
• Attention Mitch McConnell: Filling RBG’s seat now could break American democracy, CNN, Sept. 18, 2020.
• Trump and Biden’s Florida polls highlights stakes of 2020 voting rights for ex-felons, NBC News, Sept. 15, 2020.
• A Texas federal court decision is the latest hit to voting rights in America, CNN, Sept. 12, 2020.
• We don’t have to have chaos when America votes this fall, CNN, July 1, 2020.
• ‘A qualified success.’ Let’s continue what worked in Tuesday’s primary and fix what didn’t, Lexington Herald-Leader, June 25, 2020.
• There is no place for age discrimination in voting, The Hill, June 10, 2020 (with Yael Bromberg and Jason Harrow).
• This state has it right on voting in the age of Covid-19, CNN, May 5, 2020.
• The Media Can Play A Crucial Role In Preserving Democracy Amid COVID. Here’s How., Talking Points Memo, April 13, 2020 (with Adam Eichen)
• ‘Perversion of democracy’ underway in Frankfort as lawmakers continue to meet amid pandemic, Lexington Herald Leader, March 19, 2020.
• Coronavirus not stopping Democratic primaries — despite obvious health and turnout risks, NBC News, March 16, 2020.
• General Assembly is making mostly good moves on voting rights this session, Lexington Herald-Leader, March 5, 2020.
• Calm down, America. If election results aren’t instant, it doesn’t mean they’re ‘rigged’, USA Today, February 21, 2020.
• Give 16-year-olds the right to vote, Commonwealth Magazine, February 15, 2020 (with Adam Eichen).
• The great Iowa overreaction: It’s irresponsible to use delayed results to weave conspiracy theories about the integrity of an election, New York Daily News, February 4, 2020.
• Kentucky photo ID bill needs more work and should take effect after 2020 election, Louisville Courier-Journal, January 28, 2020.
• Kentucky’s proposed photo ID law would make it harder to vote, not stop fraud, Louisville Courier-Journal, January 9, 2020.

2019:

• Mitch McConnell Has to Condemn This Power Grab, CNN, November 8, 2019.
• A Tale of Two Election Law Standards, American Constitution Society, September 24, 2019.
• NYC, vote for ranked-choice elections: November ballot question would encourage more citizen participation and more civil campaigns, New York Daily News, September 19, 2019 (with Adam Eichen).
• North Carolina court steps up to defend democracy, CNN, September 4, 2019.
• John Roberts said we need to rely on states to solve gerrymandering. That’s not going so well., Washington Post, August 22, 2019.
• Democrats are using wrong method to narrow their choices for 2020, CNN, June 12, 2019 (with Dave Daley)
• Radicalizing the vote: 10 ideas that just might save democracy, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2, 2019 (lead article in series).
• Supreme Court case could help pick 2024 election winners, CNN, April 22, 2019.
• HR 1 brings successful local, state reforms to the federal level and deserves passage, The Hill, April 18, 2019.
• Kentucky makes it too hard to vote. How to start fixing that and improving turnout, Lexington Herald-Leader, April 8, 2019.
• What’s Mitch McConnell So Afraid Of?, CNN, January 31, 2019.

2018:

• What Stacey Abrams Should Say About Brian Kemp’s Victory, CNN, November 19, 2018.
• Brian Kemp, if you’re running in an election, you shouldn’t be running the election, CNN, November 5, 2018.
• Yes, Kentucky, it really is worth the effort to make it easier to vote, Louisville Courier Journal, November 2, 2018.
• When states make it easier to vote, more people vote. Kentucky makes voting extra hard., Lexington Herald-Leader, October 31, 2018.
• Don’t worry, all is not lost. State and local activists are fixing our elections, Los Angeles Times, October 11, 2018.
• Here’s how newspapers could help you register to vote, Washington Post, September 18, 2018 (with Adam Eichen)
• Why are these elected officials so afraid of the voters?, CNN, August 9, 2018.
• Three reasons to (cautiously) celebrate Supreme Court on gerrymandering, CNN, June 18, 2018.
• Supreme Court takes a giant step backward on voter rights, CNN, June 11, 2018.
• Lexington Should Change How It Votes By Ranking Candidates, Lexington Herald-Leader, May 18, 2018.
• Politicians Are Gunning for this 1803 Precedent, CNN, April 11, 2018.
• Parkland Students Show Why 16-Year-Olds Should Be Able to Vote, CNN, Feb. 19, 2018.
• Spark Talk: Vote Yes: How Everyday Americans Are Taking Back Our Elections, Unrig The System Summit, Feb. 3, 2018 (video presentation).
• What’s the best way to fix our broken democracy? Lean on state courts and constitutions, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 23, 2018.

2017:

• Virginia is proof that every vote counts, CNN, Dec. 20, 2017.
• Dad jokes on Twitter shouldn’t disqualify a judge from the federal bench, Washington Post, Nov. 26, 2017.
• Is Secretary of State John Merrill violating election norms?, AL.com, Nov. 22, 2017.
• How Dems may use election wins to re-draw voter districts, Reuters, Nov. 8, 2017.
• It’s National Voter Registration Day. Do Your Part, Huffington Post, Sept. 26, 2017.
• How the Courts Put the Brakes on Texas Voter Discrimination, CNN, Sept 5, 2017.
• Why Legal Noncitizens Should Vote, Washington Post, Aug. 20 2017.
• Separate Facts, Myths on Voter Fraud in KY, Lexington Herald-Leader, July 31, 2017.
• Why New York Should Let Younger People Vote, N.Y. Daily News, July 26, 2017.
• Trump’s voter panel is scaring away voters, CNN, July 13, 2017.
• Seattle’s campaign-voucher system is good for democracy, Seattle Times, July 7, 2017.
• Demand for voter rolls shows ugly truth about Trump’s voter fraud commission, CNN, July 1, 2017.
• How SCOTUS Can Make Elections Fairer, CNN, June 19, 2017.
• Fighting for Voter Expansions, Not Just Fighting Against Voter Restrictions, ACS Blog, May 23, 2017.
• Donald Trump Voter Fraud Commission Ignores Real Problem, USA Today, May 18, 2017.
• The False Promise of Voter ID, Governing, March 31, 2017.
• Dishonesty from Both Parties on Gorsuch, CNN, March 28, 2017.
• Scalia Was No Fan of Voting Rights. Will Gorsuch Follow His Lead?, Huffington Post, March 21, 2017.
• To safeguard voting rights, go local, CNN, Feb. 17, 2017.
• Protecting the Right to Vote in the Trump Era: The Importance of State Courts, ACS Blog, Feb. 3, 2017.
• Trump’s voter fraud lies: the damage they do, CNN, Jan. 25, 2017.

2016:

• I’m appalled by Trump and I approve of what the Electoral College did, CNN, Dec. 19, 2016.
• Russia’s role is shocking but there’s no evidence the vote was hacked, CNN, Dec. 12, 2016.
• Dear Clinton Supporters: Recount Won’t Matter, CNN, Nov. 27, 2016.
• Judges, Keep the Polls Open on Election Day, CNN, Nov. 8, 2016.
• Expanding the Right to Vote, RegBlog (Penn Law School), Nov. 8, 2016.
• A Disputed Presidential Election Would Be a Mess, CNN, Nov. 4, 2016.
• Protecting the Right to Vote in Missouri, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Nov. 1, 2016.
• The Good News on Voting and Democracy, USA Today, Oct. 23, 2016.
• Lower the Voting Age, San Francisco Examiner, Oct. 18, 2016.
• McConnell, denounce Trump’s ‘rigged election’ comments, CNN, Oct. 17, 2016.
• The Hurricane Canon for Election Law, ACS Blog, Oct. 13, 2016.
• How the Senate Could Safeguard the Election, CNN, Aug. 30, 2016.
• Take Politicians Out of Election Law, The Hill, Aug. 1, 2016.
• Recanvassing Elections Has Got to Go, Louisville Courier-Journal, June 1, 2016.
• How a Checklist Can Fix a Slew of Voting Problems, Reuters, May 2, 2016.
• What if Eight Justices Must Decide Election?, USA Today, Mar. 31, 2016 (originally published in Louisville Courier-Journal).
• How a New Justice Could Change Our Elections, Newsweek (first published on Prawfsblawg), Feb. 18, 2016.

2015:

• If You Don’t Like Gerrymanders, You Should Care About Shapiro, Washington Monthly, Nov. 12, 2015.
• Will State Courts Fill a Void on Voting Rights?, The Atlantic, Nov. 5, 2015.
• People Fought and Died So You Can Vote, So Do It, Lexington Herald-Leader, Nov. 2, 2015.
• Remembering Bill Crawford, Election Law Blog, Sept. 28, 2015.
• State Constitutions: The Next Frontier in Voting Rights Protection, American Constitution Society Blog, Aug. 6, 2015.
• What Actually Happens During a Kentucky Recanvassing?, UK College of Law Election Analysis Blog, May 27, 2015.
• The Kentucky Republican Gubernatorial Primary Goes Into Extra Innings: What Happens Next?, UK College of Law Election Analysis Blog, May 20, 2015 (with Thomas E. Travis).
• How Should Courts Police Election Laws?, The RightsCast (Interview with Professor Nancy Leong), Mar. 18, 2015.
• Kentucky Should Let Rand Run, Louisville Courier-Journal, Mar. 4, 2015.
• The Right to Vote Amendment is Worth At Least One Candle: A Reply to Heather Gerken, Election Law Blog, Feb. 25, 2015.

2014:

• Elections 2014: The Vote You Save May Be Your Own, N.Y. Times, Nov. 4, 2014 (with Edward B. Foley).
• UK Law Students Offer Free, Quick Analysis on Election-Law Issues, Lexington Herald-Leader, Nov. 4, 2014.
• State Courts May Be the Next Frontier for Protecting the Right to Vote, London School of Economics USApp, Nov. 3, 2014 (with Christopher K. Stewart).
• The Constitutional Right to a Secret Ballot, Louisville Courier-Journal, Oct. 15, 2014.
• The Supreme Court’s Last-Minute Voter Rulings Should Be About Access, Talking Points Memo, Oct. 10, 2014.
• What is a “Burden” on Voters? Reflections on Ohio’s Early Voting Litigation, Kentucky Law Journal Online, Sept. 28, 2014.
• Hypocrisy on Wisconsin Supreme Court: Why Voter ID Decision is Wrong, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, July 31, 2014.
• Corporations and Personhood: The Supreme Court’s Misguided Approach, com, July 11, 2014.
• Judicial Progress on Voter ID, Huffington Post, May 1, 2014.
• The Right to Vote: A State Right, Slate, Jan. 21, 2014.

2013:

• AG: When Voters Don’t Decide, Reuters, Nov. 18, 2013.
• The Supreme Court’s Conflicting Approach to Federal and State Regulation of Elections, Huffington Post, Oct. 8, 2013.
• Roberts: The ‘swing’ justice of election law, Reuters, Oct. 7, 2013 (appeared nationwide, including in the Chicago Tribune).
• A Silver Lining to the ‘States Rights’ Portion of Justice Scalia’s Opinion, Election Law Blog, June 18, 2013.

2012:

• One Voter’s Tale Tells It All, Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov. 12, 2012.
• Voter ID Laws Renew “Right to Vote” Appeal, Politico, Nov. 8. 2012.
• A Vote for “Election Week,” Reuters, Nov. 6, 2012.
• Discouraging Election Contests, Election Law @ Moritz, Nov. 6, 2012.
• Nonpartisan goal: Ensure All Voters Have Access to the Polls, Lexington Herald-Leader, Nov. 6, 2012.
• Hurricane Sandy, the 2012 Election, and Some Room for Compromise, Election Law @ Moritz, Oct. 30, 2012.
• Who Decides a Post-Election Dispute?, Election Law @ Moritz, Oct. 29, 2012.
• Why Florida Should Not Be the “Next Florida”: Fixing the Debacle in Palm Beach County,
  Election Law @ Moritz, Oct. 24, 2012.
• The Soundness of the Equal Protection Holding in the Ohio Early Voting Decision, Election Law @ Moritz, Oct. 8, 2012.
• Sanctioning Disenfranchisement, At Least for One Election, Election Law Blog, August 28, 2012.
  
• State Constitutions: A New Battleground in Voting Rights, JURIST – Forum, April 3, 2012.
• Redistricting Can Be Partisan But Legal; Independent Better, Lexington Herald-Leader, Jan. 31, 2012.
• Campaign Finance After Two Years of Citizens United, JURIST – Forum, Jan. 21, 2012.

2011:

• Rahm Emanuel and Procedural Fairness, Election Law @ Moritz, Jan. 27, 2011.
• Ohio Provisional Ballots: Do Two Wrongs Make a Right?, Election Law @ Moritz, Jan. 17, 2011.

2010:

• Revering America’s Political Spirit, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY), Nov. 2, 2010, at A5.