This Report surveys current state laws affecting direct democracy, with an emphasis on those relating to voter participation and understanding. For instance, what information appears on the ballot, and who prepares it? What standards exist, …
Research & Explainers
White Paper: Unpacking State Legislative Vetoes
Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney Professor Miriam Seifter, Faculty Co-Director Published: October 13, 2023 Last Updated: December 20, 2024 PDF Available Here Table of Contents Introduction I. Models of State Legislative Oversight of Agency Rulemaking …
Explainer: State Constitutional Standards for Adjudicating Challenges to Restrictive Voting Laws
Emily Lau, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here Last Updated: February 3, 2025 State constitutions are distinct from the U.S. Constitution in many ways—not least of which is their commitment to popular sovereignty, majority rule, and …
Research: Materials on 1853 Impeachment of Judge Levi Hubbell
In 1853, Levi Hubbell, Judge of Wisconsin’s Second Circuit Court and Associate Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, became the first—and still only—judge in Wisconsin history to have articles of impeachment filed against him by …
Explainer: Judicial Recusal in Wisconsin and Beyond
Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney Professor Robert Yablon, Faculty Co-Director PDF Available Here Table of Contents Introduction I. Background: The Law of Judicial Recusal A. Federal Constitutional Standards Campaign Funding Campaign Statements B. Wisconsin-Specific Recusal …
The Calm Between the Storms: A Review of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 2022-23 Term and Preview of 2023-24
Dustin Brown, Senior Staff Attorney PDF Available Here The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 2022-23 term, which ended on June 30, unfolded against the backdrop of the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history.[1] While the election …
Moore v. Harper and the Purcell Principle
Featured, Explainers | State Democracy Research Initiative
Commentary on Moore v. Harper has not yet focused on how the Purcell principle might shape what comes next.
Ohio Supreme Court Clears Way for August Vote on Legislative Effort to Curb Direct Democracy
Featured, Explainers | State Democracy Research Initiative
In a ruling with major implications for direct democracy in Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court greenlighted the state legislature’s controversial plan to have Ohioans vote in August on a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to amend Ohio’s Constitution in the future.
At the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Marsy’s Law survives as the justices clash over constitutional interpretation
Featured, Explainers | State Democracy Research Initiative
The Wisconsin Constitution requires the legislature to present proposed constitutional amendments to the people for a vote.
Election-Litigation Data: 2018, 2020, 2022 State and Federal Court Filings
Research & Explainers | State Democracy Research Initiative