This course will explore a broad swath of voting rights law. In coverage of reapportionment, redistricting, the census, racial vote dilution, and partisan gerrymandering, students will build on concepts of federal jurisprudence of reapportionment and redistricting, including the core constitutional doctrines, the Voting Rights Act, census issues, and the landmark cases that govern the one person/one vote redistricting process. Lectures will also explore significant recent developments in redistricting and election law at the federal level and in New York State.

In discussions of campaign finance, the course will cover federal campaign finance jurisprudence, including the framework established by the Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo and its progeny, as well as various reform efforts and related cases. The course will also examine new models at use in New York State, including the public financing system used for New York State and City elections.

To explore the right to vote, the course will cover the foundations of our constitutional right to vote and examine litigation concerning recent state efforts to amend election laws, with a focus on issues such as voter ID requirements, vote-by-mail/absentee voting, voter registration requirements, and voter challenges.

Finally, the course will explore the role of major and minor political parties in elections and address a range of frequently litigated topics, including ballot access rules, fusion voting, candidate residency requirements, and candidate nomination procedures. This would cover core federal constitutional principles and focus on key issues in New York State.

Topical issues will be discussed during each class, driven by current events surrounding elections and legislation across the nation. Several classes feature guest speakers who will talk about their expertise in election law and related issues.

Recommended for the following Professional Pathways: Government/Public Sector

2 Credits