Election Law in the American Political System (Aspen Casebook)

The second edition of Election Law in the American Political System offers an easy to teach, student-friendly, intellectually rich casebook with comprehensive coverage of the legal rules and doctrines that shape democratic participation in the 21st century American political system. The second edition of this casebook is updated throughout with new material including identity theory of voting behavior, alternative electoral systems, emerging metrics for evaluating the quality of election administration, and developments concerning the advent of “fake news” in election campaigns. Election Law in the American Political System also includes expanded coverage of developments regarding independent districting commissions, judicial elections, legal standards to adjudicate partisan gerrymandering, and the concept of “wisdom of the multitude.” With redesigned coverage and a thoughtful selection and careful editing of cases, the second edition contextualizes legal doctrine by providing insightful background readings and using expository material to introduce topics.

New to the Second Edition:

• New coverage:
  • Identity theory of voting behavior.
  • Alternative electoral systems, including limited and cumulative voting and the single transferable vote.
  • Evolution of judicial review of democratic processes.
  • Developments concerning the advent of “fake news” in election campaigns.
  • The emerging law of “ballot selfies.”
  • Emerging metrics for evaluating the quality of election administration.
• Expanded coverage of:
  • Concept of “wisdom of the multitude”
  • Legal standards to adjudicate partisan gerrymandering.
  • Developments regarding independent districting commissions, including an extended excerpt from Arizona State Legislature
  • Judicial elections.