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 redistricting process. Lectures will also include the significant recent developments in redistricting law at the federal level and here 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 seminar will also examine reform models at use in New York State, including the public financing model currently used for New York City elections and likely will be used in state elections.

To explore the right to participate, 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.

Recommended for the Following Professional Pathways: Government/Public Sector

2 credits