LAWS7642 · Law

Election Law and Politics

Boston College Law School

Elections have always been a focal point of American politics. This is natural; victory at the polls is the prize. However, recent years have seen a remarkable upswing in interest in what happens prior to any given election. Attention has focused on such matters as the drawing of district lines, the desire to have "honest" elections while keeping the franchise as open as possible, and the question of which offices should be elected. Many observers have concluded that the "Rules of the Game" determine the outcome long before any votes are cast.This course focuses on rules of the game questions such as the following:--Who should be able to vote? --Do measures such as Voter ID prevent electoral fraud or disenfranchise potentially eligible voters? --What rules govern gerrymandering, whether driven by partisanship or by racial considerations? --Should the election of judges--a feature of many state governments--be abolished, or is it possible to have elections without politics? The course is offered in Seminar form, for two credits, and satisfies the perspectives and upper level writing requirements. The grade is based primarily on a substantial paper. There will be frequent interactions between students and the instructor at all stages of the paper's production. The Casebook is Lowenstein, et al, Election Law (7th edition, 2022).There will be some handouts and frequent use of the Election Law Blog.Interested students should feel free to contact Professor Brown atbrowngd@bc.edu.