Remillard

Supreme Court Rejects Right-Wing ‘Theory’ That Would Have Upended American Elections

The Supreme Court rejected the independent state legislature theory in a bombshell decision Tuesday, turning back a right-wing attempt to vest the sole power in administering federal elections with state legislatures. #politics

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/supreme-court-independent-state-legislature-reject

Supreme Court Rejects Right-Wing ‘Theory’ That Would Have Upended American Elections

The Supreme Court rejected the independent state legislature theory in a bombshell decision Tuesday, turning back a right-wing attempt to vest the sole power in administering federal elections with state legislatures.

TPM – Talking Points Memo
Jun 27, 2023 at 4:30pmWeb
Show threadEgavansJun 27, 2023
After Dobbs I legit expected SCOTUS to go full speed ahead turning America into a Christofascist autocracy, but it seems like they're content to just uphold the status quo outside of that one specific issue. Maybe my standards are dangerously low but it's nice to know we're not on the actual worst timeline right now.
Show threadslicedcheesegremlinJun 27, 2023
yeah I was honestly terrified that starting 2024 we were just fucking doomed, but now it seems like things are finally looking up. DeSantis' approval rating is in the shitter, and a lot of the anti-trans bills are being blocked throughout the country.
Show threadbrianshatchetJun 28, 2023
DeSantis could come back if something happens to Trump. I can't believe I hope Trump doesn't succumb to all the hamburgers he consumes for a bit longer.
Show threadGullJun 28, 2023
More than one issue matters.
Show threadChetzemokaJun 28, 2023

Holy SHIT, I actually just gasped out loud. I was genuinely terrified this case was going to be the nuclear bomb that dumped us headlong into full federal fascism in 2024. I can't believe we got a 6-3 ruling against it.

Seems like SCOTUS wants to keep all the power of deciding what's best for us poor civilians to themselves and out of the hands of the legislature. I'm not sure that's ultimately better, but it's certainly going to slow the demise.

Show threadslicedcheesegremlinJun 28, 2023
I'm surprised that this isn't getting more attention. All my parents ever talk about now is the stupid fight against trans people, and yet we were a hair's width away from polling stations being surrounded by armed guards at every election like what happened with Bolsonaro in 2022.
Show threadslicedcheesegremlinJun 27, 2023
could someone tl;dr what exactly this was, and what it would do?
Show threadChetzemokaJun 28, 2023

SCOTUS just soundly rejected an idea called "independent state legislature theory" in a case called Moore v. Harper. Here's a good summary of the implications if it had been upheld:

"Proponents of the independent state legislature theory reject this traditional reading, insisting that these clauses give state legislatures exclusive and near-absolute power to regulate federal elections. The result? When it comes to federal elections, legislators would be free to violate the state constitution and state courts couldn’t stop them."

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/independent-state-legislature-theory-explained

The ‘Independent State Legislature Theory,’ Explained

This dubious legal theory could have dramatic consequences for elections.

Brennan Center for Justice