Travis Crum
@traviscrum.bsky.social
Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis. Writing and Teaching about Voting Rights and Constitutional Law.
The first mid-decade redistricting case is headed to the Supreme Court's shadow docket. Here's why the so-called Purcell Principle--which counsels against enjoining redistricting maps close to an election--should not apply here:
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
Mid-Decade Redistricting and the Purcell Principle #ELB
Yesterday, a three-judge district court preliminarily enjoined Texas’s mid-decade congressional redistricting map. This case will be promptly appealed to the Supreme Court, and it will be the first of...
electionlawblog.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The first mid-decade redistricting case is headed to the Supreme Court's shadow docket. Here's why the so-called Purcell Principle--which counsels against enjoining redistricting maps close to an election--should not apply here:
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
Hot off the presses! I helped organize a symposium on the 150th anniversary of Minor v. Happersett, where the Supreme Court held that women were not enfranchised by the 14th Amendment. The case originated in St. Louis, so it was rewarding to shine a light on this overlooked piece of local history.
October 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Hot off the presses! I helped organize a symposium on the 150th anniversary of Minor v. Happersett, where the Supreme Court held that women were not enfranchised by the 14th Amendment. The case originated in St. Louis, so it was rewarding to shine a light on this overlooked piece of local history.
Missouri is seeking to revive the independent state legislature theory by insisting there's a clear statement rule. The rejected legal theory that plagued the 2020 election makes a return in the mid-decade redistricting wars.
electionlawblog.org?p=152593
electionlawblog.org?p=152593
"Redistricting foes blast Hanaway for trying to stop referendum on Missouri map" #ELB
Missouri seeks to revive the independent state legislature theory, this time its by insisting that there’s a clear-statement rule. I may have more to say about this case in the near future. In the mea...
electionlawblog.org
October 17, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Missouri is seeking to revive the independent state legislature theory by insisting there's a clear statement rule. The rejected legal theory that plagued the 2020 election makes a return in the mid-decade redistricting wars.
electionlawblog.org?p=152593
electionlawblog.org?p=152593
Here's my take on today's big voting rights argument in Louisiana v. Callais. The Justices re-hashed arguments that had been considered three Terms ago in Milligan, and they appeared more interested in tweaking the VRA than in overturning it.
electionlawblog.org?p=152557
electionlawblog.org?p=152557
Callais Re-Argument Recap #ELB
Earlier today, I attended the oral argument in Callais. My global takeaway is a bit more sanguine than Rick’s. When the case was set for re-argument, the new QP flagged Section 2’s constitutionality: ...
electionlawblog.org
October 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Here's my take on today's big voting rights argument in Louisiana v. Callais. The Justices re-hashed arguments that had been considered three Terms ago in Milligan, and they appeared more interested in tweaking the VRA than in overturning it.
electionlawblog.org?p=152557
electionlawblog.org?p=152557
In advance of tomorrow's re-argument in the major voting rights case of Louisiana v. Callais, I've got two posts on the Election Law Blog. I'll be attending the argument and will provide an eyewitness account on ELB as well.
October 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
In advance of tomorrow's re-argument in the major voting rights case of Louisiana v. Callais, I've got two posts on the Election Law Blog. I'll be attending the argument and will provide an eyewitness account on ELB as well.
Can't wait to read this!
Very Excited to Announce My New Book Project, “Unbent Arc: The Rise and Decline of American Democracy 1964-2024)” electionlawblog.org?p=152307
I’m very excited to be working on this major project, bringing together my many strands of research on democracy and election law.
I’m very excited to be working on this major project, bringing together my many strands of research on democracy and election law.
September 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Can't wait to read this!
Really excited to be attending the 2025 Election Law Conference at Florida State University this weekend. We've got a great line-up of speakers!
electionlawblog.org?p=151984
electionlawblog.org?p=151984
The 2025 Election Law Conference at Florida State University #ELB
This weekend, FSU will host the 2025 Election Law Conference. Jacob Eisler is the organizer, and I am serving as an informal advisor. This conference is a sequel to last year’s Election Law Conference...
electionlawblog.org
September 10, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Really excited to be attending the 2025 Election Law Conference at Florida State University this weekend. We've got a great line-up of speakers!
electionlawblog.org?p=151984
electionlawblog.org?p=151984
I filed an amicus brief in Callais, this fall's blockbuster voting rights case. I make three arguments. First, the Fifteenth Amendment is the constitutional provision that bans racial discrimination in voting. Second, Shaw should be overturned. Finally, Section 2 of the VRA is constitutional.
September 4, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I filed an amicus brief in Callais, this fall's blockbuster voting rights case. I make three arguments. First, the Fifteenth Amendment is the constitutional provision that bans racial discrimination in voting. Second, Shaw should be overturned. Finally, Section 2 of the VRA is constitutional.
Preclearance under the Voting Rights Act was designed to stop the game of whack-a-mole that was Southern States defying federal court orders. Alabama did just that in 2023. Unfortunately, Alabama dodged the hammer once again.
electionlawblog.org?p=151462
electionlawblog.org?p=151462
Alabama Dodges Bail-in #ELB
Yesterday, the three-judge district court in the Alabama congressional redistricting litigation declined to bail-in the State to the VRA’s preclearance regime. You can find the district court’s decisi...
electionlawblog.org
August 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Preclearance under the Voting Rights Act was designed to stop the game of whack-a-mole that was Southern States defying federal court orders. Alabama did just that in 2023. Unfortunately, Alabama dodged the hammer once again.
electionlawblog.org?p=151462
electionlawblog.org?p=151462
Happening today!
Tomorrow, there's a big hearing on whether to bail-in Alabama under the Voting Rights Act, meaning that it would have to get federal approval to enact any new congressional redistricting plans through the 2030 Census. Here's my thoughts on the Election Law Blog:
electionlawblog.org?p=151207
electionlawblog.org?p=151207
The Prospect of Bailing-in Alabama #ELB
Tomorrow, the three-judge district court in the Alabama congressional redistricting litigation will hold a hearing on whether to bail-in Alabama to the VRA’s preclearance regime. If bailed-in, Alabama...
electionlawblog.org
July 29, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Happening today!
Tomorrow, there's a big hearing on whether to bail-in Alabama under the Voting Rights Act, meaning that it would have to get federal approval to enact any new congressional redistricting plans through the 2030 Census. Here's my thoughts on the Election Law Blog:
electionlawblog.org?p=151207
electionlawblog.org?p=151207
The Prospect of Bailing-in Alabama #ELB
Tomorrow, the three-judge district court in the Alabama congressional redistricting litigation will hold a hearing on whether to bail-in Alabama to the VRA’s preclearance regime. If bailed-in, Alabama...
electionlawblog.org
July 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Tomorrow, there's a big hearing on whether to bail-in Alabama under the Voting Rights Act, meaning that it would have to get federal approval to enact any new congressional redistricting plans through the 2030 Census. Here's my thoughts on the Election Law Blog:
electionlawblog.org?p=151207
electionlawblog.org?p=151207
What's taking the Supreme Court so long to issue a re-argument order in last Term's big voting rights case?
electionlawblog.org?p=151175
electionlawblog.org?p=151175
Waiting for Callais #ELB
Earlier today, Rick Pildes flagged the Court’s inexplicable month-long delay in issuing a re-argument order in Louisiana v. Callais, last Term’s—and now next Term’s—major Shaw case. I agree with Pilde...
electionlawblog.org
July 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
What's taking the Supreme Court so long to issue a re-argument order in last Term's big voting rights case?
electionlawblog.org?p=151175
electionlawblog.org?p=151175
New paper! Along with my co-authors, Prof. Susan Appleton and Hannah Keidan, I have posted a short symposium foreword, "The Curiously Minor Role of Minor v. Happersett," on SSRN. Anyone interested in legal history, election law, or women's rights should check it out:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
July 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
New paper! Along with my co-authors, Prof. Susan Appleton and Hannah Keidan, I have posted a short symposium foreword, "The Curiously Minor Role of Minor v. Happersett," on SSRN. Anyone interested in legal history, election law, or women's rights should check it out:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Travis Crum
Breaking: Three-Judge District Court Finds Alabama’s Congressional Redistricting Plan Intentionally Discriminated Against Black Voters **Updated** electionlawblog.org?p=149829 by the great @traviscrum.bsky.social
Breaking: Three-Judge District Court Finds Alabama's Congressional Redistricting Plan Intentionally Discriminated Against Black Voters **Updated** #ELB
The court’s 571-page opinion is here. This decision is on remand from the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Allen v. Milligan. This is the latest decision in the long-running Section 2 litigation against ...
electionlawblog.org
May 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Breaking: Three-Judge District Court Finds Alabama’s Congressional Redistricting Plan Intentionally Discriminated Against Black Voters **Updated** electionlawblog.org?p=149829 by the great @traviscrum.bsky.social
District Court rules that Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black voters when it defied SCOTUS's decision in Allen v. Milligan. The upshot is that Alabama may be required to preclear congressional redistricting plans through 2030 cycle. My analysis at ELB:
electionlawblog.org?p=149829
electionlawblog.org?p=149829
Breaking: Three-Judge District Court Finds Alabama's Congressional Redistricting Plan Intentionally Discriminated Against Black Voters **Updated** #ELB
The court’s 571-page opinion is here. This decision is on remand from the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Allen v. Milligan. This is the latest decision in the long-running Section 2 litigation against ...
electionlawblog.org
May 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
District Court rules that Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black voters when it defied SCOTUS's decision in Allen v. Milligan. The upshot is that Alabama may be required to preclear congressional redistricting plans through 2030 cycle. My analysis at ELB:
electionlawblog.org?p=149829
electionlawblog.org?p=149829
Reposted by Travis Crum
A few thoughts on Judge Kollar-Kotelly's 120 page opinion preliminarily enjoining some key parts of President Trump's executive order on elections and election administration. Over at ELB, @traviscrum.bsky.social will be blogging on it here: electionlawblog.org?p=149610) /1
Breaking: DDC enjoins Trump Elections Executive Order #ELB
The opinion is here. The order is here. The preliminary injunction covers two parts of the Executive Order: Section 2(a) (which mandated that the Election Assistance Commission revise the Federal Form...
electionlawblog.org
April 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
A few thoughts on Judge Kollar-Kotelly's 120 page opinion preliminarily enjoining some key parts of President Trump's executive order on elections and election administration. Over at ELB, @traviscrum.bsky.social will be blogging on it here: electionlawblog.org?p=149610) /1
My thoughts on the DDC's injunction against the Trump Elections Executive Order are over at the Election Law Blog:
electionlawblog.org?p=149610
electionlawblog.org?p=149610
Breaking: DDC enjoins Part of Trump Elections Executive Order **Updated** #ELB
The 120-page opinion is here. The order is here. The preliminary injunction in LULAC v. Executive Office of the President was issued by Judge Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District...
electionlawblog.org
April 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
My thoughts on the DDC's injunction against the Trump Elections Executive Order are over at the Election Law Blog:
electionlawblog.org?p=149610
electionlawblog.org?p=149610
For my first contributor post at the Election Law Blog, I wrote about why Trump's Voting Executive Order should encourage us to amend Section 2 of the VRA to apply to the federal government.
electionlawblog.org?p=149242
electionlawblog.org?p=149242
Trump's Voting Executive Order and Section 2 of the VRA #ELB
Hi everyone. Travis Crum here. Long-time guest blogger. Newly minted contributor. Looking forward to participating in the conversation more. Thanks to Rick for having me. Last week, President Trump is...
electionlawblog.org
March 31, 2025 at 7:58 PM
For my first contributor post at the Election Law Blog, I wrote about why Trump's Voting Executive Order should encourage us to amend Section 2 of the VRA to apply to the federal government.
electionlawblog.org?p=149242
electionlawblog.org?p=149242
So excited to be joining the Election Law Blog as a contributor!!! Thanks @rickhasen.bsky.social!
electionlawblog.org?p=149229
electionlawblog.org?p=149229
Travis Crum Joining as ELB Contributor #ELB
I’m very pleased to announced that Travis Crum of Wash. U. is joining ELB as a contributor. Travis has written frequent guest posts already for ELB, so he should be familiar to many of you. He’s recen...
electionlawblog.org
March 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
So excited to be joining the Election Law Blog as a contributor!!! Thanks @rickhasen.bsky.social!
electionlawblog.org?p=149229
electionlawblog.org?p=149229
Reposted by Travis Crum
A lot rides on how SCOTUS resolves the big voting rights case argued yesterday. My @economist.com analysis of Louisiana v. Callais
economist.com/united-state...
from The Economist
economist.com/united-state...
from The Economist
America’s Supreme Court tackles a thorny voting-rights case
Louisiana v Callais could affect control of the House of Representatives in next year’s midterms
economist.com
March 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
A lot rides on how SCOTUS resolves the big voting rights case argued yesterday. My @economist.com analysis of Louisiana v. Callais
economist.com/united-state...
from The Economist
economist.com/united-state...
from The Economist
Over at the Election Law Blog, I have a recap of today's oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais:
electionlawblog.org?p=149135
electionlawblog.org?p=149135
Travis Crum: Callais Oral Argument Recap #ELB
The following is a post from Travis Crum: Here’s a recap of today’s oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais. At the outset, a short summary of what Callais is about. Callais is an old-school, 1990s-styl...
electionlawblog.org
March 24, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Over at the Election Law Blog, I have a recap of today's oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais:
electionlawblog.org?p=149135
electionlawblog.org?p=149135
Over the weekend, @rickpildes.bsky.social posted a thoughtful response to my Election Law Blog post about Louisiana v. Callais. Here's my rebuttal about why overturning Shaw is still a good idea and why Section 2 litigation can still be used to unpack districts.
electionlawblog.org?p=149124
electionlawblog.org?p=149124
Travis Crum: The Consequences of Overturning Shaw and the Continuing Relevance of Section 2 #ELB
The following is a guest post from Travis Crum: Over the weekend, Rick Pildes published a response to my post—which built on a recent essay—calling on the Supreme Court to overturn Shaw’s racial gerry...
electionlawblog.org
March 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Over the weekend, @rickpildes.bsky.social posted a thoughtful response to my Election Law Blog post about Louisiana v. Callais. Here's my rebuttal about why overturning Shaw is still a good idea and why Section 2 litigation can still be used to unpack districts.
electionlawblog.org?p=149124
electionlawblog.org?p=149124
Reposted by Travis Crum
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a racial gerrymandering challenge to Louisiana's congressional map. Over at the Election Law Blog, I have a preview of the case:
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
Crum: "Questioning Shaw in Callais" #ELB
The following is a guest post from Professor Travis Crum: On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a Shaw challenge to Louisiana’s congressional redistricting plan...
electionlawblog.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a racial gerrymandering challenge to Louisiana's congressional map. Over at the Election Law Blog, I have a preview of the case:
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a racial gerrymandering challenge to Louisiana's congressional map. Over at the Election Law Blog, I have a preview of the case:
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
Crum: "Questioning Shaw in Callais" #ELB
The following is a guest post from Professor Travis Crum: On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a Shaw challenge to Louisiana’s congressional redistricting plan...
electionlawblog.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, a racial gerrymandering challenge to Louisiana's congressional map. Over at the Election Law Blog, I have a preview of the case:
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
electionlawblog.org?p=149079
With Biden's statement on the ERA, I'm re-upping my article, The Lawfulness of the Fifteenth Amendment. It examines States's purported rescissions of the 14th and 15th Amendments. These rescissions were ultimately rejected by Congress and Secretaries of State.
scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcont...
scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcont...
scholarship.law.nd.edu
January 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
With Biden's statement on the ERA, I'm re-upping my article, The Lawfulness of the Fifteenth Amendment. It examines States's purported rescissions of the 14th and 15th Amendments. These rescissions were ultimately rejected by Congress and Secretaries of State.
scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcont...
scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcont...