The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law

Abstract The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law offers a sophisticated overview of one of the most dynamic, contested, and consequential areas of American law. The book introduces the reader to the field’s core themes, provides summaries of its leading cases, guides the reader through key scholarly debates, and suggests areas for future research. The first book of its kind in the field, the Handbook brings together forty-six leading scholars of election law to explore the doctrines and debates that define this field. The book begins by explaining how election law relates to its closest academic cousins, including constitutional law and political science. It then explores the major topics in election law, including the right to the vote, the rules of running for office, the role of political parties, the dynamics of redistricting and gerrymandering, the significance of the Voting Rights Act, the intricacies of campaign finance, and the recurring controversies surrounding election administration in the United States. Each chapter of the Handbook offers the reader a careful, detailed, and thorough analysis of thorny terrain, crystallizing controversial issues and situating them within the field’s contemporary debates. The book aims to reach both newcomers to the field as well as more sophisticated readers who hope to gain a firmer understanding of election law’s many nuances, intricacies, and complexities. Unparalleled in the breadth and depth of its coverage, this Handbook is designed to serve as a resource for students, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners.