Our first Friends lecture of the year is next Thursday, 10/15 at 1 PM via Zoom with ULCA law professor Richard L. Hasen discussing his book, A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy.
Richard L. Hasen is the Gary T. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of Law, Professor of Political Science (by courtesy), and Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA School of Law. He is an internationally recognized expert in election law, writing as well in the areas of legislation and statutory interpretation, remedies, and torts. He is co-author of leading casebooks in election law and remedies. Hasen served in 2022 and 2024 as an NBC News/MSNBC Election Law Analyst. He was a CNN Election Law Analyst in 2020.
Drawing on troubling stories of state attempts to disenfranchise military voters, women, African Americans, students, former felons, Native Americans, and others, Richard Hasen argues that American democracy can and should do better in assuring that all eligible voters can cast a meaningful vote that will be fairly counted. He shows how a constitutional right to vote can deescalate voting wars between political parties that lead to endless rounds of litigation and undermine voter confidence in elections, and can safeguard democracy against dangerous attempts at election subversion like the one we witnessed in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
A Real Right to Vote identifies the historical barriers that have prohibited and challenged individuals' right to vote. Hasen argues that to safeguard democracy action towards a protective voting amendment must occur, especially to avoid election subversion.
CHARLES MARTELL AUTHOR LECTURE SERIES – Fall 2026
Richard Hasen, A Real Right to Vote
DATE: Thursday, October 15, 2026
TIME: 1-2 PM
LOCATION: Zoom (w/subtitles)
REGISTER
Further information and interviews:
- Kirkus Reviews: A persuasive, up-to-date proposal that deserves widespread attention
- The Law Daily: Book Review
- Foreign Affairs: Two Books on Weaknesses in the U.S Electoral System
The Friends of the University Library invite you to join us for this special and timely lecture exploring the historical and constitutional significance to voting protections.