The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law

The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law offers a sophisticated introduction to one of the most dynamic, contested, and consequential areas of American law. Election law plays a critical role in regulating the political arena at a time when most Americans are witnessing unprecedented levels of polarization. The field is rife with controversies, yet understanding it is also vital to the success of American democracy.

The Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of American election law, a survey of the core themes that encompass the field, and summaries of its most pressing debates. This book is the first of its kind, bringing together 47 leading scholars of American election law to offer definitive perspectives on their field. The book begins by explaining how election law relates to several of its closest academic cousins, including constitutional law, democratic theory, and empirical social science. It then goes on to explore the major topics in election law, including the right to vote, the rules of running for office, the role of political parties, the dynamics of redistricting and gerrymandering, the history and necessity of the Voting Rights Act, the intricacies of campaign finance, and the recurring controversies surrounding election administration in the individual states.

Election law warrants careful, detailed, and thorough analysis. The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law offers readers a clearly written guide to aid navigation through this thorny terrain, crystallizing controversial issues and situating them within the field’s ongoing scholarly debates. The book aims to reach newcomers to the field as well as those who hope to gain a firmer understanding of election law’s nuances, intricacies, and complexities. Unparalleled in the breadth and depth of its coverage, The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law is an invaluable resource for scholars, students, policymakers, and practitioners.

Eugene D. Mazo is Associate Professor of Law and Political Science at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Duquesne University. An expert in election law and constitutional law, his work focuses on the theory and practice of democracy, both in the United States and around the world. He is the co-editor of The Best Candidate: Presidential Nomination in Polarized Times (2020), Democracy by the People: Reforming Campaign Finance in America (2018), and Election Law Stories (2016). A graduate of Columbia College, Professor Mazo holds a master’s degree from Harvard, his doctorate in politics from Oxford, and a law degree from Stanford.