President Joe Biden gave a major address on voting rights in Philadelphia on Tuesday, blasting his predecessor’s “Big Lie” claim that the 2020 election would be rigged. “No previous election has ever been held under such scrutiny or with such rigorous standards, according to those who challenge the results or question the election’s legitimacy. The ‘Giant Falsehood’ is exactly what it sounds like: a big lie “Biden made the remarks at the National Constitution Center, which is just a few blocks from Independence Hall. The address comes as his administration comes under increasing pressure from civil rights advocates and other Democrats to do more to battle attacks on voting rights, which Biden described as “the most significant test” of American democracy since the Civil War. Former President Donald Trump has claimed that rampant voter fraud cost him the 2020 election, a claim that has prompted Republican leaders to enact a rush of new voting rules in critical areas like Florida and Georgia. The new restrictions, according to critics, are discriminatory and limit access to the ballot box. The president called the GOP-controlled legislatures’ attempts a “Jim Crow attack” and linked them to actions seen in autocracies around the world. “This is straightforward to me. This is a form of election tampering. It’s the most serious threat to the integrity of free and fair elections we’ve ever faced “Biden stated the following. “If their favorite candidate loses, they want the right to reject the final count and defy the decision of the people.” Defending the right to vote During his speech, Biden pushed for the approval of federal voting rights legislation, saying that the struggle to defend voting rights starts with the passage of the For The People Act. “That bill would assist states in ending voting suppression, removing dark money from politics, giving people a voice, creating fair district maps, and ending partisan political gerrymandering,” Biden added. He chastised Republicans for blocking a broad Democratic voting rights and government ethics bill that failed to clear the Senate last month due to Republican filibustering. In addition, Biden emphasized the significance of adopting the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would “restore and enhance voting protections while preventing voter suppression.” He lobbied Republican legislators to support Democratic legislation that would safeguard voting rights. “For God’s sake,” Biden continued, “we’ll ask my Republican friends in Congress, states, cities, and counties to stand up and assist prevent this coordinated effort to undermine our election and the precious right to vote.” The president slammed the Supreme Court’s “harmful” rulings weakening the 1965 Voting Rights Act, saying that the court first destroyed a major part of the act in 2013 and then upheld two Republican-backed Arizona voting regulations that Democrats claim violate the act on July 1. According to a White House memo sent before the address, the court has also curtailed the ability to “establish deliberate racial discrimination,” making it difficult for advocacy groups and the Department of Justice to challenge restrictive voter laws. By passing voting rights legislation, Biden urged Congress to remedy the “harm done.” Getting ready for the midterms The United States will “meet another test in 2022” during the midterm elections, according to Biden, who added that the country must prepare for voter suppression and election tampering. “We must get ready now, because, as I have repeatedly stated, you can never stop the American people from voting. They will make the decisions, and power must always be in the hands of the people. As a result, just as we did in 2020, we must plan for 2022 “Biden stated the following. According to a research from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, at least 17 states have implemented legislation restricting access to voting, with more being discussed. Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, signed a restrictive election bill into law in March after the state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed it. The law compels voters to present identity for mail-in ballots and prevents persons from providing food or water to those in line, punitive measures that critics believe would hurt minority communities’ turnout. In response, Biden’s administration has turned to the courts. On June 25, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Georgia, alleging that the election bill violated the rights of Black Georgians. Passing new legislation to preserve voting rights in Congress would almost certainly necessitate a change in filibuster rules, especially given the Senate’s razor-thin Democratic majority. However, Biden has favored changing rather than abolishing the filibuster, casting doubt on the likelihood of new voting regulations. Taking a look outside Washington Now that Democrats’ legislative efforts have stalled, the White House is looking for measures to resist the flood of new voting restrictions outside of Washington. Biden met with civil rights groups at the White House multiple times, urging the government to continue fighting for voting rights despite Republican opposition. The organizations have spoken out against Republican-backed voting restrictions that critics believe are targeted at Hispanic, Black, and younger voters. Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked with leading the administration’s efforts to defend voting rights, recently announced a new $25 million investment by the Democratic National Committee to enhance a voter engagement program for the 2017 midterm elections. Biden also issued an executive order urging agencies to improve voter access during his first few months in office. This includes, among other things, establishing better methods of disseminating voting information and expanding chances for voters with special needs, such as service members, individuals with disabilities, and indigenous groups, to participate in the political process./n
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