US President Joe Biden has risen to power on the back of a highly controversial election. There were allegations of voter fraud and lack of transparency in several states and the general faith of, at least, the Republican voters in American electoral process stands wounded. But if you want to restore faith in the American electoral process, you are up for disappointment. Democrats have come up with a legislation which could further erode voters’ faith in US polls.
Democrats want to push through an Election Reforms Bill, or what is officially called For the People Act. It is an egregious legislation that seeks to federalise elections in the United States. For the People Act was first introduced by Democrats two years ago, but since Republicans had a majority in the Senate, the legislation fortunately got blocked. Now, Democrats want to get it through the Congress, so that they never have to relinquish power again.
The main conflict is between the right of American states to decide how elections are conducted and the ambitions of Washington Democrats to dictate terms. For the People Act is a charter in fulfillment of Democratic demands like no-excuse absentee voting, mandate early voting and allow same day registration, amidst a number of other measures that tend to completely unregulate federal elections.
The legislation supported by Democrats is an attempt to overpower the states. And it would go as far as barring states from prohibiting mail-in and curbside voting. The legislative proposal unabashedly attempts to block recent state laws regulating the electoral process. Democrats want to allow online voter registration and making it illegal to prevent anyone from registering to vote.
By cutting down regulation in electoral process, Democrats are further eroding faith in American elections. For the People Act implies that states can no longer require voters to show identification while casting a ballot. And while no one wants voter suppression, showing identification is a basic tenet of voter authenticity. To put it bluntly, such dubious provisions can actually allow the federal regime to steal future elections.
Republicans legitimately fear that if Democrats succeed in getting the so-called Election Reform Bill passed, then the federal government would enjoy too much of power in deciding how elections are conducted. One America’s Pearson Sharp explained, “Right now, under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, individual states are given control over how they manage our elections.”
Sharp added, “Democrats are ready to tear up the Constitution however, and the bill begins by stating Congress now has ultimate supervisory power over federal elections. This bill is the death of democracy.”
So, in the name of electoral reforms, Democrats are ready to destroy the very essence of American Constitutional provisions regarding conduct of federal polls.
Meanwhile, Senate minority leaders, Mitch McConnell has slammed the legislation. He accused the Democrats of trying to “recycle failed legislation”. And also described For the People Act as an attempt to “grab unprecedented power over how America conducts its elections and how American citizens can engage in political speech.”
The Republican Senator added that “no – they want to try to use their slim majorities to unilaterally rewrite and nationalize election law itself.” McConnell also said that Democrats want “to use the temporary power the voters have granted them to try to ensure they’ll never have to relinquish it.”
So, the message from Democrats is clear- they have a chance of snatching the right to conduct elections from states. And they are actually doing it. Too much of power in the hands of a federal government can very easily open up opportunities for its abuse, which could mean a democrat government in the US forever.