Republican Resistance: Biden wants to make the American vote fairer

Sunday 7 March 2021

Republican resistance
Biden wants to make the American vote fairer

The results of the US presidential election were very close in several states. This is also due to the shape of the many electoral districts and the historically high hurdles to registration. The Biden government now wants to embark on reform. The resistance is fierce.

President Joe Biden signed an order to make it easier for US citizens to vote in elections. Biden said that on the 56th anniversary of the crackdown on a civil rights rally at the Bridge in Salma, Alabama, he signed an order “to facilitate voter registration and improve access to voting.”

“If you have better ideas, you have nothing to hide. Let people vote!” Several Republican-led states have been accused of allocating constituencies, among other things, to punish Democrats. There are often not enough polling stations there, resulting in many citizens delaying hiking and waiting times.

The House of Representatives, where Democrats have a majority, voted on Wednesday in favor of a similar bill, which was vehemently opposed by Republicans. The “For the People” law would expand possibilities for mail-in voting, automate voter registration, prohibit party redistribution of constituencies and establish new requirements for so-called black money donations to political groups. In the Senate, which must also be passed, there is a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans.

Georgia is already creating new obstacles for minorities

With the order now signed by Biden, all federal authorities should examine ways to improve electoral practice – paying special attention, among other things, to voters with disabilities or prisoners. Within 200 days, they must present a plan on how to do this. However, there is strong resistance to that – especially since the president has little influence over implementation in the states.

Biden said, “The people elected in 43 states have introduced more than 250 bills designed to make Americans vote more difficult. We cannot let them succeed.” In Georgia, for example, Republicans are accused of trying to suppress the voices of blacks and other minorities in this way after their recent narrow defeats.