Why Biden Had No Other Choice on Voting Rights
The issue of voting rights has always been one of great importance in the United States. And now, one of the largest political issues in the country’s history is the issue of how much power states and the federal government should have in making voting rights laws. President Joe Biden has recently taken a strong stance on voting rights and is pushing for significant reform. This move has been met with some support, but also a lot of criticism. So, why did Biden decide to go this route on voting rights and what was his motiviation?
Understanding the Background
Before we take a look at why Biden chose such a bold move on voting rights, it is important to understand the background of the issue. Across the US, there is a big divide on the issue of voting rights. Largely, Democrats support expanded federal power in the regulation of voting rights whereas Republicans believe that the power should remain in the hands of the states.
In 2020, several states passed restrictive voting laws, with many of them put in place in key battleground states. This led to a major political debate about the appropriate response to these voting laws. President Biden and Congressional Democrats decided that the best way to protect voting rights was to expand federal power in the voting regulation process. This decision came as part of the “For The People Act”, which proposed sweeping changes to how voting rights are upheld nationally.
Interpreting Biden’s Motivation
There are a few key factors that helped shape Biden’s decision to push for changes in the voting rights regulation process. Firstly, the 2020 election clearly showed that the voting laws of certain states had made it harder for many individuals to exercise their right to vote. Biden believes that this is a fundamental violation of voting rights and that it needs to be addressed in order make sure everyone can participate in elections fairly and equally.
Additionally, the current system of regulation leaves a lot of room for states to pass laws that could be politically beneficial to Republicans while also complicating voting rights for individuals. This increases the likelihood of politicians using voter suppression tactics to try and influence elections. All of these factors come together perfectly to make a strong case for Biden to push for greater federal power in the regulation of voting rights.
Looking at Other Options
When Biden and Congressional Democrats considered other options, they ultimately decided that the best proposal was expanding federal power in the regulation governing voting rights. The other two main options were to leave the power in the hands of the states or for Congress to pass different laws addressing specific voting rights issues.
Leaving the power in the hands of the states was not seen as a viable option for two reasons. The first is that the majority of voting rights legislation is passed by state governments and it does not appear to be changing anytime soon. The second reason is the amount of politically motivated decisions that state governments have been making when it comes to voting rights. This calls into question the integrity and fairness of the current system.
The other main option, passing different laws addressing specific voting rights issues, was also seen as problematic. With so many voting rights being threatened by state legislatures it would be very hard, if not impossible, to accurately address all of them through individual laws. This could lead to a situation where a voting rights law would be found unconstitutional in one state, but still upheld in another, creating an unbalanced system.
The Benefits of Federal Power
Given the challenges of the other two options, an expansion of federal power in the regulation of voting rights was seen as the most appropriate course of action. The idea is that since voting rights are a fundamental right, they should be protected and regulated by the federal government. This means that voting rights issues would be handled on a nationwide basis, with everyone being able to vote equally, regardless of their states of residence.
Furthermore, the federal government has a much stronger enforcement mechanism when it comes to upholding voting rights. This, combined with the fact that the federal government is politically apolitical, makes it perfectly suited for protecting the right to vote.
It is clear that President Biden and Democrats believe that the best way to protect voting rights is to expand federal power in the regulation process. Given the background of the issue and the options that were available, it certainly appears that Biden made the right decision. With any luck, the combination of greater federal power and more even-handed laws should lead to a more equitable voting system, where Americans can all potentially make their voices heard.
