Biden’s Role in Protecting Democracy
The 2020 presidential election between former Vice President Joe Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump was unprecedented. With millions of American’s voting, it marked the highest voter participation rate in more than a century. President Biden has taken office with the intention of protecting democracy for the American people and restoring faith in the nation’s political system. But is Biden doing enough to protect democracy?
Biden’s Commitment to Democratizing Access to the Ballot Box
President Biden has sought to expand access to the ballot box by promoting voting rights legislation, protecting the U.S. Postal Service, and creating an advisory committee of subject-matter experts to assess federal election safeguards. He has declared his commitment to advancing voting rights and civil rights in his first-100-days agenda, which calls for a requirement of automatic voter registration and early voting in all 50 states. Additionally, he has committed to eliminate discriminatory practices at the state level such as voter ID laws, which have been deemed to disproportionately impact communities of color.
Protecting Police Funding for Investing in Social Services
President Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting police funding on the federal level, while also signaling his focus on investing in communities rather than policing. He has proposed increasing funding for social services programs such as housing, nutrition, education, counseling, and community reinvestment. This aim is to provide more resources for vulnerable citizens, which in turn will make communities more inclusive and reduce crime.
Improving the Efficiency of Election Administration
President Biden is also working to improve the efficiency of election administration by appointing an Election Integrity Commission and creating an Interagency Task Force on Election Administration. These efforts seek to uncover instances of voter suppression, investigate irregularities or misconduct in the voting process, and make recommendations for improvements in state and federal election administration.
Bolstering Election Security and Election Technology
President Biden has also taken steps to bolster election security and promote the adoption of election technology. He has proposed an $800 million package of election security grants, which would provide funding to states to help them upgrade their voting systems to prevent tampering or interference. He also directed the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to develop guidance for state and local governments to ensure that their election technology investments are secure.
Protecting American Democracy from Foreign Interference
Facing a continued threat of foreign interference in our elections, President Biden has called for a range of measures to protect our democracy from malicious activities such as disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and manipulation of the voting infrastructure. He is leading an effort to strengthen the cybersecurity of federal computer networks and the systems people use to cast their votes. Additionally, he has proposed establishing a bipartisan task force to fight foreign interference in the 2020 elections and to protect future elections from such activity.
Combatting Voter Suppression and Partisan Gerrymandering
To further combat voter suppression and partisan gerrymandering, President Biden has signed an executive order that promotes free and fair elections by requiring federal agencies to develop and implement plans for protecting against voter intimidation, suppression, and discrediting of voter information. He has also committed to enacting a suite of delegations and executive orders that provide for stronger disclosure of campaign financing and modernized enforcement of anti-corruption laws. In addition, President Biden has individually denounced the attempts of state legislatures across the country to push through restrictive voting laws and limit access to the ballot box.
President Biden has been actively working to protect and strengthen democracy through legislation, commissions, task forces, grants, and executive orders. He has recognized the importance of increasing access to the ballot box, investing in social services, improving election efficiency, and safeguarding our democracy from foreign interference. In looking at Biden’s actions, it is evident that he is earnestly striving to protect democracy and to ensure that all Americans have the right to cast their votes and make their voices heard.