We’ve got to get this done
It’s no secret that Republicans want to make voting harder for those of us disinclined to vote for the QAnon party. As of May 2021, the Brennan Center for Justice had noted at least 389 Republican-sponsored bills to restrict voting in 48 states. The GOP’s bills specifically target voters of color, younger voters, and people with disabilities, in addition to non-Republicans in general. The GOP can’t win on benevolent policies, as its platform is only manufactured white and evangelical grievance and racism. It’s a party that’s no longer compatible with democracy, and it will do anything to regain and maintain power.
Also highly concerning is that Republicans want to make it easier for Republican officials to overturn or refuse to certify legitimate election outcomes if they don’t like the results. That is absolutely incompatible with democracy. It is certain that the GOP would like to see such manipulation of the vote become easier for that party in as many states as possible. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would gaslight us, telling Fox News this week that “there is no voter suppression going on in any state in America.”
The For the People Act (HR 1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4) are imperative, as these pro-democracy acts can mitigate much of the harm the GOP seeks to impose on our elections. The United States cannot endure another Republican presidency or Republican-majority Congress. We must urge our elected officials to pass these bills, and we must turn out and vote for Democrats at all levels in every election. Let us take heart, for there are also nearly 900 Democrat-inspired proposals in 49 states that would protect and expand voting rights. But because it’s difficult to pass pro-voting legislation in states with majority GOP legislatures, it’s important that we put pressure on our members of Congress to pass HR 1 and HR 4. We must protect our elections from Republicans, the enemy within.
