Sinclair Broadcasting: Political obstacles mount as progressives press Dems to act on voting rights

06.15.2021 / By Stephen Loiaconi
Sinclair Broadcasting: Political obstacles mount as progressives press Dems to act on voting rights

“Having more voting rights lawyers at DOJ is extremely helpful, but as Attorney General Garland himself said, they also need Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act to give DOJ the tools it needs,” said Aaron Scherb, director of legislative affairs for advocacy group Common Cause. ... Scherb, whose organization participates in the Deadline for Democracy effort, said the legislative process is inching ahead slowly, despite Manchin’s public rejection of the For the People Act. Advocates are hopeful grassroots pressure will convince lawmakers there is strong public support for reform. “There’s certainly a lot more activity happening behind the scenes, as well as a huge public push,” he said.

As Democratic leaders in Washington warn Republican-backed voting restrictions threaten the future of American democracy, progressive activists and state legislators have grown frustrated with their response, with some arguing their actions so far do not appear to match the urgency of their rhetoric. …

The sense of alarm among Democrats follows the introduction of nearly 400 bills containing restrictive voting provisions in 48 states this year, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, including 22 that have already been enacted in states like Georgia and Florida. Democrats fear those laws would make it harder for people of color to vote in many communities and, in some cases, could give Republican legislatures the power to overturn election results. …

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday the Department of Justice would double its staff devoted to protecting voting rights and challenging discrimination. President Biden has also signed an executive order aimed at expanding voting access and protecting the freedom to vote.

Civil rights organizations welcomed those executive actions, but they fear the DOJ’s authority will be limited without further action by Congress to strengthen its hand in court. The Supreme Court weakened the protections afforded by the 1965 Voting Rights Act in 2013.

“Having more voting rights lawyers at DOJ is extremely helpful, but as Attorney General Garland himself said, they also need Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act to give DOJ the tools it needs,” said Aaron Scherb, director of legislative affairs for advocacy group Common Cause. …

Scherb, whose organization participates in the Deadline for Democracy effort, said the legislative process is inching ahead slowly, despite Manchin’s public rejection of the For the People Act. Advocates are hopeful grassroots pressure will convince lawmakers there is strong public support for reform.

“There’s certainly a lot more activity happening behind the scenes, as well as a huge public push,” he said.

Activists have challenged Manchin to identify voter protections that can get 60 votes in the Senate, and they are skeptical such provisions exist in the current political climate. In the meantime, they are reluctant to scale back the ambition of reform proposals polling well with the general public.

“We see zero reason to compromise with ourselves at this point,” Scherb said.

See More: Campaign FinanceGerrymandering/RedistrictingTrump Administration/Executive Ethics