Biden signs new EO expanding Americans’ right to vote, urges Congress to restore Voting Rights Act [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• On Sunday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating the federal agencies to beef up access to voter registration services to ensure that all US citizens could vote.
• Biden also called on Congress to bring back the Voting Rights Act, a law that restricts racial discrimination among voters.
• The president was working towards making a more solid voting right for every eligible American.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Sunday, which would increase the voter’s access to voter registration services and other necessary information — ensuring that Americans will exercise their right to vote.

Biden also urged Congress to bring back the Voting Rights Act. The measure was made into law in 1965 after the violent protest in Selma, Alabama.

“I also urge Congress to fully restore the Voting Rights Act, named in John Lewis’ honor,” he said.

As one of the activists that led the demonstration at the time, the late Rep. John Lewis (D-GA.) obtained a fractured skull from the commotion.

Biden’s new executive order marked the 56th anniversary of the infamous rally known as the Bloody Sunday.

“Today, on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, I am signing an executive order to make it easier for eligible voters to register to vote and improve access to voting,” the president said. “Every eligible voter should be able to vote and have that vote counted. If you have the best ideas, you have nothing to hide. Let the people vote.”

Per the White House, the president’s executive order was an “initial step” towards restoring the Voting Rights Act, as he wishes to work alongside Congress in making voting a privilege that every citizen can enjoy.

The president also considers pushing for the ‘For the People Act’ in Congress, a law that seeks to extend voting rights and make it more accessible and equitable.

“This is a landmark piece of legislation that is urgently needed to protect the right to vote, the integrity of our elections, and to repair and strengthen our democracy,” Biden said.

Ultimately, the president’s executive order was to lay a foundation towards making Black people and other minority groups such as Native Americans and people with disabilities have their chance to participate in the polls. The order also aims to spark efforts in expanding voting access to other federal employees, active US service members, and overseas voters as well as eligible voters in prison.

The order also instructs federal agencies to expand voter registration and information access, especially online, and level-up distribution of mail-in votes and voter registration applications. It also mandates federal agencies to work efficiently with state governments on voter registration.

The Supreme Court debunked a crucial provision of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, ruling in favor of nine states, mostly coming from the south, to change their election laws. The said states had issues of social discrimination in the past.

Source: CNBC.com