U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, during an event in Selma, Ala., vowed to utilize the resources of the Justice Department to combat voter ID laws and other state-level regulations aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the voting process. Garland, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, labeled these laws as discriminatory, burdensome, and unnecessary.
The event was held to mark the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attacks on civil rights activists. Garland highlighted the historical challenges faced by black Americans in exercising their voting rights and alleged that voter ID laws have hindered millions of eligible voters from participating in elections and choosing their representatives.
“Those measures include practices and procedures that make voting more difficult; redistricting maps that disadvantage minorities; and changes in voting administration that diminish the authority of locally elected or nonpartisan election administrators,” he said during a speech at Selma’s Tabernacle Baptist Church. “Such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government.”
Breitbart added:
“Garland said that he has increased the number of lawyers working in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division, referring to voter integrity laws as “discriminatory, burdensome, and unnecessary restrictions on access to the ballot, including those related to mail-in voting, the use of drop boxes, and voter ID requirements.”’
“That is why we are working to block the adoption of discriminatory redistricting plans that dilute the vote of black voters and other voters of color,” he said.
Indeed, the stance of Garland and the Biden administration on voter integrity laws starkly contrasts with that of the majority of Americans. Numerous surveys have consistently revealed that a significant portion of the population, including up to 60% of Democrats, actually endorse voter ID laws. This observation was further highlighted by Breitbart.
“A new poll, set to be released Wednesday by Rasmussen Reports, indicates that 75 percent of Americans support voter ID laws that require voters to show photo identification before voting — including 60 percent of Democrats,” Breitbart News reported in 2021. “Only 21 percent oppose such laws.”
The Ohio voter ID law, which contains a photo requirement, was deemed constitutional by a federal judge last month. The challenge against the law, filed by a Democratic law firm, was dismissed. U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent, appointed by Clinton, stated in his ruling that the photo ID provision in Ohio imposes minimal burden, if any, on most voters.
The report added: “Nugent also rejected the other claims asserted by the Elias Law Group, whose suit filed last year on behalf of groups representing military veterans, teachers, retirees, and the homeless argued the law imposed ‘needless and discriminatory burdens’ on the right to vote. The suit was filed the same day Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the legislation over the objections of voting rights, labor, environmental, and civil rights groups that had been pleading for a veto.”
The judge emphasized that voters do not have a constitutional right to access mail-in or early voting options. Additionally, he highlighted that Ohio’s updated schedule for obtaining and submitting absentee ballots is more lenient compared to 30 other states. He also noted that the claim about limiting ballot drop boxes affecting voters was unfounded, as the 2023 legislation represented the state’s initial implementation of such boxes.
