Some Democrats are poised to move to voting rights after talks seem to have ended over President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), indicated this month that he considers a vote rights bill “a lot greater” than the “Build Back better” bill. And in a letter to Senate Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) He stated that he would bring forward a vote rights bill “as soon the first week back” after the holiday.
However, if Democrats want to combat the restrictive voting laws in Republican states, and to prevent another 2020 certification disaster, their proposals currently are inadequate.
H.R. 1 The “For the People Act of 2021” H.R. H.R. The House also passed provisions that prevent gerrymandering, requiring states set up nonpartisan redistricting committees. These commissions have been successful in some states.
H.R. 1 does not exist. Jessica Huseman, editorial director of Votebeat, wrote in The Daily Beast The House approved the bill. Many of its voting provisions “show remarkably limited understanding of the issues the authors use alarmingly prescriptive solution to.” Some of the contents are “literally impossible to implement” and, overall, “the bill will make elections less secure because it forces states to rush to implement gargantuan changes in highly unrealistic timeframes.”
According to the law, every state must implement automatic voter registration. The system is based upon citizens’ interaction with state agencies, such as driver’s and public health services. However, this timeframe does not account for the immense task of streamlining all the agencies’ databases so they can work together smoothly. A law requires every state to purchase specific voting machines, which must meet certain standards established by the federal Election Assistance Commission. Huseman points out that these machines are not yet in use and won’t circulate until 2025.
The bill’s supporters sell it to Republican-led states as a way to eliminate restrictive voting laws or to overturn electoral results. Vox It is noted that most of the bill will be ineffective. It was also drafted before January 6th, casting doubts on its ability to address post-election issues like the ones faced by former President Donald Trump. H.R. 1 Democrats have now shifted their attention to the Freedom to Vote Act, a bill that would allow them to vote in a referendum. However, this bill will be much more narrow than the For the People Act and thus present a compromise to moderate Democrats and Republicans.
The impulse to “just do it” when faced with a problem isn’t new. Mass shootings are not uncommon. This is why lawmakers often call for more gun control measures. Numerous gun control groups expressed their disappointment over Biden’s failure to make progress in gun control following the shooting at a Michigan school last month.
The results of “just do it” gun control legislations should be clear: A U.S. District Court judge overturned California’s assault weapon ban earlier this year, citing 2008 Supreme Court rulings. D.C. v. Heller. It was very similar in content to the 2004 federal assault weapon ban, which many Democrats (including the president) want to revive. In addition to constitutional concerns, the definition of “assault weapon” in the law was almost entirely superficial. Even though they had no impact on its use, features such as pistol grips or folding stocks were sufficient to get the title.
While assault weapon bans may not be helpful if there is an intention to prevent mass shootings then they are unlikely to make gun ownership easier. Similar to this, the new voting rights laws proposed by Democrats in 2018 would place undue pressures on states and localities that enforce them. However, they have little effect or none on the real issues.