Staff Reports
Executive Order 14019, signed by President Biden in March 2021, has emerged as a controversial maneuver aimed at expanding voter access, but critics argue it’s more akin to a partisan power grab. This executive order enables federal agencies to engage in Get Out the Vote measures across all levels of elections—including federal prisons. Strangely enough, this order appears to be missing from the White House’s public communications, raising eyebrows among concerned citizens. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, while asserting that it complies with regulations, has taken it upon itself to clarify the intentions and plans of this executive order. But many are skeptical about its legitimacy.
The Executive Order labels voting as a “fundamental” right integral to American democracy and outlines a responsibility for the federal government to enhance voter registration and combat misinformation. Objectives include assisting various disenfranchised groups, from minorities to military personnel overseas. It cites legal frameworks like the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act as justifications for these expansive measures. The notion that the government must step in to ensure voting access, particularly in federal prisons, is alarming for those who believe that such activities should be restricted or better organized at the state level rather than federal overreach.
Nine State AGs Push Back on Biden's Use of Federal Agencies to Tip the Scales of the 2024 Election https://t.co/tToBowmmpS
— Carol RN *Miss Rush & the Gipper* 👩⚕️🇺🇸 🇮🇱🦈 (@pasqueflower19) August 15, 2024
While the EEOC claims adherence to the Hatch Act, Republican state attorneys general are calling foul play on what they perceive as unabashed attempts to mobilize left-leaning voters. Recently, attorneys general from nine states have joined forces to challenge this executive order in court, arguing that the Biden administration is overstepping its bounds and undermining Congress’s power of appropriation. This legal pushback highlights a stark divide: Democrats are seemingly intent on federalizing the electoral process, while Republicans push back to protect the integrity and sovereignty of state-run elections.
Historical parallels are hard to miss when looking at this situation. The 2020 election saw numerous alleged irregularities, and critics of the Biden administration argue that the current executive actions echo the problematic tactics employed during that election cycle. The administration’s efforts to use federal resources to incentivize voter turnout suggest a chilling similarity to past controversies. Democrats warn of authoritarianism while employing strategies that many see as far more manipulative than anything attributed to their political opponents.
Time is of the essence in this legal battle as the clock ticks down to the 2024 elections. Legal experts argue that the delayed response from Republican officials is due to the administration’s covert handling of the executive order. Many are voicing concerns over how many individuals have been registered through these federal initiatives and whether particular states have been targeted in this process. Pennsylvania and its fellow battleground states are sure to grab attention as the integrity of elections hangs in the balance, and the grassroots organizations dedicated to election integrity are likely gearing up for a significant fight against this apparent federal overreach.
