Mike Pence has equated Democratic efforts to pass voting rights protections with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, writing in a staggeringly misleading and inaccurate op-ed that both were “power grabs” that posed a threat to the US constitution.
As Donald Trump’s vice president, Pence refused to overturn the 2020 election and rejected pressure to reject valid voter rolls on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021.
Such an effort would have amounted to a coup, the legitimate winner of the presidential election, Joe Biden, the Oval Office denied.
Some rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence” as they walked through the halls of Congress. Others erected a gallows outside.
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But in the Washington Post on Friday, Pence argued that Democratic proposals to expand voter access, such as requiring mail-in ballot drop boxes, relaxing voter ID requirements and allowing same-day voter registration and access, they were as unconstitutional as an attempt. to subvert constitutional procedure with violence.
The other Democratic proposal that Pence said was similar to the Capitol site was a proposal to restore a key piece of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that required places with a history of voting discrimination to get changes approved by the federal government before voting. that come into force.
“Your plan to end filibuster to allow Democrats to pass a bill nationalizing our elections would offend the founders’ intent for states to hold elections as much as some of our most ardent supporters would have me do a year ago.” Pence wrote. .
“The notion that Congress would break the filibuster rule to pass a law that would amount to a total takeover of the election by the federal government is inconsistent with our nation’s history and an affront to the fabric of our constitution.”
The characterization was inaccurate. the constitution of the united states explicitly gives Congress a role in setting the rules for federal elections.
Article I, Section IV, says: “The Times, Places and Form of holding the Elections of Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislative Assembly of the same; but Congress may at any time by Law make or modify such Regulations.”
Pence also falsely wrote that the Democratic proposals would require states to adopt “universal voting by mail,” a term generally used to describe the process in states like Colorado and Washington that automatically mail ballots to registered voters.
The Democrats’ proposed legislation would require states to allow anyone who wants to vote by mail to request a ballot, but would not impose a requirement that states automatically mail ballots to all voters.
The former vice president has previously downplayed the attack on Capitol Hill by saying it focused too much on “one day in January.” In his column for the Post, he said: “Lives were lost and many were injured.”
Seven people, including law enforcement officers, he died in connection with the attack. More than 100 officers were injured.
More than 700 people have been charged in connection with the attack. On Thursday, 11 members of the Oath Keepers militia were charged with seditious conspiracy.
The Democrats accuse that the electoral laws approved in the states controlled by Republicans since January 6, 2021 seek to restrict the voting of the groups that can vote for the Democrats, among which African Americans stand out.
Biden has spoken out forcefully on the issue, saying federal voting rights protections are needed to counter such racist moves. Republicans have protested the president’s rhetoric.
Republican lawmakers have also sought to make it easier to overturn election results, while Trump allies seek to fill key electoral positions from which they would control the vote count in future elections.
Democrats’ proposed voting rights bills would increase protections for election officials who have faced an unprecedented wave of harassment over the past year. They would also prevent partisan actors from removing election officials without cause and make it easier for voters to go to court to ensure valid votes are not thrown out.
In short, the Democrats intend to establish legal standards to ensure that no other vice president is put in the position that Pence held on January 6, 2021.
While Biden has made a big push in support of voting rights legislation, his prospects look bleak. Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin, staunch supporters of filibuster, the 60-vote rule required to advance most bills in the Senate, said Thursday they would not vote to amend the requirement.
Because no Republicans support ending filibuster, the Democratic voting rights bills cannot pass at this time.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism