As frustration mounts, a White House push on voting rights
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a call to "save American democracy," the Biden administration has unveiled new efforts to protect access to the ballot amid rising complaints from civil rights activists and other Democrats that the White House hasn't done enough to counter Republican-led state legislatures attempting to narrow voting procedures.
President Joe Biden met with civil rights leaders Thursday in the West Wing, while Vice President Kamala Harris announced $25 million in new spending by the Democratic National Committee on actions to protect voting access ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Biden and his team stress ongoing legal efforts to safeguard voting rights. They've also promised a major legislative push after Senate Republicans blocked a sweeping election overhaul bill last month. The president has told reporters he plans on "speaking extensively" on voting rights and that he would be "going on the road on this issue."
Friday, the White House announced that Biden would travel to Philadelphia on Tuesday to discuss "actions to protect the sacred, constitutional right to vote."
There has been growing frustration among those in his own party who view GOP actions on voting as an existential threat to both Democrats and democracy.
Pressure only mounted after a Supreme Court decision limited the ability of minorities to challenge state laws that Democrats say are discriminatory under the Voting Rights Act. Biden has brought in outside advocates for meetings at the White House and has consulted advisers on the best strategy for combatting new laws.
"We will not leave any stone unturned to save American democracy," said Marc Morial, head of the National Urban League, as he stood with the Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders after Thursday's meeting. "This is an attack on a very fundamental value that undergirds this country. When we look at what's happening in this nation, we see an effort to impose a system, American apartheid."
During the meeting, Biden and Harris assured the civil rights leaders that they would push Congress to pass voting legislation, while doing everything within the administration's power to secure full voter participation in elections, according to a White House summary.
This Thursday's speech from Harris, tasked with leading the administration's response to voting issues, was expected to be the first from her in a series.
"This campaign is grounded in the firm belief that everyone's vote matters – that your vote matters," Harris said.