Democrats in Congress are seeking to pass legislation that would impose draconian restrictions on the ability of states to set their own voting laws, violating state sovereignty as established under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
On Tuesday, Democrats introduced H.R. 4, titled the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021. The bill is sponsored by Representative Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and co-sponsored by 191 representatives. The House plans to vote on the bill next week.
If passed, H.R. 4 would implement a sweeping federalization of American elections, albeit more stealthily than the “For the People Act,” and severely infringe upon state sovereignty.
Most prominently, H.R. 4 would reestablish a “preclearance” process that states would be forced to abide by. Under it, states seeking to change their election laws in any way would need permission — before the law goes into effect — from the U.S. Department of Justice. A preclearance requirement existed under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, but the U.S. Supreme Court struck down that provision in 2013.
The new preclearance criteria would be even broader and more draconian. They would make it significantly easier to force states to ask permission, and for career bureaucrats and leftist appointees in the DOJ to strike down any proposals. The preclearance provision also blatantly violates the 10th Amendment, giving a small handful of unelected officials total power over state election laws.
Furthermore, the types of election laws subject to preclearance under H.R. 4 are very broad, even including redistricting. Altogether, this would subject nearly every facet of state and local election procedures to federal control, thus potentially rigging elections in favor of the Left.
H.R. 4 would also change Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, making it easier for left-wing activists and the federal government to take legal action against state election laws on the basis of “racism.”
The bill would also require states to fully pay for polling places on Indian reservations, despite the federal government’s use of these reservations to assault freedom and subvert state sovereignty.
There is a high risk of H.R. 4 getting enacted. Despite leaning against the also-draconian and unconstitutional “For the People Act,” purported “moderate” Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has endorsed H.R. 4, and he has joined forces with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in calling for the bill’s enactment. Furthermore, Manchin and other Senate Democrats are currently negotiating an amended election bill that can pass with Republican support.
Because of the Left’s advocacy of extremist and blatantly-Marxist legislation, it is pushing the Overton Window to the left. Thus, also-extremist legislation such as H.R. 4 is suddenly perceived as “moderate” by weak Republicans. The Left has done this on multiple issues, and it is imperative that patriots stop them in their tracks.
Congress would be wise to reject H.R. 4 and any other bill that demolishes election integrity and unconstitutionally infringes upon the 10th Amendment. Rather than enacting legislation such as this, it should only support legislation that adheres to the U.S. Constitution while also strengthening the integrity of American elections.
To urge your U.S. representative and senators to reject the radical and unconstitutional John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, visit The John Birch Society’s legislative alert here.
