Five executive orders Biden can issue to protect elections before it’s too late

With the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary in the rearview mirror, Election Day 2024. rapidly approaching.

That means a few more months of flawed but functioning democracy, and there’s no telling what will happen after that.Months until election with mostly strange behavior did it Where dangerous acts of voter suppression, intimidation, etc. occur. practically guaranteed.

There are only a few more months left in which we need to do everything possible to protect our elections and strengthen our democracy from future attacks.

And if you’re like me, you’re worried.

At this point, despite Democrats’ best efforts, Congress does not appear to be up to the task. The Republican-controlled House followed up on that policy. Chairmanship fiasco Fight after fight.this Republican majority is struggling Just to keep the lights on. And when Democrats reintroduce a major voting rights bill, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act And that freedom to vote actthe far-right Republicans are determined to ignore them.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to take meaningful and achievable action before the next election begins. And the White House has the authority to do that.

By issuing presidential order In several key areas of concern, President Biden could do more to protect elections and increase transparency about who is pulling the strings in elections and undermining democratic institutions. .

Good government Declaration of the American Democratic UnionMy organization, People For the American Way, is also a member. 5 types of executive orders Something that President Biden can issue.

These include orders requiring the Justice Department to establish an election protection task force and ordering government contractors to disclose political spending. Other orders would require the Justice Department to crack down on foreign companies that use shell companies and other corrupt methods to funnel money into our political system, and for the Justice Department’s powerful Office of General Counsel to make its decisions public.

Another important order could limit the president’s powers and prevent someone like Donald Trump from filling government positions with unqualified acolytes.

All of these are important. But the need for action now to prevent things like voter suppression, disinformation, and intimidation cannot be overstated. Seen in 2022.

Back in 2021, President Biden anticipated the risks to the upcoming election and issued executive orders directly related to election protection.that presidential order It directed federal agencies to find ways to improve voting access, including making it easier for employees to vote. This was a great command, but it still needs to be fully executed.

We also need to focus more resources on the most serious threats, such as those we experienced in 2022. In that election, armed vigilantes harassed and tailed citizens voting in their mailboxes.We need to create a more efficient framework for the Department of Justice to intervene and stop illegal harassment.yes, still needed freedom to vote act, penalties for harassment, among other things, will be strengthened. But moving forward this Congress will be an uphill battle.

Which brings us back to the urgency of the current White House action.

Let me be clear: government by executive order is not the ideal in our representative democracy. It’s not a panacea either. Executive order may be revoked It can be as simple as being issued by a current or future president. These could be overturned in court or defunded by Congress.

But right now, we have a clear and urgent need that can be addressed in the immediate short term by executive order. It would be great if all of these Executive Order reforms became permanent. But first, we need clean and fair elections in 2024.

As someone who ran for office and believes deeply in what government can do for real people, I desperately want our democracy to survive the next election. We cannot leave any options open, so President Biden needs to act now to strengthen our democratic institutions.

Time is running out.

Mr. Svante Myrick american people.