Biden Puts Harris In Charge Of Protecting Voting Rights

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden assigned Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the administration's push to protect voting rights. At present, federal election reform legislation faces steep hurdles in the split Senate.

RELATED: Democrats Pushing To Expand Criminal Voting Rights

‘We’re Going To Overcome Again’

During his remarks commemorating the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma, Race Massacre, Biden said that Harris will take charge of protecting voting rights. With Harris taking the lead, voting reforms can “address what remains on the stained soul of America.”

Biden then asked the Tulsa community leaders and survivors for support as they commemorated the the100th anniversary of the bloody attack on Tulsa's Black residents. “With her leadership and your support, we're going to overcome again,” he said.  

Harris Expands Her Portfolio

In a statement, Vice President Harris said in a statement that she will work with voting rights groups and lawmakers.

“In the days and weeks ahead, I will engage the American people, and I will work with voting rights organizations, community organizations, and the private sector to help strengthen and uplift efforts on voting rights nationwide.

And we will also work with members of Congress to help advance these bills. Our Administration will not stand by when confronted with any effort that keeps Americans from voting,” she said.

This new assignment adds another job for the Vice President. Last March, Biden selected Harris to lead the administration’s efforts to curb migration as record numbers surge the borders.

She will lead diplomatic efforts to persuade the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to stop sending illegal migrants en masse.

So far, Harris’s assignment has yet to bear any results. April recorded the second-highest number of arrested migrants in a month. 

‘Un-American Efforts’

Biden also accused Republicans of making “Un-American” efforts to place new limits on elections after losing out on the Presidential election.

He is closely followed by Democrats in many states that oppose any changes to voting laws. In fact, Democrat Texas lawmakers walked out that effectively prevented the approval of a voting reform bill.  

“Texas legislators put forth a bill that joins Georgia and Florida in advancing a state law that attacks the sacred right to vote.

It's part of an assault on democracy that we've seen far too often this year —and often disproportionately targeting Black and brown Americans,” Biden accused.

He also asked voting rights groups to double their efforts in educating voters and getting them to vote. In addition, he said his administration will increase efforts to counter the so-called Republican assault on voting laws. 

For The People Act

The Democratic majority in the House passed the For The People Act, a comprehensive bill that expands access to the ballot box. The bill plans to create automatic voter registration across the country.

It also plans to restore the voting rights of ex-convicts. Then, the bill also wants longer early voting of at least 15 days. On top of that, the For The People Act wants universal access to mail-in voting and makes Election Day a national holiday.

Watch the NBC News video reporting that President Joe Biden taps VP Kamala Harris to lead an effort to protect voting rights:

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Do you agree with Biden’s choice of Harris as protector of voting rights? Why does Biden think she’s qualified to perform the job? Also, why do Democrats want expanded voting rules instead of stricter ones?

Let us know what you think. Share your comments in the comments section below.