Democrats are pushing for more federal involvement in state elections as part of their new platform. Released ahead of the Democratic National Convention, the platform emphasizes empowering the Department of Justice to challenge state laws that the left claims restrict voting rights.
The centerpiece of this effort is the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. This legislation would allow the DOJ to block state election laws based on allegations of discrimination — reversing the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder. That decision removed outdated federal oversight, giving states more control over their election procedures. Critics argue that the new act would restore federal overreach, allowing leftist groups and the DOJ to dictate state election rules.
Georgia’s voter ID law is a prime example of this ongoing battle. Despite widespread support for voter ID requirements — with a Pew Research poll showing 81% of Americans favoring them — Democrats have labeled Georgia’s law as “voter suppression.” President Biden went so far as to call the law “Jim Crow 2.0” in a 2022 speech.
The Democrat platform also targets states that require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. These efforts, critics argue, are designed to weaken state authority over elections and centralize control at the federal level. As election season heats up, the fight between state sovereignty and federal intervention remains at the forefront of the political landscape.
