President Biden sounded the alarm today about the danger that the Republican attempt to bring about autocracy poses, calling it “a truly unprecedented assault on our democracy.” These efforts are a more sinister continuation of the insurrection of Jan. 6, because they seek to enshrine in law the ability to overthrow elections in a way the mob couldn’t achieve by violent putsch.
This is far worse than the voter suppression found in 360 bills already introduced, because it changes who counts the votes and can contest an outcome in court.
Georgia’s Republican legislature passed a law allowing the GOP state election board to take over the count from a local election board, and limiting the secretary of state’s ability to oversee elections.
Texas Republicans introduced a bill that would allow a sympathetic judge to more easily overturn an election result; Arizona Republicans moved to prevent the secretary of state from contesting a disputed election in court, while restoring that right should a Republican regain that office.
One hundred scholars recently issued a statement saying these initiatives will result in “political systems that no longer meet the minimum conditions for free and fair elections” and “our democracy is now at risk.”
