In an overreach of federal power, Attorney General Merrick Garland took aim at secure election measures while speaking in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the anniversary of the voting rights march. Garland outrageously decried voter ID requirements adopted by states as “discriminatory, burdensome, and unnecessary” despite such laws being widely popular across party lines.
“The right to vote is still under attack,” Garland declared dramatically, casting himself as a champion of democracy while threatening to wield the Justice Department against reasonable efforts by states to protect election integrity. He arrogantly dismissed bipartisan voter ID laws as improper “restrictions on access to the ballot.”
Garland’s loaded rhetoric demonizing common-sense security measures like voter ID was a slap in the face to the majority of Americans of all backgrounds who overwhelmingly support such policies. Poll after poll has confirmed around 80% of voters favor requiring identification to vote, including strong majorities of Democrats, Blacks, Hispanics, and low-income citizens. Only elites in their ivory towers oppose this basic safeguard.
The Attorney General’s inflammatory comments reveal how out-of-touch he is with the American people on this issue. Voter ID simply ensures that only eligible citizens are voting, preventing fraud and illegal voting. It is the bare minimum needed to have secure, credible elections that all citizens can have faith in.
Rather than respecting states’ constitutional authority to run their own elections, the Biden administration is threatening to meddle and undermine popular integrity measures in a naked power grab. Garland is recklessly politicizing his office to demonize policies the vast majority of the nation supports across racial and partisan lines.
Americans see through this partisan charade of manufacturing outrage over racist voter “suppression” that simply does not exist. They want common-sense protections like voter ID to prevent illegitimate voting and ensure the one person, one vote principle is upheld. Garland would be wise to listen to the people instead of catering to the democratic integrity deniers.