While Black activists are celebrating Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, conservatives are working to assure that their candidate will not lose the election in 2024. They understand the narrow difference between victory and defeat.
It is clear from the results that the solid 87% Black vote for Biden was significant in producing the victory. The 57% support of white voters was not enough to enable Trump to win, although about 66% of citizens voting were white. The 66% vote of Asians for Biden essentially closed the door.
So Republicans have begun the process of reducing the Black vote by making it more difficult for Blacks to get to the polls. State legislators in Georgia are eager to remove the two Democratic Party U.S. senators who were recently elected. Conservatives are also upset that the traditionally red state turned blue in the 2020 election.
Stacey Abrams, a Black political activist, organized such a dynamic campaign that even Blacks who had never voted before went to the polls. The challenge to white politicians was for them to develop an equally inspiring political message. Failing in that, they plan to lock the door of the polling place. They plan to ban drop boxes for mail-in ballots, restrict early voting on weekends, end voting after church on Sunday and eliminate automatic voter registration.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act places some limitation on state policies that restrict the right to vote. It is questionable how the U.S. Supreme Court will decide challenges on these voting issues, which are destined to be litigated in abundance. The Constitution gives the states great authority to establish voting procedures.
After the republic’s democratic principles were challenged on Jan. 6, perhaps the courts will decide the cases with the understanding that the unfettered right to vote is essential for a democracy. And perhaps the legislature can provide the necessary assist with a new voting rights act.
