President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Sunday calling on federal agencies to expand voting access. The order is a part of his administration’s efforts to “to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections.”
The order comes as Democrats face challenges to pass a sweeping election bill meant to combat proposals introduced by Republican lawmakers meant to restrict voter access.
“It is the responsibility of the federal government to expand access to, and education about, voter registration and election information, and to combat misinformation, in order to enable all eligible Americans to participate in our democracy,” Biden’s order read.
“Today, on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, I am signing an executive order to make it easier for eligible voters to register to vote and improve access to voting,” Biden said in virtual remarks on Sunday. “Every eligible voter should be able to vote and have that vote counted. If you have the best ideas, you have nothing to hide. Let the people vote.”
The news comes a day after the House passed HR1, a package of electoral and ethics reforms that Biden said he would sign into law if it passes in the Senate. It also comes as Republicans are working to put stricter voting restrictions into place after former President Donald Trump’s defeat.
On Sunday, Biden called out the GOP for their “assault on the right to vote.”
“During the current legislative session, elected officials in 43 states have already introduced more than 250 bills to make it harder for Americans to vote,” he said. “We cannot let them succeed.”
Biden called on Congress to pass HR1 and restore the Voting Rights’ Act, named in honor of the late civil rights icon, Rep. John Lewis.
“I hope the Senate does its work so that I can sign it into law,” he continued. “I also urge Congress to fully restore the Voting Rights Act, named in John Lewis’ honor.”
