The State of Our Democracy
States United Democracy Center
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The State of Our Democracy
President Biden?used part of his State of the Union address this week to talk about the state of our democracy—bruised, in his words, but “unbowed and unbroken.”
He spoke from the Capitol, a physical symbol of both the peril our country faced on Jan. 6, 2021, and the resilience of our system of government. A living symbol of that same peril and resilience was watching the speech from the gallery.
Paul Pelosi?received a warm ovation, barely three months after a hammer attack that fractured his skull and left him hospitalized for six days. He wore a hat as he stood to acknowledge the applause.
Biden reminded the House chamber that an unhinged adherent of the Big Lie “unleashed political violence at the home of the then-speaker of the House of Representatives, using the very same language the insurrectionists used as they stalked these halls and chanted on Jan. 6.”
The attack on Paul Pelosi last October was proof that political violence is a persistent threat in the United States. As Biden suggested, working to prevent it is an indispensable part of the ongoing work of protecting our democracy.
“We must all speak out,” the president said.?“There’s no place for political violence in America.?We have to protect the right to vote, not suppress that fundamental right. Honor the results of our elections, not subvert the will of the people. We have to uphold the rule of the law and restore trust in our institutions of democracy. And we must give hate and extremism in any form no safe harbor.”
State of the Union addresses, by their nature, are partisan affairs. Presidents celebrate their achievements and describe their policy goals. Commentators watch for who stands and applauds and who remains in their seats.
In those ways, this year’s address was no different. But it came with a living reminder: No matter how you feel about Biden’s policy goals, or any president’s, safeguarding our democracy is not a partisan issue. It’s an American responsibility.
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In the News
Bloomberg:?Biden Highlights Threats to Democracy in State of the Union By Ryan Teague Beckwith
“President Joe Biden highlighted ongoing threats to free and fair elections in his State of the Union address to Congress, linking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol to the assault last fall on then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband.”
AP via PBS:?Some Capitol rioters apologize in court for Jan. 6, downplay crimes after . By Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Kunzelman
“ … a series of Jan. 6 defendants … have expressed regret for joining the pro-Trump mob that rattled the foundations of American democracy only to strike a different tone or downplay the riot after receiving their punishment.”
NPR:?How a major election theory case at the U.S. Supreme Court could get thrown out . By Hansi Lo Wang
“An unusual move by North Carolina's highest state court has raised the question of whether the U.S. Supreme Court will end up throwing out a major election case about a once-fringe theory that could upend federal elections across the country.”
KTAR:?Arizona AG Mayes warns that she will prosecute individuals who threaten election workers . By Danny Shapiro
“Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a warning … to anyone considering threatening election workers in the state. ‘People need to be on notice that they now have an attorney general who will prosecute this behavior,’ Mayes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.?‘I will not allow this to go on in 2024 and 2026.’”
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Votebeat:?How an Arizona official is making Cochise County a ‘laboratory’ for election skepticism . By Jen Fifield
“Recorder David Stevens — a close ally to Mark Finchem — pursued the county’s illegal plan to hand count midterm ballots and stands to take more control of elections there. … Together with the supervisors, Stevens allowed the county to become a test case for how to disrupt elections in 2024, according to local Democrats and officials at nonprofits focused on guarding elections.”
Bolts:?‘They don’t trust us’: Nevada Election Workers Still Face Pressure and Harassment . By Alex Burness
“Nevada’s new secretary of state, who defeated a prominent election denier in November, tells?Bolts?that his priority will be to step up protections for election workers.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer:?New Pa. Supreme Court opinion opens the door for a patchwork of county policies on wrongly dated ballots . By Jonathan Lai and Jeremy Roebuck
“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has once again waded into the protracted legal battle over whether mail ballots missing a date or with the wrong date should be thrown out. But while a series of opinions the justices issued Wednesday offered new clarity, they also opened the door to fresh confusion and the almost certain prospect of counties developing a patchwork of different policies over what exactly constitutes a correct date.”
NPR:?Pennsylvania voting officials are still fighting election deniers . By Hansi Lo Wang
“It's been 27 months since President Biden won the 2020 election. But that election continues to haunt officials in the Philadelphia suburb of Delaware County, Pa., who are still dealing with lawsuits alleging election fraud, despite no substantial evidence, and ongoing criticism from some local residents during public meetings.”
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About the States United Democracy Center:
The States United Democracy Center is a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. We focus on connecting state officials, law enforcement leaders, and pro-democracy partners across America with the tools and expertise they need to safeguard our democracy. We are more than a think tank—we are an action tank. And together, we are committed to making sure every vote is counted, every voice is heard, and every election is safe. To learn more, visit?www.statesuniteddemocracy.org .
About States United Action
States United Action is a nonpartisan section 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization with a mission to protect our elections and our democracy. States United Action advocates for policies that protect election integrity, hold democracy violators accountable, and prevent political violence that threatens to undermine the will of the American people, and amplifies the voices of state leaders and law enforcement leaders who share these values. To learn more, visit?www.statesuniteddemocracy.org/states-united-action.
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