Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales issued a warning to over 120 federal agencies operating in the state, cautioning them against providing voter registration services described in a three-year-old presidential executive order without state approval. Morales expressed his belief that states should have control over their own elections and criticized federal government involvement.
President Biden’s executive order from spring 2021, titled “Promoting access to voting,” directed federal agencies to consider ways to encourage citizen participation in the electoral process. Morales highlighted the need for agencies to be designated as “voter registration agencies” by the state in order to conduct voter registration activities.
The letter from Morales is part of a trend of pushback against Biden’s order, with conservative activists and politicians challenging its legality. Conservative interest groups praised Morales for standing up against federal overreach and protecting Indiana’s elections from interference.
Morales concluded his letter by emphasizing the state’s statutory framework for voter registration and assistance activities that must be respected. Conservative groups, including Heritage Action and The Oversight Project, commended Morales for taking action against what they perceive as federal overreach in elections.
Overall, Morales’ letter represents the ongoing debate and legal challenges surrounding federal involvement in state elections and the various viewpoints on the issue. The pushback from conservative groups underscores the importance of states’ rights and the need for clarity in the role of federal agencies in voter registration activities.
Source
Photo credit indianacapitalchronicle.com