Imagine what the media would say if Trump tried to do this.
The Biden administration’s initiative to compensate college students for registering voters ahead of the 2024 election has stirred controversy among legal experts, who warn of potential legal ramifications if the effort is perceived as aiding President Biden’s reelection bid.
Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled the election initiative during a meeting with voting rights activists at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, emphasizing the importance of boosting voter turnout, particularly among young people.
Under this initiative, students can now receive payment through the federal work-study program for registering voters and serving as nonpartisan poll workers. Harris highlighted the aim to involve young leaders in civic engagement to strengthen communities.
However, critics like Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, argue that the Biden administration is utilizing federal resources (taxpayer funds) to bolster its own electoral prospects. Snead accuses the administration of weaponizing the government for partisan gain, citing President Biden’s Executive Order 14019, which mobilizes federal agencies for voter turnout efforts in collaboration with left-leaning nonprofit organizations.
Hans A. von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, echoes these concerns, labeling the initiative an “outrageous abuse of power” and alleging violations of the Hatch Act and the Anti-Deficiency Act.
The Department of Education issued a memo clarifying that federal work-study funds can support voter registration activities, further fueling criticism from conservative circles and Republican lawmakers like Senator Bill Hagerty, who accuses the administration of using taxpayer dollars to mobilize Democratic voters.
Harris’ praise for poll workers, including one identified as a liberal advocate, Vasu Abhiraman, sparked additional backlash, with critics alleging that the administration is masking partisan activities under the guise of nonpartisanship.
In response, Hagerty and others demand transparency regarding the administration’s taxpayer-funded voter mobilization plans, emphasizing concerns about potential bias in the initiative’s implementation.
The controversy underscores broader debates about the appropriate use of government resources in electoral processes and highlights the challenges of maintaining neutrality in politically charged initiatives.