Biden signs voter registration executive order as he pushes Senate to pass sweeping HR 1 bill

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Democrats Vote to Make the 2020 Voting Mess Permanent

H.R. 1 would let the feds push the states out of election law.

President Biden signed an executive order designed to increase voter access on Sunday as he pushes the Senate to pass H.R. 1, House Democrats' sweeping voting rights package.

According to the White House, Biden's executive order modernizes Vote.gov, orders federal agencies to expand access to voter registration, provides voting access and education to prisoners in federal custody, examines barriers to citizens with disabilities voting and improves ballot tracking for overseas voters, including active duty military.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS PASS EXTENSIVE VOTING AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM BILL H.R. 1

Sunday is the anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," when civil rights protesters in Alabama, marching from Selma to Montgomery, were beaten by state troopers, spurring passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

"During this current legislative session, elected officials in 43 states have already introduced over 250 bills to make it harder to vote," Biden said in a video on Sunday. "We cannot let them succeed."

Biden also pushed senators to pass H.R. 1.

"This is a landmark piece of legislation that is urgently needed," he said in Sunday's video. "I hope the Senate does its work so I can sign it into law."

Biden on Thursday celebrated the House passing H.R. 1, saying he would sign it if it passes the Senate.

President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House, Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ((AP Photo/Alex Brandon))

Biden called it "urgently needed" to protect the right to vote and to "strengthen" democracy, and vowed to work with Congress to "refine and advance" the legislation.

The For the People Act of 2021, known as H.R. 1, passed Wednesday by a vote of 220 to 210. No Republicans joined with Democrats in approving the bill.

"When I say that the president urges Congress to take action that would prevent states from attempts at voter suppression, that applies to all states, and it applies to making sure that the federal government and private litigants have the tools necessary to prevent restrictive voting action," a senior administration official said at a background briefing.

The official said Biden's executive order can only "stem that tide" of "state voter suppressive action" in response to a reporter's question.

"I hear you and share the concern about the impact on voters and the subtraction of voters that can take place through state voter suppressive action, and it makes me sick to think about it. And I am so grateful to the president for taking every action that he can. Now, these are only to stem that tide," the official said.

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Republicans fiercely oppose the legislation — this time around, and during the last Congress when House Democrats first introduced the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., last week slammed the legislation as "exactly the wrong response" to what he called the "distressing lack of faith in our elections," saying Democrats want to use their "temporary power" to "try to ensure they'll never have to relinquish it."

Fox News' Brooke Singman, Peter Doocy, Marisa Schultz and The Associated Press  contributed to this report.