Biden calls state efforts to restrict voting 'sick'

Washington, March 26 US President Joe Biden has called efforts by several of the country's states to make voting in elections more difficult "sick" and "pernicious".

Biden made the remarks on Thursday at his first press conference as President since he took office on January 20.

He said that the initiatives are "Un-American" and that he would do everything in his power to prevent them coming into law, reports dpa news agency.

Biden was speaking hours before the Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, put a restrictive voting form into effect on Thursday evening after a vote by state lawmakers.

He won the traditionally Republican state of Georgia in the November 3, 2020, presidential election by a few thousand votes. There was a high voter turnout.

Some Republicans in former President Donald Trump's circle made baseless claims of voter fraud, which courts rejected.

After the election and two Republican defeats in Senate run-offs several weeks later, local Republicans ramped up efforts to tighten up voting laws.

The new election law includes making postal voting more difficult and gives the state legislature more power to intervene while voting is under way.

It will also ban third parties from speaking to voters as they stand in line - and will prohibit offering food and water to waiting voters.

Critics argue that Republicans want to use the reform as a way to reduce the participation of black people and other minorities because they are more likely to vote for Democrats.

Republicans argue that it is about making voting more secure.

Kemp, a Republican, said on Twitter he is "proud" to sign the law, which he said would make Georgia's elections "secure, fair and accessible".

Other states are pursuing similar laws.

Biden said he wants to do everything in his power to put into force a reform recently agreed in the House of Representatives that would make voting easier.

However, Democrats would need Republican support in the Senate to enforce it at a federal level, which seems unlikely.

( With inputs from IANS )