Vice President Kamala Harris's recent visit to the Arizona border has thrust her into the center of the contentious immigration debate, a pivotal issue in her presidential campaign against Donald Trump.
According to Deseret News, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are adopting starkly different tactics to woo voters, particularly focusing on the Latter-day Saint community in key battleground states.
During her visit, Vice President Harris addressed critical issues surrounding immigration policy, an area where her opponent, Donald Trump, has suggested extreme measures including mass deportations. Despite these measures, polling indicates a preference for Trump's handling of immigration issues over Harris's approaches.
Both political campaigns are intensifying their efforts to secure votes in Arizona and Nevada, home to significant populations of Latter-day Saint voters. This demographic could play a crucial role in swinging the vote in these pivotal states.
The upcoming high-stakes immigration measure set to be voted on in November further highlights the importance of the immigration debate in this election cycle. This measure is seen as a direct response to ongoing national debates over border security and immigration reform. The election's backdrop is also marked by concerns about potential political violence and election disputes. A notable incident involved an attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, raising questions about security lapses.
Rep. Blake Moore, commenting on the recently passed Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022, emphasized its significance in fostering a more secure electoral process. This legislation is particularly important as it makes it more difficult for individual Congress members to contest electoral votes, aiming to ensure a smoother presidential transition.
Rep. Blake Moore's insights on the new electoral law were quite revealing: "My firm understanding is, that in the absence of two (slates of) electors that have been sent to the federal government, we have no role to play. We are to count the ballots, and that’s it." He further noted the importance of the new law in maintaining election integrity: "I think that reduces the temptation for disingenuous members to make this a big thing every four years on January 6."
Despite these preventive measures, skepticism remains on whether the changes will address all potential election contestation issues. Valerie Smith Boyd, an analyst, stated:
"The new law solved a problem… We will see in this cycle whether those were exactly the right answers."
Concern regarding the use of election dispute as a political tool was a point of contention, as highlighted by Rep. Moore. He criticized the recurring challenges to election results as inappropriate, stressing that past wrongdoings by any party do not justify similar actions in the future.
"That’s just wrong. Just because that’s someone else’s bar, it’s not my bar, right?... Democrats did this in the last two elections. That is not a reason for us to do it, too. They were wrong, and I think we were wrong to do it."
As the November election approaches, with high stakes on issues such as immigration and electoral integrity, campaigns continue to target specific demographics, including the Latter-day Saint community. The recent legislative changes aim to fortify the integrity of the electoral process, reducing the likelihood of contentious disputes that could undermine democracy.
On Election Day, November 5, 2024, and subsequently on January 6, 2025, when Congress certifies the electoral votes, the new measures will be put to the test. The outcome may well hinge on the effective implementation of these reforms and the electorate's response to the candidates' differing approaches to key national issues.
Both candidates, having unique strategies and policies, demonstrate the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of U.S. presidential races. As November draws near, all eyes will be on these critical issues and on how effectively the new electoral reforms manage potential disputes, aiming to maintain the sanctity and smooth transition of presidential power.
