It’s now nomination time. Saturday afternoon, President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ginsburg. A heated battle has been set up in the Senate, where Republicans are posed to go through a swift confirmation of Judge Barrett, who in 2017 was appointed to the Chicago-based U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Democrats have said they will do everything they can to prolong this confirmation, many announcing they won’t attend any hearings or meetings. Let’s dive into who Trump nominated.

Amy Coney Barrett is an originalist. This means she interprets the Constitution for how it was originally written and intended to be interpreted. She also is publicly anti-LGBT, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, and other things. This will cause many Supreme Court rulings to be overturned. Roe v. Wade can be overturned if she is confirmed, as her confirmation would solidify a 6-3 conservative majority on the bench. This also would see the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional, as the Supreme Court is deciding the fate of it a week after the election. With Barrett being anti-LGBT, her confirmation will surely see the protections and rights of LGBT individuals revoked.

This being said, the November 3rd election will be one for the books. Trump has publicly stated he would not agree to a peaceful transition of power if he would lose to Joe Biden. He also has said he expects many of the results to be sued and challenged. Ultimately, if this happened, having a 6-3 conservative majority could ensure Trump remains president regardless of the results.

All in all, confirming Amy Coney Barrett could end up being one of the worst things to happen to America and the Supreme Court. Along with this, her nomination has also ushered in a newfound voice from Democrats to advocate their stance on Healthcare and their viewpoint of changing the high court. House Democrats have already proposed a bill to set term limits, which might require constitutional change.

As November 3rd gets closer, it is pivotal that Americans exercise their right to vote. Regardless of party, make sure you vote. Whether this be early, by mail, or on election day. A lot is at stake this election season, and the outcome of this Supreme Court nomination could prove vital in whether we stay a democracy, or become a fascist dictatorship.

Zach Bray is a freshman political science major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].