Two voting rights bills up for consideration on Capitol Hill
Voting rights are front and center on Capitol Hill, with two bills up for consideration.
Voting legislation that is a cornerstone of the Democratic agenda and top priority for civil rights leaders is on track for defeat. President Joe Biden’s own party is poised to let the bill fail as two hold-out senators are unwilling to change the Senate rules to overcome a Republican filibuster.
Voting rights are front and center on Capitol Hill, with two bills up for consideration.
President Joe Biden is continuing his push to pass voting rights legislation. Wednesday, the president said he will sit down with Senate Democrats to discuss how to pass the legislation, despite facing opposition from two members of his own party to get that done.
For the third time this year, Senate Democrats on Wednesday tried to pass sweeping elections legislation that they tout as a powerful counterweight to new voting restrictions in the states. Once again, Republicans blocked them.
The Supreme Court has upheld voting restrictions in Arizona in a decision that could make it harder to challenge other state limits put in place by Republican lawmakers following last year’s elections.
The Senate is set to hold a vote this evening on a sweeping voting rights bill. Republicans are prepared to block the measure from advancing, but Democrats are trying to put up a united front on what they say is a fundamental issue for democracy.
Black Voters Matter and other organizations will host its “Freedom Ride for Voting Rights” event at The Senate today. From 2-4 p.m. BVM’s “Blackest Bus in America” will be there as part of a national voter education and outreach campaign.
The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on a major voting rights bill that passed the House earlier this year. All 50 Senate Democrats appear to have reached an agreement on the legislation, but it still faces tough opposition from Senate Republicans, where 10 votes would be needed for it to pass.
Inside the Statehouse Thursday morning, members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee met to hear testimony on a voter access bill.