Senate Democrats introduce their latest version of a sweeping election reform bill to counter voting restrictions that have passed in GOP-led states, which they say make it harder for minorities and low-income Americans to cast a ballot.
The bill would counter the record number of voting restrictions that have passed in GOP-led states.reform bill to counter the record-number of voting restrictions that have passed in GOP-led states, which they say make it harder for minorities and low-income Americans to cast a ballot.
"This is a good proposal. One that nobody in this chamber should oppose," Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday morning."My colleague Sen. Manchin is working with Republicans to secure support for the bill and we look forward to hearing what changes they might make on legislation."Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had a different take.
But among the provisions dropped or changed is the automatic mailing of ballots. Under the new measure, any voter may request a mail-in ballot but they are not sent out automatically. The legislation will continue to allow voter roll purges but requires changes to be"done on the basis of reliable and objective evidence and prohibits the use of returned mail sent by third parties to remove voters.
"The fact of the matter is that this legislation is critical for stopping some of the most egregious assaults against voting rights happening at the state level. A few weeks ago, the governor of Texas signed one of the most sweeping voter suppression bills in the entire country," Schumer said.Voting rights advocates have praised the bill and are urging the Senate to pass the legislation.
It is unclear if this bill would garner the support of many Republicans, though Manchin has been talking to fellow moderate Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. The Minority blocked the Democrats' first stab at the bill claiming it was a solution in search of a problem and maintaining that election administration is the province of states -- not the federal government.
Ten Republicans would be needed to overcome the chamber's filibuster rule requiring 60 votes for most legislation. To modify that rule, all 50 Democrats would need to be on board with changing Senate rules to allow the legislation to pass on a simple majority vote -- with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie -- but Manchin has point blank refused to support such an extraordinary move.
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