WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 08: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) pose for photographs after delivering a televised response to President Donald Trump's national address about border security at the U.S. Capitol January 08, 2019 in Washington, DC. Republicans and Democrats seem no closer to an agreement on security along the southern border and ending the partial federal government shutdown, the second-longest in history. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Senate Republicans voted as a group Tuesday to block debate on the Democratic voting reform bill, the For The People Act, 10 votes short of the 60 needed to proceed. All 50 Democrats voted to start the debate.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) voted in favor of debating the sweeping election bill. “Today I will vote ‘YES’ to move to debate this updated voting legislation as a substitute amendment to ensure every eligible voter is able to cast their ballot and participate in our great democracy,” said Manchin in a statement.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) announced to reporters Manchin’s support after a closed-door caucus lunch. “I’m pleased to report that Sen. Manchin and I have come to an agreement. He came to my office oh about two hours ago and we worked it out.”
Many observers predict the failure of the bill will encourage Democrats to pursue filibuster reform.
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The bill expands voter registration, vote-by-mail, early voting and limits removing voters from the rolls. The bill requires states to establish independent redistricting commissions to carry out congressional redistricting and requires greater disclosure for political ads.
The For the People Act was drawn up to counter Republican efforts to impose new limits on voting at the state level.
President Joe Biden took to Twitter shortly after Schumer’s announcement to voice his support for the bill.
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