Senate Republicans Block Election Reform Bill Intended to Counter New Voting Laws in Several States

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In Washington, Senate Republicans have blocked efforts to pass an election reform bill.  Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to open debate on the “For the People Act.”

“Every single Senate Republican just voted against starting debate, starting debate, on legislation to protect Americans’ voting rights,” said Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

One of the Democrats’ top legislative priorities, the bill failed in the Senate by a 50/50 vote.

The legislation was aimed at setting federal standards mandating early voting nationwide and making it easier to vote by mail.

Republicans called it a power grab intended to benefit Democrats up and down the ballot.

“Look, what this is really about is an effort for the federal government to take over the way we conduct elections in this country. It is a solution in search of a problem,” said Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

But Democrats argue federal laws are needed to counter new state laws in places like Georgia, they say discourage voter turnout.

“If democracy is going to be real, then that means that we have to make sure that we’re ensuring equal and free access to the ballot,” says LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the group “Black Voters Matter.”

The group is holding what its calling a “Freedom Ride for Voting Rights.”

The bus tour stopped in Columbia, South Carolina on Tuesday and will be in Rock Hill and in Raleigh on Wednesday.

“Last year was a momentous year for Black voters, a historic turnout in 2020 and what we believe is happening, is that there are punitive measures to punish us for participating in the election,” Brown says.

Republicans insist that’s not the case.

“Those arguments are being made by people who obviously haven’t read any of these new state laws,” McConnell says.