U.S. Democrats vow 'long march' toward voting rights reforms
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[June 24, 2021]
By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the
U.S. Congress suffered a bruising defeat in their drive to pass a major
election reform bill but said there are more tools at their disposal to
overcome Republican efforts in several states to roll back expanded
voting procedures.
"It will be a long march but it's one we are going to make," Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proclaimed after Democrats voted in
lock-step https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-voting-rights-plan-faces-long-odds-us-senate-2021-06-22
on Tuesday to launch a debate on voting rights legislation - but still
fell 10 votes short of advancing such a bill, thanks to the 60-vote
threshold required by filibuster rules.
Given Senate Republicans' solid opposition, Schumer has a tough battle
ahead. Although he did not detail next steps, there have been hints
along the way.
For example, Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, this week spoke of
breaking up a voting rights initiative into smaller bits that might test
Republican resolve.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/24/images/ads/current/peasley%20lda%20080907.png)
Democrats employed tough rhetoric to underscore how important they think
it is to establish national standards for voting, before the 2022
midterm elections when Republicans seek to regain majorities in the
House and Senate.
"Our American Democracy is in peril, and today, every single Senate
Republican voted against saving it. Democrats will not be deterred in
our fight,” House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a
statement. "Our Republic is at a crossroads, and it is up to us to save
it."
Senate Republicans have argued that Washington ought to stay out of
states' decisions on how they conduct their elections for president and
Congress.
Republicans have justified the new laws by citing former President
Donald Trump's false claim that widespread fraud led to his November
election defeat. Numerous court decisions have repudiated that claim, as
did Trump's own administration.
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar told reporters on Tuesday that she is
continuing to negotiate with moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin
over the details of a compromise proposal he has floated.
That could become the basis for another Senate vote.
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![](../images/062421pics/news_p29.jpg)
The Reverend Debra Haffner, Pamela Wilson and Dawn Wagner Houston
carry signs as activists rally in support of the "For the People
Act" voting rights legislation in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in
Washington, U.S., June 23, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
![](../images/ads/current/centraldirect_lda_SPONSOR_2021.png)
Klobuchar praised Manchin's efforts and said he has used an
"expansive definition" of what would qualify for voter
identification he wants included in a bill and has agreed to other
elements important to Democrats.
Democrats also could pursue a bill that would restore Washington's
oversight of certain states' changes to election laws and build a
more expansive voting rights bill upon that. Some Republicans are on
record as potentially supporting the John Lewis Voting Rights
Advancement Act, named after the late civil rights leader and
Democratic congressman.
Klobuchar said after Tuesday's vote that she would launch a series
of field hearings to examine the impact of Republican efforts to
toughen voting laws in various states. Those hearings could help
guide Schumer's decision on future moves.
Hanging over this effort will be the most controversial move Schumer
could take: An attempt to change or kill the long-standing
"filibuster" rule, which now gives minority Senate Republicans the
ability to repel Democrats' legislative initiatives, as they did on
Tuesday.
Under the filibuster , at least 60 votes are needed in the
100-member Senate to advance legislation.
To change the rule, all 50 Democrats and independents would have to
vote yes - a step that Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema so far
have opposed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/24/images/ads/current/stclara_lda_SPONSOR_090519.png)
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Gerry
Doyle)
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