News / Politics

US Senate progressives introducing new voting bill rejected by GOP

Tuesday, 22 June 2021 2:59 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 22 June 2021 3:02 PM ]

US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks as Republican senators listen during a news conference to discuss their opposition to the "For The People Act" on June 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

The United States Senate is set to vote on introducing a voting bill disputed by Republicans that would protect Americans’ voting rights across the country.

The For the People Act, also known as HR1, is a sweeping bill that would safeguard voting rights in America and improve ballot access for Americans, among other changes.

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Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell from Kentucky are expected to use the filibuster to block the debate on Tuesday.

According to the Voting Rights Lab, 18 states have enacted more than 30 laws to restrict voting since the disputed 2020 US presidential election.

Mother Jones reporter Ari Berman described the For the People Act as Congressional an coordinated effort by congressional progressives to counter "GOP efforts to subvert fair elections."

This is really important: Congressional Dems introducing legislation today to counter GOP attempts to subvert fair elections. Will be added to HR1 if bill reaches Senate floor https://t.co/91Xx2howmc
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) June 22, 2021

Berman insisted the HR1 legislation was “the most important voting rights bill since the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”

“It just goes to show you how afraid the Republican Party is of democracy that they won’t even debate legislation to make it easier to vote, let alone vote on the actual bill,” he pointed out.

The GOP largely sees the For the People Act as an attempted power grab by the Democrats.