U.S. Senate Democrats return to voting rights with eye on filibuster – By David Morgan (Reuters) / Nov 3 2021
WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Democrats will try to advance voting rights legislation in the face of overwhelming Republican opposition for a fourth time on Wednesday, amid pressure to break the deadlock by altering a key Senate rule as early as this month.
The Senate is due to vote on whether to begin debate on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore state voting requirements to prohibit racial discrimination that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The vote is slated for 2:15 p.m. (1815 GMT).
If Republicans block it as expected, which they have done three times this year with other voting bills, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will face new calls to abolish or alter the chamber’s filibuster rule, which requires 60 of the Senate’s 100 lawmakers to agree on most legislation.
“We can’t force so much as a debate if at least 10 Republicans don’t join us,” Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, referring to the Senate’s 50-50 split.
