Senate Democrats are pushing a voting rights bill Republicans have vowed to block
The Freedom to Vote Act was led in part by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who was trying to get Republicans on board. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell vocally opposed it.
Senate Democrats are set to try again to advance voting rights legislation on Wednesday, despite widespread opposition from Republicans.
Democrats say federal voting legislation is needed to counteract a wave of new restrictions from Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country. Critics of those laws say they are making it more difficult to vote, particularly for people of color.
"Democrats are ready to have this debate right now," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday, describing the legislation as a "a bill that every Senate Democrat is united behind, enthusiastically."
The bill would among other things establish Election
