Politico Tag

In a recently published op-ed in the Washington Post, current US Attorney General Merrick Garland has called on Congress to advance voting rights legislation. Many legal tools to enforce federal voting laws and protect against voter suppression were stripped from the Department of Justice, which Garland heads, following a 2013 Supreme Court decision known as Shelby County v. Holder. Under the current legal conditions, Garland has asserted that “the Justice Department has been left with costly, time-consuming tools that have many of the shortcomings

Senate Democrats are struggling to agree on a way forward for the ambitious voting rights package known as the For The People Act. While the bill has 49 co-sponsors, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has yet to sign on, and the bill is not expected to receive any Republican support. Some progressives are hopeful that this bill will serve as a catalyst for the end of the filibuster, however both Senators Manchin and Sinema (D-AZ) have publicly opposed such a change to the Senate rules.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are encouraging the Democrats to redirect their energies from the "For the People" Act, a sweeping election reform bill, to the more narrowly focused John Lewis Voting Rights Act.  It is believed that the latter bill may have a better chance of winning support in the Senate.  Additionally, some argue that the more targeted bill is of greater urgency, as congressional districts are due to be redrawn this summer. The smaller bill would restore to the redistricting process

The Senate’s consideration of the For the People Act, a massive voting and ethics reform bill, is dividing an already deeply divided chamber. Democratic and Republican senators are not even talking to one another to see if there is any room for compromise on the bill or the issue of voting rights. The bill stands little chance of passage unless the Senate alters or eliminates the filibuster, which Senate Democrats are increasingly considering, given the staunch and uniform opposition of their Republican colleagues.Visit Politico

While the electoral college votes on December 14, Congress must certify the election results a few weeks later. During that period, members of the House and Senate may challenge the election results from the floor. Here’s a look at how these challenges work, and who may make them in Congress.Visit Politico to learn more.