'Jim Crow relic': Senate filibuster stands in way of Democratic voting rights push

[DonViejo]

Analysis: calls to scrap the requirement for 60 senators to back legislation are growing as Congress weighs sweeping protections

Sam Levine in New York
Tue 9 Feb 2021 08.39 EST

As states around the country advance a wave of measures that would make it harder to vote, Democrats in Washington are planning the most sweeping voting rights protections in decades. But to pass those protections, Democrats will have to overcome a huge barrier.

Shortly after taking control of the US Senate last month, Democrats made it clear that they wanted to move quickly to advance a version of the massive voting rights bill that passed the US House last year. The measure would require every state to offer automatic, same-day and online voter registration. It would require states to let anyone vote by mail if they wish and implement new guidelines to prevent states from being overly aggressive in how they purge their vote rolls. It would also strip state lawmakers of their power to redraw congressional districts every 10 years, curbing their ability to draw lines that virtually guarantee re-election.

Democrats are also considering separate legislation to restore a key provision in the 1965 Voting Rights Act that would require states with a history of discriminating against voters to get any voting changes approved by the federal government before they go into effect.

Though they control both chambers of Congress and the White House, Democrats won’t be able to pass either measure unless they get rid of the filibuster, a procedural maneuver the minority party in the Senate can use to block legislation that doesn’t have the support of 60 senators.

more
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/09/senate-filibuster-voting-rights-democrats

[dlk]

1. Republicans excel at putting up roadblocks to progress

They love their privilege and have shown again and again they will do absolutely anything to hold on to it.

[uponit7771]

2. If voter protections don't get passed in the next 6 months 2022 could be in jeopardy seeing how fast

... the kGOP has enacted vote suppression measures.

My disappointment last year with the judicial branch was how ... SLOW ... the moved relative to the voting issues at hand.

My opinion voter issues that are gating shouldn't be held for months then voters told its too late to issue a ruling on it.

People voter suppression works and is my theory polling the US is so horrid but when there's little VSM we get nats ass polling like GA RunOff.