Senate Democrats Take First Steps on Bill to Expand Voting Rights

By The New York Times

25 March 21

The Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on a sweeping bill that would overhaul federal elections and expand voting rights. President Biden announced Vice President Kamala Harris would lead efforts to stem the flow of migrants by working with Central American countries.

he Senate took its first steps on Wednesday to advance one of Democrats’ top legislative priorities, convening an opening hearing on a sweeping elections bill that would expand voting rights and blunt some Republican state legislators’ efforts to restrict access to the ballot box.

Chock-full of liberal priorities, the bill, called the For the People Act, would usher in landmark changes making it easier to vote, enact new campaign finance laws and end partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts. The legislation passed the House along party lines earlier this month. It faces solid opposition from Republicans who are working to clamp down on ballot access, and who argue that the bill is a power grab by Democrats.

Democrats on the Senate Rules Committee hope that testimony from former Attorney General Eric Holder, prominent voting experts and anti-corruption advocates will help build on a rising drumbeat of support from liberals.

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